At the liberty of the vessels in which they mature, barrel-aged stouts tell the brewer when they’re finished, and not the other way around. They are the products of patience and prediction. Complex in flavor and often high in alcohol, barrel-aged stout—while not necessarily a first choice among brewers—is a very well respected beer style. Here are five craft brewers on their favorite barrel-aged stouts.
Bess Dougherty
Brewer at Wynkoop Brewing Company, Denver, Colorado
Big Bad Baptist
Oh, barrel-aged stouts! Where do I even begin? I would have to go with Big Bad Baptist from Epic Brewing (Denver, Colorado). It pours thick and dark, almost like motor oil and drinks about the same with a thick luscious body. There are notes of coffee and chocolate with a slight bitterness as the sweet liquid wraps around your tongue. The warm lingering alcohol notes are a very pleasant reminder that too many of these bad boys could make for trouble. For me, this beer is like a special lap dance behind your teeth.