BATTLE OF THE BARREL

“BATTLE OF THE BARREL” PITS AGOURA MICROBREWERY AGAINST MALIBU ESTATE WINERY

This much they agree on – Malibu Family Wines loves beer and Ladyface Ale Companie loves wine. Ladyface even worked with Malibu’s vintners to create the Ladyface Cuvee, a blend of Malibu’s Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah varietals, served exclusively at the popular Agoura Hills brewpub. It was all friendly, cozy even, until someone suggested putting Ladyface beer in Malibu Family Wines’ barrels.

It was decided that Ladyface La Trappistine ale, a dark, rich, malty Belgian dubbel, would be aged in a Semler Syrah French oak barrel with fifty pounds of fresh Syrah grapes from the Semlers’ Malibu Estate. It then enjoyed a secondary fermentation and maturation for several months, imparting dryness and complexity. In fact, purported Ladyface, the barrel-aged Trappistine would taste better than plain Syrah wine. “Not so, beer geeks”, responded Malibu. “W(h)iners”, replied Ladyface. And thus began the Battle of the Barrel.

From March 26th to March 29th, guests at both establishments will be able to purchase sample tasters of the 2008 Semler Syrah and Ladyface Ale Companie’s ’08 Semler Syrah barrel-aged La Trappistine and cast their votes. *

The winner will be announced at a Battle of the Barrel Finale to be held Tuesday, March 29th from 4:00-6:00pm at Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie. A total of 150 tickets are available, 75 at Ladyface and 75 through the Malibu Family Wines website. Attendees must be 21 years of age or over. There’ll be music, voting and, no doubt, a lot of last-minute campaigning by both sides.

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