If you’re going to plan and properly execute a three-year beer vertical, you need to choose the right beer and the right beer style. You need a bigger, higher alcohol beer that will stand up to aging (depending on how many years you’re looking to cover), which is where Fremont Brewing’s Bourbon Barrel-Aged B-Bomb and its 14 percent alcohol by volume comes in. B-bomb (the B stands for bourbon or barrel, you decide), a bourbon-barrel-aged winter beer released annually on B-Bomb Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. It’s a special treat to line up a series of vintages of the same beer. Today, Peaks and Pints presents a vertical flight of B-Bomb that we call Craft Beer Crosscut 12.15.18: A Vertical Flight of Fremont B-Bomb. Taste and sense the different flavor qualities; how have they changed with age?

Craft Beer Crosscut 12.15.18: A Vertical Flight of Fremont B-Bomb

Fremont 2016 B-Bomb

14% ABV, 65 IBU

The year 2016 is when Fremont changed the name of its Bourbon Abominable to simply, B-Bomb. That year’s release of B-Bomb is aged in 12 and 15 year-old American oak whiskey barrels and is a blend of 24 and 12-month old barrel strength Winter Ale. B-Bomb achieves distinct bourbon, oak, cacao, leather and dark coffee notes from its extended barrel aging and barrel blending. Each barrel contributes a different note, and combining each barrel to create a coherent tone is a distinct art and true pleasure.

Fremont 2017 B-Bomb

13% ABV, 65 IBU

Last year’s release of B-Bomb is aged in 12-year-old American oak bourbon barrels and is a blend of 9, 12, and 24-month old barrel strength Winter Ale.

Fremont 2018 B-Bomb

14% ABV, 65 IBU

This year’s release of B-Bomb is aged in 8-12-year-old American oak bourbon barrels and is a blend of 9, 12, and 24-month old barrel-aged Winter Ale.