Westbrook BA Mexican Cake release details announced

Westbrook

SC beer geeks have been champing at the bit ever since Westbrook announced plans to release a barrel-aged version of its Mexican Cake imperial stout. Forums have been inundated with guesses as to when the bottles would be released, what the price would be, how many bottles people could get and so on. Well, now all those questions have been answered.

You’ll recall the beer in question is the original batch of Mexican Cake produced in 2011 that has been aging since then. Adjuncts – cinnamon, peppers, etc. – were added after barrel aging, meaning you still get all the things that pop in the original version as well as the barrel characteristics. The beer has been aging in Jack Daniels, apple brandy and Cabernet barrels since January 2012

Tuesday morning, the details for the release of the beer were finally announced. They are as follows:

  • The bottles will be released Friday, July 12, at 3 p.m. at the brewery.
  • There will be a four (4) bottle limit per person of each variant and 12 in total, in accordance with SC law. The brewery may reduce that limit based on how big of a crowd shows up.
  • Each 22 oz. bottle will cost $20 plus tax.
  • Bottles will not be held or reserved. You can only get them by showing up at the brewery and waiting with everyone else.

Apple Brandy, Red Wine BA Mexican Cake are coming

MEXICAN-CAKE-STICKER

Remember the other day when I said bourbon barrels weren’t the only ones Westbrook‘s Mexican Cake was aged in, and that other barrel-aged versions of the imperial stout were anxiously waiting to be bottled?

Told ya so.

A day after they teased BBL Mexican Cake, Westbrook on Thursday tweeted out a photo of a version that had been aging in apple brandy barrels and would soon be bottled. Soon after that, it was announced a third variant – this one aged in red wine barrels – was also on the way.

What’s the deal with these beers? Here’s what we know so far:

  • Mexican Cake has been aging in two Jack Daniels barrels, two apple brandy barrels and two red wine barrels. The bourbon barrel one has been bottled and the apple brandy version has been racked into the fermenter.
  • All of these barrels were filled in January 2012, so this is the first anniversary batch of Mexican Cake. However, the beer put in barrels was the base without any spices or peppers. So, when the beer is racked into the fermenter, the cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa nibs and Habaneros were added, meaning you still get the Mexican Cake you know any love with a little something extra.
  • Between 30-50 cases of each variant will be released – obviously less for the smaller barrels – and possibly at the same time. There is no solid release date, although June has been floated as a possibility. The label artwork is not yet finished.
  • This will be a brewery only release.