Barrel-aging Insight: Inside the three different variants of Braxton Brewing’s new saison

One beer, three blends.

Barrel-aged beers are almost more event than beverage. After maybe a year or more, a new, exciting concoction is ready to be unveiled to an awaiting public. We like the barrel-aging approach Braxton Brewing Co. took with its the three newest releases in its Heritage Series line of beers — let’s try three different versions of the same beer and see what happens.

Meet Union Saison, a beer that has been aged in wine barrels for over a year and is celebrated in three different variants — Rouge, Blanc and Bleu.

“This has been a very exciting project for the team,” said Evan Rouse, Braxton Brewing Co. co-founder and head brewer. “We love having the ability to experiment with different types of barrels. These were some of the earlier barrels we received, and we couldn’t wait to fill them with the perfect style. The saison pairs so nicely with the French Oak tannins and wine flavors, you aren’t going to want to pass this one up.”

The name Union is a celebration of both the brewery’s origin and the product itself. Braxton Brewing Co. was born in a garage on Braxton Drive in Union, Ky. This is where Rouse began homebrewing and innovating. Now, located on West 7th street in Covington, Ky., the brewing company is excited to continue that innovative spirit. Union Saison also celebrates the beautiful harmony between the farmhouse saison beer style and French Oak. Union was aged in two different types of barrels: Cabernet Sauvignon and Vidal Blanc. Union is being bottled and sold in three different variants:

• Rouge: saison aged in Red Wine Barrels
• Blanc: aged in White Wine Barrels
• Bleu: blend of Red Wine Barrel and White Wine Barrel aged saison with blueberries added

“We’re thrilled to share Union as the next beer in our Heritage series. When we put this saison in wine barrels last year, we had no idea it would develop this well over the year,” said Jake Rouse, Braxton Brewing Co. co-founder and CEO. “Projects like these are why you get into craft beer, and I can’t wait for you to try them.”

Adding to the exclusivity of this event, an extremely limited number of bottles are available now to be reserved. If any bottles are not reserved by Friday, July 1, at 12 p.m., they will be released to the public. The brewery does not expect many bottles, if any at all, to be available without a reservation. Due to this, a strict bottle limit will be enforced: two bottles per variant per person.

I’m almost positive this post just whet your appetite for barrel-aging coverage. Here is a Q&A we did with Green Flash Brewmaster Chuck Silva