Barrel-aged beers...

Cyril Hubert, a beer specialist and beer sommelier, stands as its finest ambassador. As an international judge for prestigious competitions, he has taken part in two World Beer Sommelier championships and aims to restore the ancestral beverage to its rightful prominence. With a background in both traditional and gastronomic cuisine, he appreciates local products, the art of savoir être, and savoir faire. He often emphasizes: anyone can drink beer, but a certain finesse is required to truly savor it.
 

In the sophisticated world of prestigious beverages, barrel-aged beers hold a privileged position. After decades of obscurity, the tradition of selling and consuming barrel-aged beers is experiencing a revival, bringing with it a distinctive heritage of tradition and authenticity. This resurgence is driven by a clear intention: to impart to beer the aromas derived from wood or inherited from the previous beverage that resided in the barrel.

This reaffirmed approach aims to elevate beer to a higher category by offering more complex versions that justify a slightly higher price. The goal is to bring the beer-tasting experience closer to the refined realms of spirits and wine. Among the treasures within these barrels, any style of beer can be used, often yielding what connoisseurs refer to as “liquid treasures”, with alcoholic undertones.

Imperial Stouts and Baltic Porters, dark and profound like a starless night, infuse each sip with a symphony of complex roasted aromas, coffee, cocoa, tar, caramel, liquorice, black fruits, or dried fruits such as prunes, figs, or blackcurrants.

Barleywines and Old Ales, ambassadors of aromatic power, gracefully embrace the barrels. The marriage of these two worlds offers an intoxi­cating dance between rich malty, vinous, and woody notes, touches of vanilla, caramel, and accents of candied fruits, creating beers to be savored like aristocratic elixirs.

Belgian Strong Beers, yeasty and phenolic by their inherently bold nature, can be tamed by any type of barrel, offering a frenzied aromatic ballet where spices harmoniously blend with the barrel's qualities, creating an unforgettable sensory experience.

Beyond the borders of these powerful beers, the world of barrel-aged beers expands with Italian Grape Ales, an exquisite blend of Italian brewing traditions and the art of ageing in wine barrels. Crafted with great precision, these refreshing and complex beers made with grape must reveal a truly unique tasting experience, offering vinous tones from the grape variety used, as well as fruity and tangy notes.

Depending on the beer used, the union of these two worlds reveals a rare finesse in taste and aroma, unveiling a lively dance. Beyond the symbiosis between beer and barrel, it is the transformation of the barrel into a full-fledged ingredient that gives these beverages their unique character. The pores of the wood become mystical channels, transmitting to the liquid the very essence of their history and origin, capturing the essence of the terroir.

At the heart of this sensory adventure, beer stands as a true ambassador of a bold tradition. These beverages, carrying the essence of barrels and craftsmanship, shape a universe where the art of brewing transcends rules, becoming a subtle expression of history inscribed in every fiber of wood. Master brewers, passionate artisans, perpetuate an ancestral know-how by exploring the subtle marriage between the complex aromas of beers and the impenetrable notes engraved in the pores of carefully selected barrels.

Thus, savoring a “Barrel-Aged Beer” becomes an initiatory journey, an immersion into a world where the stretching of time plays a fundamental role and flavors blend into an enchanting symphony. Barrel-aged beers surpass the boundaries of tradition to embody the very essence of creativity, where the soul of the liquid contained in the barrel engages in a dialogue with the taster's palate, creating a tasting experience of unparalleled richness.

Cyril Hubert (Photos taken at Domaine d'Eclépens)