Saint Arnold Brewing Co. today releases the sixth beer in its barrel-aged series, and it’s an intriguing one.

For BB6, the brewers took their imperial pumpkin stout and aged it in rum barrels.

So now beer lovers in Texas and Louisiana can see what the popular fall seasonal Pumpkinator (or Divine Reserve No. 9, for those who tried it first back in 2009) tastes like after spending nine months absorbing the flavors of oak and rum.

Should be a treat.

Oh, and that time in the barrels boosted the ABV to 13 percent, from 10.4 percent.

Like all of the limited Bishop’s Barrel releases, this one is sold in bars and restaurants only. And only in 12-ounce bottles, with no draft version available.

For more detail, here’s today’s news release:

HOUSTON, February 17, 2014 –Saint Arnold Brewing Co. (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today releases Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 6, the latest release in the brewery’s small batch series of barrel-aged beers. Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 6 is an imperial pumpkin stout that has spent the past nine months aging in oak barrels that previously were used by Appleton Estate to age its rums for 21 to 30 years. Due to the small amount of beer produced from the barrels, Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 6 will only be available in pubs and restaurants throughout Texas and Louisiana. At any given time, Saint Arnold’s brewers have a half dozen or more different beers aging in its refrigerated barrel room on the brewery’s third floor. In the case of Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 6, the barrel aging process infused the base beer, which followed the recipe for the highly coveted seasonal, Saint Arnold Pumpkinator, with the flavors of oak and rum, adding to the beer’s complexity. “We always choose the barrels carefully to enhance and compliment the characteristics of the underlying beers, and in this case the barrels and the beer were meant to be together,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wager. “I can’t emphasize enough that the warmer it gets the better this beer tastes. Its flavors become rounder and fuller when it’s enjoyed over 55 degrees.” Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 6 pours a dark brown black and smells like a pumpkin pie with a hint of rum. The taste is an onslaught of flavors, beginning with sweet malt, chocolate and spices, followed by a warming rum finish. Specifications of Bishop’s Barrel No. 6: Original Gravity: 1.100 Final Gravity: 1.024 Alcohol: 10.4% ABV pre-barreling 13% ABV post-barreling Bitterness: 30 IBU Bishop’s Barrel No. 6 is the third Saint Arnold beer to feature the brewery’s imperial pumpkin stout recipe, which won the Silver Medal in the 2012 World Beer Cup in the Field Beer or Pumpkin Beer category. It was first introduced in late 2009 as Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 9, and limited supplies are released annually prior to the holidays each year as the seasonal Pumpkinator. On Twitter, follow @saintarnold and #BB6 On Facebook, like www.facebook.com/saintarnold About Saint Arnold Brewing Company Saint Arnold Brewing’s 16 brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 56 dedicated employees. Ranked 45th on the Brewers Association list of top craft breweries, Saint Arnold was listed by USA Today as one of the “10 great places to see what’s brewing in beer,” and Smart Meetings magazine named it among the “Top 5 breweries to host an event.” Saint Arnold is located at 2000 Lyons Avenue and its brewery tour and tasting is offered every weekday at 3:00 P.M. and Saturdays starting at 11 A.M. For more information on Saint Arnold’s seven year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to www.saintarnold.com.

Join Beer, TX on Facebook at facebook.com/rcrocker.beertx or follow me on Twitter: @rcrocker. I’m also on Google+.

“Houston Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in the Bayou City” is available in bookstores and in e-book format. Find out about signings and other events at facebook.com/HoustonBeerBook.