This is Frank from Victory Brewing in Downingtown Pennsylvania. Jim and I got to meet Frank when we were at the brewery in April, and he is a super nice fella. Frank also runs Victory’s yeast lab, and I nicknamed him the “Yeast Whisperer” because he really is into the awesome power of those little critters. Well Victory just posted this picture of Frank filling old Heaven Hill bourbon barrels with some sort of beer!
This is a great sign, as when Jim and I toured the brewery we had spied these very same barrels and the response reminded me of the
Wizard from the Wizard of Oz saying “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.” It was clear it was a hush hush kind of operation at that point. What is inside the barrels we did find out, but have been sworn to secrecy. Victory’s facebook post said that whatever was inside was being transformed in a most delicious way and that it might be available for a limited offering sometime around the holidays.
Let’s hope one of us can get his hands on whatever delightful concoction is inside these babies! I know what it is, and I can’t wait to give it a taste. It will undoubtedly be an awesome brew.
If we get some, of course we’ll keep you posted. If not, we’ll just whine a lot.
-Don
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Ha ha – I KNOW A SEEEEECRET! And I can’t wait to taste it.
SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Frank, I’m trying to keep him quiet, but you know what Jim is like! Glad you stopped by. I know we are both anxious to get a taste. Drop by anytime.
My silence can be bought, don’t worry! The price is beer, barrel aged ______________ to be exact!
When I went for a tour around 2 years ago they also had some barrels. I don’t they are to new to this but I wonder why they are making such a big deal right now. About time Victory did something like this. I like their stuff but some of it was becoming stale. Yeah I know I sound like the usual beer dork wanting to much but I really love this brewery. I want them to do more! And hey they are from my home state dammit!
They have had an aversion to the barreling thing. I think they thought it might be a fad, and didn’t want to get sucked in. Well I think they now know that this is no fad, and the barrel aging of beer is going to be here to stay. So I think that is why they are making this announcement and making a bigger splash right now. I’m guessing you will see a lot more barrel aged stuff from Victory in the future.
We saw the the barrels when we were doing out TV Demo there, and we grilled Bill about the barrels – we wanted to tap it right there! I think it’s cool that they are starting to play around a bit more. Their philosophy is “German beer adjusted to American tastes,” and we Americans love stuff in barrels.
I’ll know they’ve gone nuts once they start fruiting the beer!