WHO: Odell Brewing Co.
WHAT: Barrel-Aged Extra Special Red Ale
WHEN & WHERE: Available now in limited quantities as a single 12oz bottle across Odell’s 15-state distribution footprint (Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Wyoming, New Mexico, Idaho, Arizona, Illinois and Iowa).
ABOUT: A bit of info from Odell:
Extra Special Red is our Imperial Red Ale, a crimson-hued brew full of juicy hop flavors and aromas of pine and stone fruit. After 6 months of aging in rye whiskey casks, it was roused from its oak cradle to the bottle in your hands. The barrels impart notes of sweet vanilla and soft tannins, while the hops settle into the background in favor of the strong malt foundation. Slainte!
We love barrel aging beers to integrate oaky flavors and aromas into the brew. So, we made a small batch of Runoff Red IPA and aged it in Woody Creek’s used Rye Whiskey barrels. You’ll find notes of vanilla, chocolate covered strawberries, and caramel in this medium-bodied, smooth barrel-aged red.
MY THOUGHTS: I love barrel-aged beers. When I think barrel-aged, I typically expect the beer to come in somewhere between 10-12% ABV (or even higher). So while I really enjoy them, I can’t always indulge in them due to the high alcohol content. Not so with Odell’s Extra Special Red. This is what I’d call an easy-drinking barrel-aged beer; at just 8.7% ABV, I can get that aged flavor I’m craving without going overboard. And the 12 ounce bottle is the perfect size for one person.
While the whiskey was definitely present, I found it to be fairly subtle, and the beer overall was very smooth. I’m going to grab a few of these to savor this summer when I want something barrel-aged but not extremely boozy and intense.
It won’t be around long, so catch it while you can. Check your local liquor store, or search with Odell’s Beer Finder to help you find what you’re looking for.
