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chatRare Beer Club 2-Bottle Selections - January 2025
King Louis XIII (RBC Exclusive)
O'so Brewing Company – Plover, WI
[Imperial Barrel-aged Lager with Terpenes - 10% ABV]
O'so Brewing Company, in the small village of Plover, Wisconsin, has quietly become one of the very best breweries in the state. O'so was founded in 2007 by husband-and-wife team Marc and Katina Buttera, and in the succeeding years O'so has become one of the fastest growing breweries in the state; their year-round The Big O wheat ale won gold at the GABF in 2015, and their hoppy and sour releases, especially, have made them one of the most influential breweries in Wisconsin. Long-time club members may recall their exceptional Silver Streak New-England-style oaked double rye IPA; their Project LO oak-barrel-aged sour blonde ale dry-hopped with Huell Melon; Space Ace Oddity white IPA with Brettanomyces; and Convenient Distraction, an imperial porter with vanilla & coffee. This month, we're pleased to have the opportunity to work with O'so again to bring you their King Louis XIII, bottled especially for the Rare Beer Club.
King Louis XIII is a delicious imperial lager aged in second use bourbon barrels with the addition of terpenes (naturally occurring aromatic compounds found in hops), creating a unique and flavorful golden amber colored beer. We get aromas of toasty oak with hints of vanilla, toasted coconut, and caramel, along with subtle notes of char and smoke from the bourbon barrels, as well as notes of dried apples and pears. The terpenes add bright notes of lemon and grapefruit zest, a resinous pine aroma, floral, herbal, and slight dank tones. It's medium to full-bodied and nicely malty on the palate with notes of light caramel, toasty bread, and hints of toffee. There was also a great balance of complementary hoppy bitterness that's bright and zesty with a great floral and herbal character. Its notes linger with bourbon barrel caramel, toasted oak, malty sweetness, and terpene-driven resin and citrus.
Grand Cru 25th Anniversary
BJ's Brewhouse – Temple, TX
[Belgian-style Ale Brewed with Spices - 10.5% ABV]
Our history with BJ's brewmaster Alex Puchner goes back a long ways. Back in 1994, Alex served as a founding brewmaster on the club's selection panel, working with us for our first three years and providing invaluable insight into Belgian-style brewing. Alex had been homebrewing for nearly a decade at that point, and was brewing for what was Laguna Beach Brewing. He also had honed his skills at Newport Beach Brewing, Huntington Beach Brewing, and Westwood Brewing. Today, Alex is the Sr. Vice President of Brewing Operations at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, and over the years has been at the helm as they've amassed an impressive array of hardware from prominent beer competitions, including over 200 medals from the GABF, the World Beer Cup, the North American Beer Awards, and several others.
Grand Cru is BJ's annual crown jewel, and this 25th Anniversary edition is something very special. It presents a deep golden-amber hue in the glass-its pale appearance belying its robust strength. In the aroma, yeast-derived white-pepper phenols take the lead, joined by dry clove notes that lend a pleasing bitterness which serves as the backbone for the beer's complexity. Initially reminiscent of a Belgian tripel with assertive peppery tones, the aroma reveals layers that go far beyond expectations, including soft doughiness, hints of vanilla, floral honey, burnt sugar, and an occasional warming boozy note. The flavor builds on this opening act, also resembling a tripel elevated to new heights, thanks in no small part to the brewers' use of orange peel and coriander. While the signature peppery and bitter notes dominate upfront, the malt profile is richer and more complex than usual for the style. Notes of honey, herbal nuances, bright tangerine, and firm coriander interplay with pronounced caramelization. This richness is balanced by vibrant carbonation, warming alcohol, and a consistent bitterness that reins in the sweetness, with citrusy brightness and nutty undertones providing lift and smoothness. This limited-run beer will be available via BJ's Brewhouse Beer Club and The Rare Beer Club.
