Six Degrees North have announced the release of a beer aged in Scottish Oak barrels, thought to be the first of its kind.
The barrels were provided by nearby Fettercairn distillery, who continue to experiment with Scottish oak in order to provide a long-term, sustainable future for the business.
Six Degrees North are no newcomers when it comes to barrel ageing, having been experimenting since the brewery was founded by Robert Lindsay in 2013.
They have recently started producing the Unicorn Series, a selection of small-batch barrel-aged beers, of which this is the latest edition. This is the first time they have gained access to barrels made entirely from Scottish oak, producing a unique flavour profile.
“The oak adds so much complexity and flavour to the beer, with notes of caramel, vanilla, and a delicate peppery spice coming through,” said Robert.
“It really is unique when combined with the base beer, which is full of dried fruit and molasses flavours, but, most importantly, there is a great balance of flavour. We are really proud of how this beer has turned out.”
That base beer is a quadrupel, a 12% ABV strong, dark beer. The barrels had contained whisky for five years and, once the beer had finished, ageing they were returned to Fettercairn to be used for whisky once again.
Robert added: “To be able to use such unique barrels has been a really exciting project for us, teaming up with a local distillery that is celebrating its 200th year.
“We hope this to be a sign of what is to come as we continue to explore the possibilities between whisky and beer ageing, experimenting and pushing boundaries.”
The beer will be released on Friday at Edinburgh’s Gravity Festival and will be available at independent shops throughout Scotland, as well as on the brewery’s own website.
