Editor’s Note: Bourbon Barrel Peace has been released in Nebraska as of April 25, 2016.  See the end of this post for locations that received it.

Back in late winter of 2015, when I asked Mikkel if he would do a beer to help support my dear friend Pat Clinch’s fight against pancreatic cancer, I also asked if he could put some into bourbon barrels.  Because, why not?  Mikkel delivered.  A few bourbon barrels from that one and only brewing of Peace were filled in June 2015.  In January of 2016, those bourbon barrels were emptied and bottled.  The beer is still called Peace, but the barrel aging makes a clear impact on the beer.

Good Life Provisions received a small allotment of the BA (that’s short for Barrel Aged for any non-beer geeks out there) version of Peace and as of April 25, I have started spreading it around to my accounts.  I decided that I wanted this version to be shared with the world though, so the volume available in Nebraska is much smaller (less than 25%) than the non-BA version. Pat’s face will be showing up (and already has) at bars and shops and glasses in Scandinavia, Europe, and many other US states.

Of course, thoughts of Pat have never ceased, but sitting down with this beer and having my first taste of it brought quite a wave of emotion back.  I felt that the clear thumb print of the bourbon on the beer was fitting.  I have never been a “shot guy”, and I can’t say Pat really was either but I have quite a few memories of him imploring me (or demanding) that I take a shot with him to get things started!  Pat was one of the very few people with whom I would indulge in that way, and I feel like it was frequently bourbon that we shot.

Enjoy responsibly and all that.  Don’t forget that hugs are free and should be given liberally.

Locations receiving BA Peace during the week of April 25, 2016:

Lincoln:

On The Go Convenience.  5240 S 48th St (NE corner of 48th & HWY 2)

Happy Raven. 122 N 11th St.

Hy-Vee Williamsburg. 6001 Village Dr. (40th & Old Cheney)

Jake’s Cigars.  101 N 14th St.

Leon’s Grocery.  2200 Winthrop Rd.

Meier’s Cork & Bottle. 1244 South St.

Moran’s Liquor Works. 3400 A St.

N Street. 1801 O St.

The Still.  6820 S 70th St.

Omaha:

Beertopia. 3570 Farnum St.

Brix at Village Pointe. 225 N 170th St. Suite 101

Hy-Vee Stony Brook. 14591 Stony Brook Blvd

Hy-Vee Linden Market.  747 N 132nd St.

Spirit World.  6680 Center St.