We hope you’ll join along at home, take advantage of this signature week to open some of those special beers you’ve been saving, share them with friends, and let us know what you think of them by tagging them with #whalezweek on social media.
The Bruery Melange 12 (2015)
Placentia, California
The age of the dark barleywine is upon us. Melange 12, the latest “Frankenbeer” blend from The Bruery mashes up their barrel-aged anniversary old ale with a bit of bourbon barrel–aged imperial stout and some extra additions (hazelnuts) to create a rich and deep beer somewhere between a traditional barleywine and a stout. While dark, the body doesn’t achieve the inky opacity of their stouts, implying a bias toward the lighter old ale in the blend.
The taste is what you’d expect from a mix of the anniversary ale (released as Bois, Sucre, and Cuivre as of late) and Black Tuesday—a bit of sugary roundness that coats your mouth, prominent barrel notes, minor influence from hazelnuts and cacao nibs, and a vanilla extract linger that tastes better than it sounds—like a classic cocktail’s slightly medicinal bitters. The sweetness may be hard for some to get past, but fans of The Bruery’s take on big, big beers will want to hunt one of these down from a member of their Reserve or Hoarders Society (limited quantities were available only to those club members). —_ Jamie Bogner_
Firestone Walker Sucaba (2014)
Paso Robles, California
The first rule of Sucaba is you can never have enough Sucaba. The second rule of Sucaba is you can never have enough Sucaba. There must be at least a dozen bottles of various vintages of Sucaba collectively among our CB&B staff cellars, as it’s a consistent performer, ages like a champ, and doesn’t hurt the wallet as we stock up.
A year and a half on, this barrel-aged counter (abacus) is killer, and the flavors reminiscent of brandy randalled through roasted marshmallows and coconut are more pronounced as the beer dries out. The boozy heat is still there, and while most English barleywines feel like a drinking with your tweed-suit-wearing professor in a wood-paneled library, Sucaba feels more like a Philippe Starck design—a historically grounded yet thoroughly contemporary interpretation. — Jamie Bogner & Austin Grippin
Fremont Coffee Cinnamon Bourbon Barrel Aged Abominable (aka Cinnabomb) (2014)
Seattle, Washington
You’re enjoying a nice fire inside your cabin in Norway and sipping on a delicious treat. You hear footsteps outside the door. Who could it be? What could it be? Is it a troll? Hans Trolljegeren isn’t here, and trolls aren’t real. But Cinnamon Coffee Bourbon Barrel–Aged Abominable is real, and you should drink it.
Winter doesn’t stand a chance against this “winter ale.” This beer has some age on it, and the coffee seems to have frozen over, but the cinnamon sparks light up each sip and a touch of bitterness sits in the background to offset any perception of sweetness. A lingering floral expressiveness (from the coffee or the cinnamon?) brings memories of warmer days. So slay that beast and enjoy the feast. (Apologies to the movie, Troll Hunter). —Austin Grippin
