One of the side benefits of the rising interest in premium bourbon is the invention of the bourbon barrel-aged beer. The idea is simple. You take a barrel previously used for aging bourbon, fill it up with beer, and let it sit for a while, soaking up the bourbon flavors left as a residue in the wood. Thick, complex, sweet, and tasty, bourbon beers make for great drinking as the weather turns colder: say October to March, but especially over the winter months. Also, trying these ales out is a must for any lover of bourbon. Aging other forms of alcohol in bourbon barrels is becoming increasingly popular with distillers, but compared to premium scotch or port, bourbon beer is inexpensive and readily available. The following list represents the five best bourbon ales around.
1. The District Chophouse’s Bourbon Stout
This was the first bourbon beer I ever tasted, years before I saw the stuff bottled and on shelves. Aged for six weeks in barrels procured from Old Grandad, it combines the best elements of a craft stout with sweet vanilla. It is listed at 6.3% alcohol, but actual content varies with the batch, and is sometimes as high as 8.6%. While only available at this fine steakhouse in Chinatown, it remains the best bourbon beer the author has ever tasted. If you are in DC, it is worth the trip to the place just to try it at the bar.
2. Allagash Curieux Bourbon Barrel Aged Tripel
11% alcohol content
Allagash Brewing of Maine has built a reputation for premium Belgian and Trappist style beers and ales, and this bourbon barrel entry lives up to their reputation. “Tripel” does not mean it was aged three times in bourbon casks, by the way: it is a style of simple, extra creamy pilsner. This stuff is bottled in the 750ml bottles more commonly used for wine, and at 11% is strong enough that maybe it should be treated as a fine wine! It has a golden amber color, and has the smokey, peppery, spicy flavor one would expect from a bourbon ale. The sickly-sweetness standard to these ales comes across in the Allagash label as pears and apples. This stuff is a must for any fan of bourbon ale.
3. Kentucky Bourbon Ale
Kentucky and bourbon are synonymous, so naturally the Lexington Brewing Company got in on the bourbon ale act. It is the standard for bourbon ales, but perhaps a bit strong: the first sip will almost be like downing a creamy sip of whiskey. The vanilla and smokey oak are pretty noticeable in the ale. While widely available in Kentucky, it is much harder to find outside of the Bluegrass.
4. Sprecher’s Bourbon Barley Wine
11% alcohol content
In a list dominated by ales, this one is made from a masterpiece. This brewery’s barley wine label is already a yummy beer with port and sherry flavors, which is then given the extra step of aging for 5 weeks in an old bourbon cask. It is strong, delightful, and comes in 1 liter bottles.
5. Anheuser-Busch’s Winter Bourbon Cask Ale
This is the most common bourbon ale, and if you are not familiar with the type then it is probably what will introduce you to it. It is a fairly good introductory example, but if you like this you should swiftly move on to better stuff. The feeling of sipping on a thick, creamy, too-sweet whiskey is very strong on the first drink of this ale, and that has the unfortunate effect of driving away people who might not already be fans of whiskey. However, the strong malt-vanilla character of the drink put it a cut above the standard winter ale, so the neophyte should get past that first swig and finish the glass. By the time you get to the bottom, you will better appreciate its virtues.
