Glendale, Wisconsin – Just in time for the holiday season, Sprecher Brewery will release XII Dragons, a Kentucky Bourbon barrel aged Belgian Quad. Rather than going straight from the finishing tanks to the bottling line a few barrels of Sprecher Brewery’s award-winning Quad have been resting for almost two years in Kentucky Bourbon barrels while becoming XII Dragons. Sprecher Brewmaster Craig Burge decided the time has come to give the world this exceptionally balanced and delicious Belgian Quad that is true to style but with an American twist.
Dark mahogany in color, XII Dragons is a massive mouthful of malt goodness balanced by warming alcohol with a whisper of bitterness and playful spice; perfect for cooler weather or late evenings. Predominant flavors include caramelized sugar, toffee, dried fruits (fig, cherry, raisin, plum), molasses, light spice (clove, pepper, nutmeg) and a slight hint of citrus. Bourbon barrel aging added notes of vanilla, oak and toasted caramel to this Belgian style ale, creating a velvety smooth, rich and complex treat for beer lovers wide and far.
Semi-dry to sweet, this is a strong beer – 14% abv, alcohol by volume – that is still coming into its own and will continue to develop for many more years. It was named XII in honor of its
historical designation, when 19th century Trappist monks identified beers by numbers roughly corresponding to the original gravity, which is a measure of the unfermented wort. The higher the original gravity, the higher the alcohol will be. XII designates a high gravity “strong beer” – or sipping beer – however tasty it might be.
“In making XII Dragons our brewmaster took on a huge challenge. He created a very sophisticated beer that can be enjoyed for many years to come. I plan to do vertical tastings, cellaring some of the bottles for at least a decade,” said Randy Sprecher, founder and CEO of Sprecher Brewery.
A limited edition beer, XII Dragons is packaged in one liter flip-top bottles and will be sold in a holiday gift pack along with Czar Brew (a Bourbon barrel aged Imperial Stout) and Commando (a Bourbon barrel aged Scotch ale). The gift packs will first be available at Sprecher Brewery Wednesday, November 21, and the Sprecher Taproom Friday, November 23rd. Pricing during the holiday weekend will be $40; afterwards the Gift Packs will be $50. Individual bottles of XII Dragons will not be available for purchase. After the Thanksgiving weekend, expect to find Sprecher’s Bourbon Barrel Gift Pack in stores throughout Wisconsin.
About Sprecher Brewing Company:
Maker of award-winning beers and sodas, Sprecher Brewing Company is Milwaukee’s first craft brewery since Prohibition. Established by Randal Sprecher in 1985, Sprecher remains a leader in Wisconsin’s craft brewing industry.
Sprecher Brewery is located at 701 W. Glendale Ave, Glendale, WI. The Gift Shop is open seven days a week; tours are offered daily. More information about the brewery history, products, tours and Gift Shop hours can be found at www.sprecherbrewery.com, or by calling 414.964.7837.