5th Annual West Coast Barrel Aged Beerfest

Last Saturday was supposed to be a lazy day, consisting of a trip to the farmer’s market followed by some reading and a few football games on TV. That all changed when I heard about the 5th Annual West Coast Barrel Aged Beerfest taking place from 11-7pm at the Bistro in Hayward, CA. I’m not sure how it missed my attention, but an hour long train ride from San Francisco was worth the trip. The opportunity to try over 60 different barrel aged beers doesn’t come around often.

The Bistro is a small bar in downtown Hayward located just blocks from the BART station. They host several different events each year, including an IPA and a Double IPA festival. Two large tents were constructed on the adjacent side street to accommodate the crowds and a 60-foot bar top. Attendees were given a commemorative glass and ten tickets for four ounce pours at a price of $40. Additional slurps were only $2 if you quickly burned through your allotment.

I spent most of my time staring at the three page beer menu that listed not only the beer, but the brewer, barrel type, how long it was aged, the ABV (alcohol by volume), and it’s characteristics. Beer age ranged from as little as 3 months to 2 years in every kind barrel you can imagine; Chardonnay, Port, Bourbon, French Oak, Syrah and so on. With so many choices decisions were time consuming. Do I go with a barrel aged Pinot Saison or a funky French oak Nectarine Grizz?

You really couldn’t go wrong. For me it came down to style preferences or seeking out the extremely rare offerings, like the Edwin’s Oaked Winterscotch from Iron Springs. Only five gallons of the beer were produced. One of my favorites was the Brett Butler from Drakes Brewing. It’s a “Belgian Triple aged in a Pinot Noir barrel and briefly exposed to the San Leandro atmosphere.” Who knew Bay Area breezes contained such flavorful yeast? In the end, I managed to work my way through 13 different high-octane beers. Most of them were 7% ABV or higher, so a little went a long way.

If you’re not familiar with the breadth and scope of barrel aged beer this is a great festival to attend. Just check out the list of choices below and I’m sure to see you there next year.

Brewery, Beer, Barrel Type & Age

1. 21st Amendment Brewing, Hop Crisis Imperial, American Oak.
2. Ale Industries, B.B. Leroy.
3. Ale Indudtries, Fysus.
4. Avery Brewing, Rumpkin, Goslings Rum, 6 months.
5. Bear Republic, Ryevalry, Neutral French Oak, 6 months.
6. Bear Republic, Clobberskull, French Oak, 100 days.
7. Bear Republic, Sour Crazy Ivan, Wine Barrel, 2 years.
8. Bear Republic, Nectarine Grizz, French Oak, 15 months.
9. Bear Republic, Heritage, New French Oak, 30 days.
10. Black Diamond, Peak XV Imperial Porter, Heaven Hill Bourbon, 12 months.
11. Black Diamond, Winter Grand Cru, Heaven Hill Bourbon, 12 months.
12. Blue Frog Brewery, DIPA No.3, Chardonnay Barrel, 30 days.
13. Blue Frog Brewery, DIPA No.3, Syrah Barrel, 45 days.
14. Deschutes Brewing, Mirror Mirror, French Oak.
15. Deschutes Brewing, The Abyss, French Oak.
16. Deschutes Brewing, Jubel 2010, Oak Pinot.
17. Dogfish Head, Palo Santo Marron, Paraguyan Palo Santo Wood.
18. Drakes Brewing, Wyld Stallyns, American Port Merlot, 1.5 years.
19. Drakes Brewing, Brett Butler, Pinot French Oak, 10 months.
20. Drakes Brewing, Volte-Face, Merlot American Oak, 1.5 years.
21. Drakes Brewing, The Creator has a Mastertape, Port French Oak, 3 years.
22. Drakes Brewing, Kadath Decoded, Pinot Noir-Merlot-Grenache, 3 years.
23. Fifty Fifty, Imperial Eclipse Stout 2010 4, Four Roses Single Barrel, 225 days.
24. Fifty Fifty Brewing, Imperial Eclipse Stout 2010, Heaven Hill Rye, 214 days.
25. Firestone Walker, 14.
26. Firestone Walker, Nectar Black Xantus, Heaven Hill Bourbon.
27. Glacier Brewhouse, Beam Stout, Jim Beam Bourbon, 7 months.
28. Glacier Brewhouse, Big Woody Barleywine, Virginia Czech Oak, 7 months.
29. Grand Teton, Tail Waggin Double White, Chardonnay, 2 to 4 months.
30. Iron Springs, Edwin’s Oaked Winterscotch, American Oak Chips, 11 months.
31. Iron Springs, Edwin’s Christmas Ale, Bourbon Chips, 2 years.
32. Lagunitas, Hairy Eyeball, Valley of the Moon Port.
33. Lagunitas, Cappuccino Stout, Bourbon Barrel.
34. Lagunitas, Imperial Stout, Bourbon Barrel.
35. Lagunitas, Blend Saison, Chardonnay/Pinot Barrel.
36. Lagunitas, Imperial Stout w/Brett & Raspberies, Heaven Hill Bourbon, 12 months.
37. Lagunitas, Brown Shugga, Heaven Hill Bournon, 12 months.
38. Marin Brewing, 21 Year Old Ale, Port, 18 months.
39. Moylans, Old Blarney Barleywine 2009, French Oak & Stillwater Port.
40. Moylans, Ryan Sullivan’s Imperial Stout 2008, French Oak & Stillwater Port.
41. Moylans, Wet Hopsickle 2010, Medium Toast French Oak.
42. Moylans, Batch #1000 Double Kilt Lifter 2007, American Oak & Stillwater Apple Brandy.
43. Mad River, 2009 Cellar Reserve John Barleycorn Barleywine, Heaven Hill Bourbon, 30 weeks.
44. Mad River, 2009 Cellar Reserve John Barleycorn, Brandy Barrel, 30 weeks.
45. New Belgium, La Folie, French Oak.
46. Palo Alto Brewing, Porter, French Oak Syrah, 4 months.
47. Port Brewing, Older Viscosity 2009, Bourbon.
48. Rodenbach, Grand Cru, Oak Casks, 24 months.
49. Rodenbach, Rodenbach, Oak Casks.
50. Russian River Brewing, Consecration 2009, Cabernet Sauvignon, 4-8 months.
51. Russian River Brewing, Supplication, Pinot Noir, 9-12 months.
52. Russian River Brewing, Consecration 2010.
53. Santa Cruz Ale Works, Lost & Forgotten, Heaven Hill Bourbon, 12months.
54. Sierra Nevada Brewing, 30th Anniversary.
55. Sierra Nevada Brewing, Life & Limb, America Bourbon.
56. Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, Payback Porter, Evan Williams Bourbon, 12 months.
57. Stone Brewing, Old Guardian Barleywine Ale, Red Wine French & Oak, 12 months.
58. Stone Brewing, o7.07.07. Vertical Epic, Red Wine French & Oak, 8 months.
59. Valley Brewing, The end of evil as we know it, Heaven Hill Bourbon, 4 months.
60. Verhaeghe, Duchesse De Bourgogne, Oak Casks, 18 months.
61. Verhaeghe, Echt Kriekenbier, Oak Casks.