As a follow up to “Barrel Aging for Homebrewers,” Neil Fisher has shared the recipes for some of the base beers that he uses for barrel aging. Named for Alexander I, Tsar of Russia (1801-1825), this massive imperial stout was designed for barrel aging. The high alcohol aids in extracting the full flavor from the barrel, while the high IBUs help balance the boozy sweetness contributed by the bourbon barrel and high final gravity of the beer. This beer took Gold in the Specialty Category at the Sweetheart’s Revenge 2014 homebrew competition, went on to place third overall Best of Show, and was selected by High Hops Brewery in Windsor, Colorado, as their Pro Am winner.
ALL-GRAIN
Boil size: About 10 gallons (37.8 liters)
End of boil volume: 6.5 gallons (24.6 liters)
Batch size: 6 gallons (22.7 liters)
Efficiency: 65%