Wood Beer

Wood Beer is a specialized category that encompasses various styles of beer with one unifying characteristic: they have all been aged or somehow influenced by their interaction with wood. This contact with wood can impart a range of flavors, from subtle totes such as vanilla, coconut, and caramel to bold tannins and even specific woody notes like cedar or oak. The wood can also be charred or toasted prior to contact with the beer, adding another dimension of flavor complexity, such as smoke or enhanced richness.

The beers within this category can vary greatly in underlying style – they could be robust stouts, sour ales, or even hop-forward IPAs – but the key factor tying them together is the unique character derived from their time spent with wood. Some might use new barrels, while others recycle barrels that once aged spirits or wine, gaining additional layers of flavor from the vessel's past contents. This category is distinguished from other traditional beer styles due to this direct influence of wood on both its aging process and its final profile. Unlike other categories where purity of style and adherence to traditional methods are typically valued, Wood Beer celebrates experimentation and the transformative power of wooden vessels on classic beer foundations.