Over a beer with Sierra Nevada brewer Terrance Sullivan earlier this year, he told me about plans to release a barrel aged edition of Bigfoot in 2012. The North Carolina build tentatively pushed this release into 2013, but the plans remain intact. Sierra obtained a mixture of whiskey barrels (Jack Daniels, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam) for this project. 750 is the bottle size and the labels are painted.

Our Bigfoot Barleywine is a craft beer legend. Each winter, this beast of a beer appears and wreaks havoc on unsuspecting palates with its intense bittersweet flavors. This year–in honor of the 30th Anniversary of this style-bending brew– we’re releasing a very special version of this cult classic: Aged in oak whiskey casks for nearly two years, this barrel-aged Bigfoot is incredibly complex. The assault of resinous hops has mellowed, and the influence of the wood has shifted focus toward the malt–with rich burnt-sugar flavors and notes of vanilla, toasted coconut, and raisins. Grab this elusive beast while you can, because it won’t be around for long.

Style: Barleywine (Barrel Aged)

Availability: 750 ml bottles

Arrival: TBA

11.8% ABV