Barleycorn Magic (Hopped Beer Distillate)

BARLEYCORN MAGIC (DISTILLED HOPPED BEER)

from the Atelier Vie Distillery in New Orleans, Louisiana

From the Distiller: We have distilled several barrels of spirits from beer produced by our neighbors Zony Mash. After an initial release under a different name in late 2020, Barleycorn Magic is the second release in the series.  Barleycorn Magic is distilled from beer, which is of course made from grain, namely, malted barley. However, since beer is brewed with hops, and hops are not grain, the resulting spirit cannot be called “whiskey.” So sayeth the Alcohol Labeling and Formulation Division of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. So please don’t call this spirit “whiskey.” Absolutely not.
Instead, you must refer to it as spirits distilled from grain with natural flavors. The natural flavors were of course the hops, but other flavors made their way into the mix as well.

Barleycorn Magic was distilled from a medley of beers. First, an assortment of “fluffy” IPA variations, which were distilled and entered into a fifteen gallon barrel; then a witbier with citrus peel and coriander, which was distilled and entered into a five gallon barrel.
The smaller barrel was aged for fourteen months, while the larger barrel was aged for twice as long: twenty eight months. After aging, the barrels were blended and brought to bottling proof.

What does it taste like? Some might call it the most concentrated beer you’ll ever taste. Some might use another word, starting with the letter “W,” which, as noted above, you may absolutely not use in conjunction with the spirit. (Unless, of course, you are some kind of boundary-crossing individual who doesn’t pay attention to The Rules.) Be all that as it may, 114 bottles were produced and Barleycorn Magic is bottled in 750ml at 42% ABV, (84 proof).