Breakside Brewing releases Toytown Techno, a bourbon & brandy barrel-aged Imperial Stout
Breakside Brewery’s latest release in their revamped barrel-aged beer program is Toytown Techno, an 11.3% ABV and 29 IBU Imperial Oatmeal Stout aged in bourbon and apple brandy barrels. Available now in 22oz bottles, this limited release has flavor notes of creme brulee, and charred marshmallows, with a silky mouthfeel.
With Toytown Techno, Breakside continues their exploration of the unity and diversity of barrel-aged stouts. No adjuncts were harmed in the making of this blend of 5 different and distinct barrel-aged beers harmoniously merged for nuance and distinct flavors that separate it from the past two BA releases Space Music and Dark Cabaret.
Brewers began blending the barrels that would become Toytown Techno by focusing on a cluster of casks filled with a Double Imperial Stout that had been aging in bourbon barrels for the past year. They selected about half of the barrels from this cohort for their velvet mouthfeel, notes of dark fruit, elevated barrel char, and clean nougat-forward bourbon presentation.
Building from that, the brewers sought out additional casks in the cellar that would amplify the notes of mallow and char without pushing the roast or fruitiness over the top. In an unexpected twist, they found that some barrels of younger, higher ABV, triple oatmeal stout aged for less time really punched up all of the positive attributes of the initial casks. This was a pleasant surprise since frequently younger casks are too rowdy to include in any substantial amount if you want a balanced finished beer. Finally, some long-aged English ales in apple brandy and bourbon barrels added sweetness, and pleasant raisinated notes, complementing the stout profile.
TOYTOWN TECHNO BARREL BLEND:
45% Double Oatmeal Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels for 12 months
33% Triple Oatmeal Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels for 5 months
11% Barleywine Aged in Apple Brandy Barrels for 26 months
11% Wee Heavy Aged in Bourbon Barrels for 26 months.