Episode Notes

Episode 42: 10th Anniversary Barrel Aged Blend

It’s the Two Minute Beer Review!

I’m Andrew Burkum, and once again I’m your companion as we face down that massive craft brew aisle in search of the hidden treasures we’ve been missing out on all along.

This week I have a very special episode for you. Dust Bowl Brewing, in Turlock, California, is one of my favorite breweries. They brew a ton of really great beers and do a great job of being tied to the community as well. If you’re a regular listener, you know that I’ve already reviewed several beers from Dust Bowl and got to sit down and chat live with some of the masterminds that keep the beer flowing. For that interview, just look up the episode we did on Dust Bowl’s Resilience IPA. All of this to say that this weekend Dust Bowl celebrated their 10th anniversary. So I am taking this moment to say thanks to the fine folks at Dust Bowl and a very happy anniversary from the Two Minute Beer Review.

IN celebration, this week we’re going to take a look at Dust Bowl’s special edition 10th Anniversary Barrel Aged Blend. Does this wax-sealed wonder deliver on 10 years of experience? Let’s find out!

The 10th anniversary blend pours a nice, inviting deep, dark brown. It’s crowned by a creamy tan head that hugs the surface of the brown depths. Immediately, there is a strong smell of molasses and brown sugar. The scent is deep and malty but there’s no hint of chocolate or coffee like you might expect out of a beer this dark. There is just a touch of bourbon in the nose—I’m sure that’s coming from the barrels in which the brew was aged.

But what about the taste? This beer starts sweet and caramel up in the front of the mouth which immediately gives way to a wave of roasted malt flavor that washed over and through the entire mouth. There’s just a tiny bit of bitterness in the very back that’s balanced perfectly and keeps this strong beer from feeling too much like a dessert. There’s some fruit in there as well, deep and dark. The feeling of this beer in the mouth is very full and rich. It’s dense in both flavor and texture like a nice thick slice of dense cake would be. There’s the essence of the barrel there in the swallow as well, but it’s not overpowering the rich and complex flavors of the beer.

This Barrel Aged Brew is complex, delicious and most importantly different from anything else that’s hanging around out there right now. The masters at Dust Bowl have put their experience to good use and have created a masterpiece. And at a 12% ABV you’ll only need one if you know what I mean!

Well that’s all for this week, but I hope you’ll join me next week as I rejoin our friends at Hapa’s brewing and try out their Pillars of Creation Double IPA. Does this one have all the energy necessary to give birth to a new star? We’ll find out next week! Look for links to this week’s beer and brewery in the show notes and as always, be sure to follow the Two Minute Beer Review on Facebook and twitter for information on upcoming episodes and events.

The Two Minute Beer Review is produced by the Phoenix Podcast Network, an affiliate of the Phoenix Creative Collective. Have you had a chance to look at the new Patreon where you can lend your support and help keep our shows on the air? You can find it at patreon.com/phoenixccmerced or just click the link in the show notes.

That’s all for this now, but I’ll see you next week as we continue on our quest to taste all the beer!

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Music: River Meditation by Jason Shaw used under Creative Commons License

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