About This Beer
Brickyard X Dot Brew Over Barrel 10 Ex Maple Syrup Barrel Imperial Stout 33cl 10% is a special Irish barrel-aged collaboration created to celebrate ten years of Brickyard Dundrum.
Brewed in collaboration with DOT Brew, this 10% Imperial Stout has been aged in a barrel previously used for maple syrup, creating a distinctive combination of dark malt richness and barrel-derived character.
The brewery describes Over Barrel 10 as a lush stout with woody, sweet caramelised sugar aromas and a rich chocolate and biscuit finish.
Discover more dark and speciality beers in our stout and porter collection.
Released as part of Brickyard's 2016–2026 birthday celebrations, Over Barrel 10 combines the character of a powerful Imperial Stout with an unusual barrel-ageing approach.
Ex-maple syrup barrels can introduce distinctive woody and sweet aromatic characteristics, making them particularly interesting vessels for ageing strong, dark beers.
In this release, the barrel influence complements the stout's rich chocolate and biscuit character.
At 10% ABV, Over Barrel 10 is a beer designed for slower enjoyment, offering an opportunity to appreciate the interaction between dark malt flavours and barrel ageing.
Tasting Notes
Brickyard X Dot Brew Over Barrel 10 is described as a lush Imperial Stout with woody, sweet caramelised sugar aromas and a rich chocolate and biscuit finish.
Appearance: A dark Imperial Stout, with the exact colour and head characteristics not specified.
Aroma: Woody notes and sweet caramelised sugar.
Flavour: Rich chocolate and biscuit character.
Body: Rich, as described by the brewery.
Barrel Influence: Ex-maple syrup barrel ageing.
Finish: Chocolate and biscuit.
ABV: 10%.
The aroma highlights the influence of the barrel, with woody characteristics alongside the sweetness of caramelised sugar.
These aromas complement the darker flavours associated with the Imperial Stout base.
On the palate, the brewery identifies rich chocolate and biscuit notes, creating a combination of sweetness and roasted grain character.
The finish continues this chocolate and biscuit theme.
The result is a strong, richly flavoured stout that brings together dark beer and the distinctive influence of an ex-maple syrup barrel.
Brickyard Dundrum's 10th Anniversary
Over Barrel 10 was created as part of Brickyard Dundrum's tenth birthday celebrations.
Brickyard opened in Dundrum in 2016 and has developed a strong connection with Dublin's independent craft beer community.
Its tenth anniversary in 2026 marks a decade of serving craft beer and building a community around independent brewing.
To celebrate the occasion, Brickyard introduced special releases reflecting its enthusiasm for distinctive beer styles and brewing collaborations.
Over Barrel 10 is one of these anniversary beers.
Its name references both the barrel-ageing process and the ten-year milestone being celebrated.
The collaboration with DOT Brew is particularly appropriate for a special barrel-aged release, bringing together Brickyard's craft beer identity with DOT Brew's interest in barrel maturation.
About DOT Brew
DOT Brew is an Irish craft beer producer particularly associated with experimental and barrel-aged beers.
The brand has developed a reputation for exploring the effects of different ageing vessels on beer, using barrels to create distinctive flavour combinations.
Barrel ageing allows brewers to introduce characteristics that are difficult to achieve through malt, hops and yeast alone.
Different barrels can contribute woody aromas, residual flavours from their previous contents and changes in the beer's overall character.
DOT Brew's experience with barrel-aged beer makes it a natural collaborator for a release such as Over Barrel 10.
The use of an ex-maple syrup barrel provides an unusual variation on the more familiar whiskey, bourbon and wine barrel-aged stouts.
What Is an Imperial Stout?
Imperial Stout is a strong, dark beer style known for its substantial malt character, higher alcohol content and complex flavour profile.
Originally associated with stronger interpretations of English stout, the style has developed into a broad category encompassing traditional, modern and barrel-aged examples.
Imperial Stouts commonly feature flavours associated with roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee, caramel and toasted grain.
The strength of the beer can contribute additional body and warmth, while the malt bill provides the foundation for its rich character.
Modern brewers frequently experiment with barrel ageing to introduce further complexity.
Barrels previously used for spirits, wine or other products can influence the aroma and flavour of the finished beer.
