Scarlet Lane Preparing Huge Announcement

So you say you like Dorian, the popular face-changing stout brewed by Scarlet Lane Brewing? And you like bourbon-barrel beers and seek them out whenever you can? Look no further, Scarlet Lane is producing some barrel-aged Dorian for your pleasure!

Other commitments last weekend forced me to miss most of Scarlet Lane’s 1st Anniversary party in McCordsville but I finally made it. And thank goodness that I did because while many of the beer offerings were out, I was afforded a special treat. 

I got to taste a sample of the Bourbon Barrel Dorian Coconut Stout!

A couple of days after the party, I was allowed to return to SLB to hear more from Simon Sothras, Nick Servies and Doug Sheets, and to learn a little about the barrel-aging process. Some secrets were left inside but I can offer a bit of a sneak preview.

We’ve all probably heard that there’s no such thing as a dumb question but I’ve never really subscribed to that theory. And with Simon teaching a classroom of one, I refrained from asking it. My end of the conversation simply amounted to a bunch of “uh-huh’s” and head nods as I tried to keep up with what he was saying.

Before arriving at Scarlet Lane last year, Simon directed the barrel-aging program at Ninkasi Brewing in Eugene, Oregon, so rolling, pounding and poking the barrels is nothing new to him. Regularly turning out 60 barrels a month would prepare him for just about anything.
    
I couldn’t have been happier when Simon offered a glass of the barrel-aged Dorian Coconut Stout (on nitro!) poured in their new anniversary snifter. The Buffalo Trace barrel did its job but not exceedingly so, like some other barrel-aged beers. Subtle bourbon flavors shone through while still allowing the wonderfully creamy Dorian to remain the star of the show. And after the beer had warmed, other complex flavors appeared. Wow!