Tag: Rum Barrel

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Best Beers of December 2025

I have three bests for the final month of the year. Starting with the only non Christmas beer of the trio, Dunn of Darkness from Route 30 Brewing which I mentioned in an earlier post. A really nicely done dark Czech Lager. Struck the right balance of big malt taste and sprightliness.

The runner-up was Christmas Bock from Enegren Brewing. A little jolt of fruitcake energy for the holiday season along with a nice little punch of alcohol to it.

This months winner is the Rum Barrel edition of Santa’s Secret Stash from El Segundo Brewing. The oaky barrel quality shines through and there is enough of a rum presence to add a layer to an already impressive base beer.

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Holiday Ale Review – Santa’s Secret Stash from El Segundo Brewing

Exciting to taste a rum barrel Christmas Ale from the fine folks at El Segundo Brewing who have a steady little barrel program.

Some cans you crack open and you can tell that the contents are barrel-aged from a foot away, such is the case with Santa’s Secret Stash. Wood aroma and burnt sugar greet the nose in abundance. The Christmasy red color of the beer is perfect for the season and even though it is 10%+ beer, it doesn’t cloy at all. In fact, it has a bit of a sprightly fruitcake tinge to it. Getting lots of red fruit notes. Works well for a hot weather L.A. day.

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Detour

I am onboard with Tiki bars even though I am more of a bourbon and gin and not rum pirate.  But Radiant Beer Co. has a interesting rum barrel detour…

“Tropical Detour – Rum Barrel-aged Strong Ale – 14.9% ABV.  We chose a strong ale that spent almost 2.5 years in Barbados Rum Barrels and blended it with other strong ales aged in Grand Marnier and Chartreuse Barrels. Then, we conditioned the blend on roasted almonds, limes, grapefruit, and oranges with a kiss of cinnamon. The result is an eloquent equatorial extravaganza of tropical flavors housed in a deep brown pour with a touch of tan foam. The aromas are complex, reminiscent of a tiki cocktail with emphasis on notes of citric acidity and rich rum, with some lingering impressions of dark rum and toasty, nutty accents. Take a trip to the tropics; a pinky-up visit to your favorite island.”

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Review – Level 8 Unlocked by Pacific Plate

Reaching year 8 is great. Pacific Plate Brewing has notched that level now and have released a big Saison in honor of it. Let’s review it here….

Very barrel.  Oodles of wood notes.  Idaho 7 and Cashmere hops? Sure.  The barrel crushes them.  Some Saison spice notes escapes the rum barrel vortex.  But when I think anniversary beer, I want something big.  This is big.  It is only 8.5% but it stops you in its tracks.

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Rum Duvel

I posted earlier this year about Delirium Belgian beer aged in barrels. Now it’s Duvel’s turn with…

I was just talking about my relative lack of a good rum experience so this could be a nice start to re-think rum.

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Stone Barrels

Rumvergnugen or Pampepato?  Rum, hazelnut and molasses or fruitcake?

Of these two new barrel aged beers, I would go with the latter.  Wouldn’t touch an actual fruitcake but I have had some surprisingly good fruitcake inspired beer.  Besides, rum and then molasses on top of a dunker might become to sweet too fast for me.