Two iconic ski-town businesses, Breckenridge Brewery and Breckenridge Distillery have teamed up to debut Buddy Pass, a unique barrel-exchange program. Buddy Pass is both a Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout and an Imperial Stout Cask Finish Whiskey that blends the best of these award-winning brands. Breckenridge Brewery opened in 1990 and is the third oldest brewery in the state and Breckenridge Distillery, the World’s Highest Distillery is built from pure whiskey passion and quality products and one of the most highly awarded craft bourbons in the country.
“This is a true Breck to Breck partnership,” said Jimmy Walker, Head Innovations Brewer at Breckenridge Brewery. “We’re two like-minded companies that love to bring people together for moments that become memories. Plus, we’re buddies. Buddy Pass is an expression of our friendship as well an ode to the mountain’s buddy passes and the friendships toasted after an epic day. It’s truly a collaboration at its peak.”
The collaboration brings together the true culture of Breckenridge. Breckenridge Brewery brewed an Imperial Oatmeal Stout, a tribute to the first beer ever brewed there, it was then aged in Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon barrels from just down the road— 2.5 miles, to be exact. When the beer was sufficiently aged, imbued with flavors from the barrels, it was returned to stainless steel containers. Those freshly dumped barrels were taken back to Breckenridge Distillery and filled with its award-winning whiskey and aged again for about a year. The subsequent spirits and suds are a perfect marriage between the two craft companies that both beer and whiskey lovers alike will enjoy. Collaborations like this are so rare because of the short window of time when it's possible to refill the whiskey barrels after the beer has aged in them.
Buddy Pass is Breckenridge Brewery’s Barrel-Aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout is a quintessential “big beer.” With a velvety mouthfeel, this beer is meant to be sipped, not slammed. The Imperial Oatmeal Stout imparts notes of dark chocolate-covered cherries, espresso, and toffee; its time in the Breckenridge Distillery’s high-rye bourbon barrels imparts hints of caramel sweetness that take it to the next level. As a result, Buddy Pass is a bold, boozy brew that is meant to be shared.
Stout Cask Finish is Breckenridge Distillery’s showcase notes from the Imperial Oatmeal Stout. The resulting spirit is dark and sultry: the nose conjures rich, earthy chocolate-covered fruit; at first sip, velvety chocolate notes envelop the palate with hints of caramel and orange; think whiskey by the fire after a day on the slopes.
Buddy Pass will be available on November 15, 2021 and will be available November- February with Bottle (6/4) and Keg (1/2 BBL) (1/6 BBL) options.