Barrel-Aged Beer - CraftBeer.com
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Beer Styles

Barrel-Aged Beer

A wood- or barrel-aged beer is any lager, ale or hybrid beer, either a traditional style or a unique experimental beer, that has been aged for a period of time in a wooden barrel or in contact with wood. This beer is aged with the intention of imparting the unique character of the wood and/or the flavor of what has previously been in the barrel. Beer may be aged in wooden barrels (new or previously used to age wine or spirits), or chips, spirals and cubes may be added to the conditioning tanks that normally house beer. A variety of types of wood are used including oak, apple, alder, hickory and more. The interior of most barrels is charred or toasted to further enhance the flavor of the wood.

Category: Specialty Beers

Food Pairings

  • Varies
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Glassware & Serving Temperature

Tulip
50-55 °F

Commercial Examples

Commercial Examples

Appearance

Color

Varies

Clarity

Varies

Carbonation (Visual)

Varies

Flavor/Aroma

Alcohol

Varies

Hop

Varies

Malt

Varies

Esters

Can be present

Phenols

Can be present

Sensations

Body

Varies

Carbonation

Low to High

Finish Length

Varies

Attenuation

Varies

Ingredients

Hops

Varies

Malt

Varies

Water

Varies

Yeast

Lager or Ale. May have Brettanomyces character

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