14 months of aging in oak Chardonnay barrels creates a unique beer
HOUSTON, February 18, 2013 – Saint Arnold Brewing Co. (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, is releasing Bishop’s Barrel No. 2 today. The second offering of Saint Arnold’s small batch barrel aged series of beers, Bishop’s Barrel No. 2 is an Old Ale aged for more than a year in oak Chardonnay barrels with cherries added in the brewery’s barrel room.
Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel is a series of beers that have been aged in barrels specifically chosen to enhance and complement the characteristics of the underlying beers. Each batch of Bishop’s Barrel is distinguished by the number on the neck label. Since fewer than 1,200 cases of 12-ounce bottles of Bishop’s Barrel No. 2 were produced, Bishop’s Barrel will only be available in pubs and restaurants throughout Texas and Louisiana that normally carry Saint Arnold beer.
“This beer has many layers of flavors,” said Saint Arnold founder/brewer Brock Wagner, who sourced the barrels from his cousin’s winery, Saintsbury, in Napa, Calif. “The nose is a combination of sour cherry, oaked chardonnay and a wild yeast character. The taste has pleasantly light cherry and light malt up front, some chardonnay in the middle and finishes dry with a distinct tartness.”
Bishop’s Barrel No. 2 is an Old Ale brewed in late 2011, then pumped into oak barrels while adding sour cherries. During the ensuing 14 months, the beer fermented and developed into something special. Please note that it is best to allow Bishop’s Barrel No. 2 to warm some from the typical temperature it is served. The warmer the beer gets, the better it will taste and the more the cherry will come forward. Saint Arnold recommends serving Bishop’s Barrel No. 2 between 45°F and 55°F.
Specifications of Bishop’s Barrel No. 2:
- Style: Old Ale in Chardonnay Barrels with Cherries
- No. of Barrels: 54
- Cases Made: 1,146 (cases of 12 oz bottles)
- Original Gravity: 1.066
- Final Gravity: 1.012
- Alcohol: 7.8% ABV (after barrel aging)
- Bitterness: 13 IBU (it lost 8 IBU during aging)
Aging is currently underway for four future Bishop’s Barrel offerings, including Bishop’s Barrel No. 3, which will be a Weizenbock aged in bourbon barrels with cocoa nibs.
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About Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Saint Arnold Brewing’s 13 brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 45 dedicated employees. Ranked 43rd on the Brewers Association list of top craft breweries, Saint Arnold was listed by USA Today as one of the “10 great places to see what’s brewing in beer,” and Smart Meetings magazine named it among the “Top 5 breweries to host an event.” Saint Arnold is located at 2000 Lyons Avenue and its brewery tour and tasting is offered every weekday at 3:00 P.M. and Saturdays starting at 11 A.M. For more information on Saint Arnold’s five year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to www.saintarnold.com.
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