Sip of the Week: Gunwhale Ales' Bourbon Barrel-Aged Double IPA

It’s Wednesday once again, which means its time for another Sip of the Week!

I’ve been away at a conference this week for work, but still found time for a quick visit to a local brewery to feature a new sip. I first visited Gunwhale Ales in Costa Mesa, California with my family over the holiday break and was thoroughly impressed with each beer I tried. Given that my conference location was only a few miles away, I knew I needed to make another trip back to revisit the most unique beer I had tried at Gunwhale: Green Room, the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Double IPA!

A glass of beer on a table with farmhouse tools on the wall in the background. — The BBA DIPA! It’s all about acronyms on the taproom’s menu board. Deciphering the meaning of these letters will prove to be rewarding with the final pour!

Sure, many breweries feature IPAs and barrel-aged beer, but have you ever tried a barrel-aged IPA?

Until my visit to Gunwhale, I had not.

A photo of a window with barrels in the background. — A peek into the barrel room, which I’m sure is where the Green Room is perfected!

Since then, I’ve been perplexed as to why more breweries aren’t jumping on this bandwagon! The flavor profile in this beer is completely unique: sweet-smelling, oaky, hoppy, earthy, and overall very well-rounded. The bourbon definitely comes through, but by no means overpowers the Double IPA. Instead, the flavors of the barrel perfectly compliment the subtleties of this West Coast-style brew. Each sip leaves you feeling cool and refreshed yet warm and toasty all at the same time. It’s magic!

A little more about Gunwhale Ales:

I love the motto “preserve the wild” since it also relates to so many of our outdoor adventures camping and visiting national parks. It you also partake in using these parks and public lands, be sure you’re setting a good example by keeping it wild.

Gunwhale walks the line between traditional European farmhouse style ales and bold West Coast styles that California is known for. They’ve created a new market along this line that they call “coastal ales”. You can expect their beers to be hop-forward and yeast-driven, creating flavors that are robust and unique, yet balanced and nuanced. Their head brewer, Kevin Hammons, built his experience through homebrewing and several roles at The Bruery in Placentia (another local brewery specializing in barrel-aged and experimental beers).

Other Honorable Mentions

While the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Double IPA is my personal favorite, I can’t post without recognizing some of the other excellent beers I tried at Gunwhale.

Two people filling pints of beer at a bar with a menu board in the background. — Beer-tenders at work serving their customers. The menu board in the background gives you an idea of the wide variety of beers Gunwhale offers!

The Swallowtail Double IPA is a citrusy, full-bodied double IPA that is surprisingly smooth considering its high ABV (9.1%!). While it has citrus flavors, they aren’t overpowering. Instead, they are balanced by some earthy notes like pine. IPA-lovers will obsess over this one.
The Bait Ball Unfiltered IPA is one of Gunwhale’s flagship beers. It’s hop-forward nature and crisp finish leaves you wanting more. You can expect tropical, passionfruit flavors on the backbone of the Citra and Simcoe hops.
For those who prefer the Farmhouse style, Bang Straw Table Beer is an easy, drinkable, beer with a slight tang and earthy flavor. It is surprisingly nuanced for a seemingly simple brew. There’s no wonder it’s another flagship beer for Gunwhale!
For those who are loving the Brut IPA trend (like me! Check out my previous blog post all about the Brut IPA trend), you’ll enjoy the Pinkies High Brut IPA. Characteristically crisp and dry, this beer allows subtle hop flavors to shine. You’ll enjoy the layered flavors of an IPA while feeling like your beer is light and refreshing.

If you want to visit:

An arial view of the taproom with people throughout. — A bit of a bird’s eye view of the taproom. See those people on the right-hand side with the pizza box? Those are Sips N Tips’ number one fans (aka my parents, who also have an appreciation for good beer and accompany me on these crazy adventures every so often).

Check out Gunwhale’s tasting room in Costa Mesa next time you find yourself in the area. Their taproom perfectly compliments their Coastal Ale style, showcasing little hints of farmhouse tools and the seafarer’s gadgets. It’s a laidback atmosphere where you can bring your dog or your own food. The bartenders are friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable and will assist you in loading up on some crowlers to go (trust me, you’ll want lots of them).

So there you have it, the January 8^th edition of Sip of the Week! Thanks Gunwhale Ales for such a delicious, unique sip to add to my list. I can’t wait to visit again!

Have a sip that you think I should feature next? Let me know in the comments below!

Cheers!