The day is almost here! Divine Reserve No. 12 will be released tomorrow, July 31. Not every store will get it tomorrow. It may take the entire week before everybody gets their allotment. Also, while the kegs will be delivered this week, not all accounts will put it on draft right away. Some may even age it. You can search Twitter under #DR12 to see where people are finding bottles and draft.

DR12 is an old ale and was inspired by David Rogers' winning entry in the 2011 Big Batch Brew Bash. There are two definitions of Old Ales. The first is an ale in the old style, which refers to an ale bigger than regular ales. This was the more common definition up to 15 years ago. Our Christmas Ale is an example of this style. The newer definition is a very high alcohol ale that has been aged. This is what DR12 is, except that you have to supply the aging. We did condition DR12 in the fermenters for over 2 months.

DR12 is a very big ale with the high alcohol (10%) creating a spicy malt and hop flavor. Aging will allow the alcohol to oxidize and create sherry flavors that will round out the beer. It will age best if stored cold. This beer will come into its own in a year and should be drinking great 5 years from now.

When pouring this beer, we highly recommend decanting it, pouring it slowly and smoothly and leaving the last ounce or so in the bottle. You can pour this into a separate glass if you wish, but you will find that the decanted portion tastes brighter and cleaner. The nose has rich malt notes and a little alcohol that combines with a spicy hop note to create a complex bouquet. The taste has a spicy, malty beginning that smoothes out into a creamy middle and a warming finish. Also, make sure to let this beer warm up before your drink it. It is best enjoyed at around 50° F.