by Brian Wall
Oh the weather outside is frightful but beer is, so delightful and since you’ve no place to go, let it pour, let it pour, let it pour. Lower temperatures, snow on the ground and the Holiday Season can offer more than horrible traffic, ice on the stairs and bills trying to find that perfect gift for someone special. It can also offer the Winter Warmer beers that offer a very strong malty character and a stronger than normal alcohol content. These beers originate from the style known as Old Ale from England and have a history of being aged in wooden barrels to apply a secondary fermentation as well as a woody flavor varying with what type of wood the barrels were made from.
In today’s craft beer world, barrel aging is used to impart different flavors and colors from the previously used barrels. Oak is preferred and barrels can range from bourbon to wine in the initial usage. Continue reading →