Schell's Stag Series Batch No. 9: Cave-Aged Barrel-Aged Lager

This is offering number nine in the Stag Series of limited release beers from the August Schell Brewing Company of New Ulm, Minnesota. They were established in 1860 and they are the second oldest family owned brewery in the United States, behind Yuengeling. This is a 7.7% ABV dark lager that they put into whiskey barrels and then aged in their naturally cool 19th century lagering caves located deep below the brewery.

The beer pours a very dark brown and dark ruby in color, appearing nearly black. There is nearly an inch of thick, light brown foam that settles down to a long lasting quarter-inch layer. The aroma is roasted malts, sweet whiskey, vanilla, oak, and some brown sugar. The taste follows the aromas, roasted and sweet, but with a dry finish with oak astringency. The whiskey and vanilla soften the roastiness. Damn near every beer gets barrel-aged these days, but you don’t see many lagers.  Maybe more should be barrel aged if this is any indication.