Limited edition Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine hits the shelves

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine is hitting shelves locally as the second barrel-aged seasonal brew from Alltech Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co., following the success of the craft brewery’s Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale last fall.

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine is a traditional American-style Barley Wine aged for six weeks in freshly decanted Kentucky Bourbon barrels. With a malty backbone and a citrusy aromatic hoppiness, this craft beer comes together to create a well-balanced flavor profile and ruby-red color. The complex brew mellows into a balance of sweet malt, vanilla and caramel notes and bitter hops – creating a delicious Kentucky version of a beer style that originated among the British aristocracy. At 10 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), this limited seasonal release is a perfect sipping beer to enjoy as the last notes of winter finally melt away.

“Barley wines are big, bold and usually a big hit with craft beer drinkers, especially since the market isn’t saturated with them,” said Ken Lee, master brewer for Alltech Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co. “They’re something a little different. It’s been a lot of fun for us as brewers to build upon our barrel-aged seasonal series, and to see how quickly these types of beers fly off the shelves.”

Alltech Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company’s barrel-aged seasonal program allows the brewery to step outside of its year-round offerings and further its reputation as one of the largest barrel-aging operations in the country. The brewery regularly ages 3,000 to 5,000 barrels at a time and handles up to 1,000 barrels per week. The brews in the seasonal series are finished using the same process as Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout, two beers in the brewery’s year-round lineup, which are both aged in bourbon barrels for six weeks. The company also plans to follow up Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine with a barrel-aged summer seasonal.