Brandy Cask Finished Ale: The story so far…
THERE’S ONE THING WE HAVE A LOT OF IN SOUTH AFRICA: BRANDY BARRELS.
So when Dirk Human (owner of Black Oystercatcher Wine and Fraser’s Folly) said he had four brandy barrels that were 10 years old, I said that he had to give them to me to make something very special.
More than a year later, we released the first beer in our Brewer’s Reserve range – our Brandy Cask Finished Ale.
What people are saying
SO FAR, THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN TERRIFIC.
The beer won the Best Speciality Beer Trophy at the South African National Beer Trophy Awards in 2018.
MY TASTING
NOTES:
The brandy barrels have really helped capture the many layers you’ll now experience in our barley wine.
On the nose: It’s got a strong sherry character from oxidation in the barrel, with layers of raisin and other dried fruit, and of course some big upfront brandy aroma and lots of Christmas spice aroma from the casks.
The flavours you’re likely to get on the palate include salted caramel, dates and gingerbread. As well as a follow through with the sherry notes and some alcoholic heat.
Here’s how we made the beer.
I was inspired by the beer created by Scottish craft brewery Innis & Gunn – well-known for barrel-ageing their beer. In our case, the beer sat in the brandy barrels for more than a year. The beer had an ABV (alcohol by volume) of around 8% when it went into the barrels. And we got an extra 3% just from the barrels.
The brandy barrels have their own great story. They were used by The Drift’s Bruce Jack and Dirk at the Black Oystercatcher to make a brandy from some excess Cab they had one harvest.
“I have only heard great things about this beer. I have no doubt it’s going to taste spectacular. I just can’t convince myself to open it. It’s beautifully packaged and will age wonderfully. Really torn. I could always get another to age and get stuck into this one. I need advice. Help!” – @hopsonhopsoff (image credit)
And here are some pairing ideas:
The Brandy Cask Finished Ale works really with smoked and cured meat. It’s a great fit with a Pork Belly. And my favourite: paired with a series of matured cheeses (including a really great blue cheese with sweetbread or biscuits).
It was a really proud moment for me….
When about a year and a half after we started this journey, we finally released our Brandy Cask Finished Ale at our Brewer’s Reserve launch in August 2018, at a special event at the Black Oystercatcher.
Today the Brandy Cask beer is ONLY available at the Black Oystercatcher Farm –
as part of our reserve range.
BUT – in a once-off event, 3 craft beer-loving establishments in Cape Town, Joburg and Durban will be selling an EXTREMELY limited number of Brandy Cask Finished Ale.
It’s FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.
Get to:
• Cape Town’s Biggest Little Beer Shop
• Joburg’s Top Radiokop
• And Durban’s Hillcrest Tops
NOW – before our ale runs out.
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