pFriem + Breakside Barrel Aged Bananas Foster Black Barleywine is a blend of our Rum Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout and Breakside’s Bourbon BA Barleywine, so we’ll break down the history of those styles separately.
Barleywine, a potent and complex beer style, has its roots in the 1400s when hops became more widely used in brewing. These strong ales, often aged for extended periods, were initially known by various names like stock ales or winter warmers. The term "barleywine" emerged in the late 19th century, popularized by Bass Brewery's No. 1 Barley Wine. This moniker highlighted the beer's high alcohol content and potential for aging, similar to wine. Barleywines are known for their rich malt character, often showcasing notes of caramel, toffee, and dried fruit. The addition of hops can provide balancing bitterness or contribute fruity and floral aromas. While traditional British barleywines tend to be darker and maltier, American interpretations often lean towards hoppier and more assertive profiles.
Oatmeal stout is a dark, full-bodied beer with a rich, creamy mouthfeel and a complex flavor profile. It's a classic style that originated in England in the late 19th century, gaining popularity for its supposed health benefits. While the original oatmeal stouts used a small amount of oats, modern interpretations often incorporate more oats into the grist, resulting in a smoother, creamier texture. The roasted malt character provides notes of coffee and dark chocolate, while the oats contribute a subtle sweetness and a velvety mouthfeel.
The practice of aging these stouts in bourbon barrels is a recent innovation. Greg Hall of Goose Island Brewery in Chicago is credited with creating the first commercially available bourbon barrel-aged stout, Bourbon County, in 1992. This sparked a barrel aging movement within the craft beer scene, which would see brewers experimenting with many types of casks, spirits and finishes to enhance their beer.
pFriem + Breakside Barrel Aged Bananas Foster Black Barleywine is a long discussed, finally realized dream collaboration between the barrel departments of our two breweries. Inspired by the classic dessert, bananas foster, we selected a barrel aged imperial stout and a bourbon barrel barleywine from pFriem’s barrel stash, and blended it with choice barleywine and milk stout barrels chosen from Breakside’s cask selection. This decadent elixir was then finished on ripe caramelized bananas, whole vanilla beans and toasted cinnamon.
