Barrel-Aged Master of Kettles

Pour: Deep amber to dark brown, rich and viscous.

Smell: Intense aromas of maple syrup, bourbon, dried fruits (prunes, fig), and molasses.

Taste: Sweet and complex, with prominent maple and vanilla flavours mingling with sticky date pudding, dried fruits.

Finish: Long and lingering, smooth, with a gentle warmth that persists.

Description

This extra-special barrel-aged release began life as the already extraordinary Master of Kettles (MOK) – the result of what happens when Hamish and Ross have a sleepover at the brewery.

A 24-hour boil, 16% English-style Barleywine brewed solely with Western Australian-grown Barrett Burston Pale Malt, MOK spent day and night boiling simultaneously in two kettles to create a sticky, raisin-laden beast of a beer. Roughly 2.2 tonnes of malt were used to create 4,000 litres of wort, which then spent 25 days in stainless before transferring to our foeder – one that formerly held Cognac in a past life.

After its initial maturation in French oak, a small amount of this legendary beer was transferred to ex-maple bourbon barrels for an unprecedented three-year slumber. This extended ageing has imbued the beer with layers of rich, sweet bourbon and decadent maple notes, harmonising beautifully with the existing prunes, dried fig, and molasses character.

The result is a truly exceptional sipper, where the original’s pound cake and sticky date pudding profile now dances with a luxurious maple-bourbon embrace. A rare and profound expression of brewing artistry – and still the reigning master of our brew kit!

Style: 24-hour boil, English-style Barleywine

Time in Barrel: 3 years

ABV: 16% ABV

Malt: Barrett Burston Pale Malt

Hops: Tetrahop

Adjuncts: Vanilla, Maple

Allergens: Contains Gluten

Fun facts: Long boils promote Maillard reactions and caramelisation, which create deep, toasty, and caramel-like flavors. Sugars in the wort react with amino acids at high temperatures, leading to the formation of hundreds of flavour compounds. A 24-hour boil will produce much darker, richer caramel flavours than a typical 60-90 minute boil.

Additional information