Ballast Point Brandy Barrel Aged Navigator

Navigator Doppelbock is our interpretation of the classic German style. It is a strong, malty lager. The high level of residual sweetness that comes from the use of Crystal Malts lends a flavor that is often compared to raisins or prunes. When we were able to acquire an empty brandy barrel from one of our friends at a central California winery, we thought this beer would be a perfect match. The vinous character imparted by the barrel really went well with the complex sweetness already present in the beer. Lots of breweries do barrel aging in whiskey or bourbon barrels, but I don’t know any others who have put out a brandy barrel-aged beer. We tried it with our Victory at Sea Imperial Porter in 2007, and it was good, but the flavors were kind of all over the place. I think we found a great match with this beer and these barrels.