Supporter Post:
We kick off 2013 on BeerPulse with a rare entry into the world of spirits. No, this post will not educate you on the various types of spirits like whiskey (Wikipedia can help) or how to make beer cocktails but we will share an opportunity for you to try some spirits that have a connection with some of your favorite craft beers. France 44 is a great place to order whiskey online (and craft beer, too).
1. Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special 18 and Highland Park 18 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Here is a rare chance to try a barrel-aged beer along with the very spirit whose barrels were used to make it. “Ola Dubh (‘Black Oil’) is a collaboration beer between us and Highland Park Distillery. To create Ola Dubh 18, we mature our award-winning Old Engine Oil in whisky casks that have formerly held Highland Park 18.”
Order Ola Dubh 18 (Brewery notes)
Order Highland Park 18 Year (almost sold out but they have plenty of 15 Year) (Tasting notes)
2. New Holland Mad Hatter IPA and New Holland Hatter Royale Hopquila Hopped Whiskey
“Humulus lupulus, a.k.a. “hops.” Their lively aromatics and punctuated bitterness are best known for their most infamous role in brewing. Hatter Royale is the innovative creation, Hopquila which invites the herbaceous perennial to the exciting world of distilled spirits. A fermented wash of 100% barley is twice distilled, then steeped with Centennial hops. The vivacious spirit features a grain-centric body framed by citrus-laden hop character in the nose and finish. Hoparitas!”
Order Mad Hatter IPA and Hatter Royale Hopquila
3. New Holland Dragon’s Milk and New Holland Zepplin Blend Straight Malt Whiskey
“Zeppelin Bend is a culmination of New HollandÆs brewing roots and a growing passion for distilling. A straight-malt whiskey, it begins with a brewerÆs mash coaxing sugars from malted barley into a liquid wash. This wash is twice distilled and aged in new American oak with a heavy char. Notes of vanilla and clove arise from the slightly caramelized spirit leading to a classic American-oak finish.”
Order Dragon’s Milk and Zepplin Blend
4. Anchor Genevieve and Junipero Gin
“Notes from Anchor: Junipero Gin is made by hand in the classic “distilled dry gin” tradition, utilizing morethan a dozen botanicals in their natural state, in a small copper pot still at our littledistillery on Potrero Hill in San Francisco. The history of gin goes back at least to the mid-1600’s in Holland, but its true antecedents are much earlier, those first experiments in the ancient and mysterious art of distilling in the presence of herbs and spices.”
Order gin (selection for Anchor beer is limited but available)
5. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
(as used to make Brooklyn Black Ops and Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel)
Description for Double Oaked “An innovative approach to twice-barreled bourbon creates the rich and colorful flavor of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Uniquely matured in separate, charred oak barrels – the second barrel deeply toasted before a light charring – extracts additional amounts of soft, sweet oak character.”
6. Buffalo Trace Bourbon
(as used in the making of Samuel Adams Utopias 10th Anniversary among others)
“Buffalo Trace is one of the most award-winning distilleries in the United States. It operates out of a 200-year-old distillery that continued to produce “medicinal spirits” even through Prohibition! More recently, it is the origin of such storied whiskies as Blanton’s, Eagle Rare, Elmer T Lee and George Stagg. Buffalo Trace is their workhorse brand, and has been a best-seller in the store for years.”
7. On a budget?
Some of the most notable craft breweries like Sierra Nevada and Founders stash barrels from budget brands like Heaven Hill and Jim Beam.
8. Looking for high-end brands?
There are also a small handful of bottles of high-end items like Eagle Rare and Four Roses.
Info on shipping/ordering can be found at the bottom of the post. If you’re really only looking to buy beer, check out our top 25 list below.
Legend: WR = “RateBeer World Ranking” / RB = “RateBeer”
[table caption=”Top 25 Overall Beers”]
Rank,Top Beer,Buy beer from…,WR,RB Score
25,Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale,Summit,,98/99
24,Harviestoun Ola Dubh (18 yr),Harviestoun,,99/98
23,Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet 1.5 Black IPA,Clown Shoes,,99/98
22,De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis Imperial Stout,De Molen,,100/97
21,Tyranena The Devil Made Me Do It,Tyranena,,100/97
20,Lagunitas Hop Stoopid,Lagunitas,,100/98
19,Saison Dupont,Brasserie Dupont,,99/99
18,Olvisholt Lava Smoked Imperial Stout,Olvisholt,,99/99
17,Anchorage Galaxy White IPA,Anchorage,,99/99
16,Fuller’s 1845,Fuller’s,,99/100
15,Scaldis Prestige,Scaldis,,100/99
14,Domaine Dupont Cidre Reserve 2010 Harvest,Domaine Dupont,,99/100
13,Traquair Jacobite Ale,Traquair,,99/100
12,Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald,Great Lakes,,99/100
11,Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga The Firefly,Jolly Pumpkin,,99/100
10,Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti,Great Divide,,100/99
9,Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast Stout,Mikkeller,,100/100
8,St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout,St. Ambroise,,100/100
7,Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blue,Het Anker,,100/100
6,Founders Porter,Founders,,100/100
5,Bell’s Expedition Stout,Bells,,100/100
4,Surly Furious IPA,Surly,,100/100
3,St. Bernardus Abt 12,St. Bernardus,46,100/99
2,Stone Imperial Russian Stout,Stone,30,100/99
1,Rochefort Trappistes 10,Rochefort,9,100/100
[/table]
Shipping Tips:
Here is a link to the Shipping Policy and list of states to which France 44 can ship beer.
Fill up your cart and then click on “My Cart” in the upper right corner. On the next screen (order screen), punch in your zip code in the Destination Zip Code input field in the lower right part of the order screen and hit enter on the keyboard. It will then calculate your shipping (without having to sign up or enter a credit card).
The optimal order where shipping cost is most efficient is 24 beers (or 48 or multiples of 24 from there). If you order a 25th beer, they have to add a second box which is an extra charge.
No international shipping.
New Arrivals/In-store Tasting Updates:
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A Quick Word:
I’ve said it before and I will say it again. As with all of the businesses I feature here, supporting them is a great way to support BeerPulse (in this case, while even getting yourself some beer in the process). Carin and the rest of the crew are big on delivering great service so give them a try if you haven’t already. Got questions about ordering? Ask for Carin when dialing 612-278-4416 or send Carin an email at [email protected]. Disclaimer: BeerPulse only acts as a conduit of information and takes no responsibility for the fulfillment of your order. You must be at least 21 years of age to order.
