26 Oct 2015 --- San Francisco, CA – Today, Anchor Brewing Company announces the release of Anchor Barrel Ale, the third release in the Anchor Argonaut Collection.
“Anchor Barrel Ale is a welcome departure from the norm of barrel aged beers,” said Anchor Brewmaster Mark Carpenter. “We took four well-loved Anchor beers and aged them separately in our used Old Potrero Whiskey barrels. The beers don’t undergo fermentation, though, so the aging process focuses on picking up flavors and aromas from the barrels. Next we blended the aged beers in a cellar tank with charred barrel staves for a secondary fermentation, allowing the beer to naturally carbonate, pick up characteristics from the staves, and let the flavors marry. The result is a robust dark beer with a gentle whiskey note and flavors of charred oak and burnt caramel that’s remarkably smooth. The brewers at Anchor had a great deal of fun developing and brewing this beer, and we hope Anchor fans enjoy it as much as we do.”
Anchor Barrel Ale (7.5% ABV) was brewed as a tribute to pioneer brewer, distiller, and visionary Fritz Maytag. In 1965—at twenty-seven years old—he rescued America’s smallest, most traditional brewery from closure, igniting a revolution in craft brewing that continues today. With the founding of Anchor Distilling in 1993, Fritz blazed a new trail toward the creation of craft-distilled whiskeys and gins. The Anchor Argonaut Collection honors that pioneering spirit with unique and daring beers, available for a limited time in 4-packs. Anchor Barrel Ale joins Flying Cloud Stout (7.4% ABV) and Double Liberty IPA (8.2% ABV) as the third brew in the Argonaut Collection.
Aged in used Old Potrero Whiskey barrels and on their charred staves, this full-flavored beer delivers a rich complexity with whiskey notes and woody aromas that are well balanced by its coffee, toffee, and roasted malt flavors. Anchor Barrel Ale is a blend of beloved Anchor ales, each aged separately before combined. The intricate aging process and harmonious blend of Anchor beers results in a full-bodied brew with subtle charred oak flavors and a remarkably smooth finish.
Anchor Barrel Ale is available now nationwide in 4-packs and on draught for a limited time as well as on tap at the Anchor Brewing Taproom and the Anchor Beer Garden at The Yard in San Francisco. Find a brew near you using the Anchor Beer Finder.
