Highland Brewing Kicks Off New Barrel-aged Series with Release of Bourbon Barrel-aged Black Watch

Posted on by mashingin

HighlandBrewingLogo2Highland Brewing (Asheville, North Carolina) has officially announced that it will launch the Southern Nouveau Series, a new barrel-aged beer program, with the Limited Release of Bourbon Barrel-aged Black Watch on Black Friday, November 29.

With a name inspired by “the architectural beauty” found in Highland’s home city of Asheville, the Southern Nouveau Series is a new lineup of carefully crafted offerings that will “encompass both clean and sour barrel-aged beers.”  The first three offering in this series will be “bourbon barrel-aged stouts with exciting additions, like earl grey tea from local tea shop Dobra Tea and cacao nibs from Asheville’s own French Broad Chocolates. The first sour beers in the series will debut in the Spring of 2020 alongside the opening of Highland at the S&W Market.”

“There is such excitement and anticipation on our team about these beers,” said Highland Family-Owner and President/CEO, Leah Wong Ashburn. “The Southern Nouveau Series name was inspired by the architectural beauty of Asheville, which has been called the Paris of the South, and our connection to the history of this place. The beers showcase the innovation and quality at the Brewery Taproom in East Asheville and in 2020, they will shine in the Art Deco glamour of Highland at the S&W Market.”

 

Trace Redmond, Brewing Innovation Manager, said, “We have been building the barrel program for two years now and I’m excited to share the fruits of our labor. With the Southern Nouveau Series, we are exploring Southern ingredients and bringing together the beer, barrels and time to create something new. We want these beers to feel true to Asheville and Highland. You don’t get to be a 25-year-old brand without patience. You also don’t get great barrel-aged beers without patience, so these beers will reflect our past and the future we’re building.”

The first official release in the Southern Nouveau Series will be Bourbon Barrel-aged Black Watch, an amped up version of Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout that has “aged in bourbon barrels for one year.”  Weighing in at smooth-sipping 11.5% ABV, Bourbon Barrel-aged Black Watch “features the brownie batter character fans enjoy from Black Watch, but with spicy bourbon and oak notes that soften the mouthfeel.”

Bourbon Barrel-aged Black Watch will officially release at Highland Brewing during the Black Watch Release Party on Black Friday, November 29.  Like all Southern Nouveau Series releases, Bourbon Barrel-aged Black Watch will be available in 500ml bottles and on draft for a limited time.  Bourbon Barrel-aged Black Watch is a brewery exclusive release and is not expected to see distribution.  Prost!

Vital Information for Bourbon Barrel-aged Black Watch from Highland Brewing

Release – Limited/Southern Nouveau Series; November 29, 2019
Style – Milk Stout
ABV – 11.5%
Treatment – Aged for over a year in Bourbon barrels
Availability – 500ml bottles & draft
Distribution – None; brewery exclusive release

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Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout Returns for Highland Brewing

Posted on by mashingin

highland-brewing-black-watch-double-chocolate-milk-stoutHighland Brewing Company (Asheville, North Carolina) has announced plans to release Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout on Black Friday, November 25.

Black Watch – named for the historic military regiment that protected the Scottish Highlands – was first brewed as a Highland staff collaboration between lead bartender J. Unger and pilot brewer Paul Rollow.  They achieved their goal of creating “the chocolatiest beer” possible, and it proved to be a huge hit with the brewery’s regulars.  The beer’s instant popularity ultimately led to it earning its first packaged release last year within the brewery’s Warrior Series, a limited series of “big beers in small batches.”  After a bit of tinkering from Brewmaster Hollie Stephenson, the recipe for Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout now combines “one pound of cacao nibs per barrel with five malts, roasted barley, and flaked oats to create a rich, high-gravity ale reminiscent of brownie batter and marshmallows.”

“Black Watch was an overnight sensation last year. When the pilot batch was on tap, there was daily talk among our team. We had this totally natural and exciting staff engagement around this beer. Then the public release created an instant following,” said Leah Ashburn, President. “It’s so much fun to see people react to the chocolate sensations, from the first sniff through the finish.”

Highland Brewing Company will hold an official release event for Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout at the brewery on Black Friday, November 25 at 2 p.m.  Shortly thereafter, a limited amount of 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and kegs of Black Watch will head to Alabama, Florida and the rest of Highland Brewing’s 9-state distribution area.  This fan-favorite offering will absolutely move with a quickness once it hits shelves, so be sure to keep an eye out for this one when it drops in late November.  Prost!

Vital Information for Black Watch Double Chocolate Milk Stout from Highland Brewing Company

Release – Limited: Warrior Series.  Black Friday, November 25, 2016
Style – Milk Stout
ABV – 8%
IBUs – 45
Hops – Chinook & Willamette
Malts – 2-Row Base, Munich Dark, Chocolate Malt, Carafa II, Roast Barley, Honey Malt & Flaked Oats
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.highlandbrewing.com/beer-finder/