At 10% ABV, Over Barrel 10 sits firmly within the stronger end of the stout category.
Its ex-maple syrup barrel ageing provides an additional dimension to the beer's chocolate and biscuit characteristics.
What Does an Ex-Maple Syrup Barrel Add to Beer?
Barrel ageing is a brewing technique in which beer is matured in wooden vessels to develop additional aromas and flavours.
The characteristics of the barrel can influence the finished beer depending on the type of wood, its previous use and the duration of ageing.
Ex-maple syrup barrels are particularly interesting because they have previously held maple syrup rather than being used exclusively for spirits.
Depending on the barrel and ageing conditions, they may contribute woody aromas and sweet, caramel-like characteristics.
These qualities can complement the roasted malt and chocolate flavours of a strong Imperial Stout.
For Over Barrel 10, the brewery specifically identifies woody and sweet caramelised sugar aromas.
The finished beer also features a rich chocolate and biscuit finish.
Although the beer has been aged in an ex-maple syrup barrel, this does not necessarily mean maple syrup was added directly to the recipe.
The distinction is important: the confirmed feature of this beer is the barrel in which it was aged.
Why Barrel-Age an Imperial Stout?
Imperial Stouts are particularly well suited to barrel ageing because their substantial malt character and higher alcohol strength can support additional flavour complexity.
A lighter beer might be overwhelmed by intense barrel characteristics.
A strong stout, however, provides a robust foundation of roasted grain, chocolate and caramel-like flavours.
As the beer matures, it can interact with the wood and any residual character associated with the barrel's previous contents.
The resulting flavours depend on several factors, including the barrel itself, the beer and the length of maturation.
In Over Barrel 10, the interaction between the Imperial Stout and ex-maple syrup barrel produces the woody, caramelised sugar, chocolate and biscuit characteristics described by the brewery.
This makes the beer particularly appealing to customers who enjoy exploring unusual barrel-aged releases.
Food Pairings
The rich chocolate, biscuit and caramelised sugar characteristics of Over Barrel 10 make it a natural partner for desserts and savoury dishes with similarly intense flavours.
Dark Chocolate Brownies
The rich chocolate character of a brownie complements the beer's chocolate finish.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Sticky toffee pudding offers a particularly interesting pairing, with its caramelised sugar flavours echoing the sweet aromas described in the beer.
Chocolate Cheesecake
A rich chocolate cheesecake provides a creamy contrast to the beer's dark malt character.
Mature Cheddar
Strong, mature Cheddar offers a savoury counterpoint to the beer's sweetness and richness.
Blue Cheese
The pronounced saltiness and intensity of blue cheese can provide an enjoyable contrast to a strong, sweet-leaning Imperial Stout.
Slow-Cooked Beef
Rich slow-cooked beef dishes, particularly those featuring caramelised onions or roasted vegetables, can complement the beer's substantial flavour profile.
Serving Suggestions
Brickyard X Dot Brew Over Barrel 10 is best enjoyed at a temperature that allows its rich aromas to develop.
A suggested serving temperature of approximately 10–13°C is a useful starting point for a strong, barrel-aged Imperial Stout.
Serve in a tulip, snifter or stemmed beer glass to help concentrate the aromas.
Allow the beer to warm slightly as you drink to explore the woody, caramelised sugar and chocolate characteristics.
At 10% ABV, this is a strong beer that lends itself to slow enjoyment.
It can also be shared between two people as part of a tasting.
Store in a cool, dark location away from direct sunlight and excessive temperature changes.
Although some strong barrel-aged stouts can develop with careful cellaring, the ideal ageing potential of this particular release has not been specified.
Try More Like This
If you enjoy Brickyard X Dot Brew Over Barrel 10, there are several other dark beer styles worth exploring.
Barrel-aged Imperial Stouts offer similarly rich malt character with additional complexity from wood maturation.
Bourbon barrel-aged stouts often feature vanilla, oak and caramel-like characteristics alongside roasted malt flavours.
Pastry stouts explore dessert-inspired flavours, frequently featuring chocolate, coffee, vanilla and other sweet ingredients.
Traditional Imperial Stouts provide a more malt-focused experience, emphasising roasted grain, dark chocolate and coffee without additional barrel influence.
Explore our stout and porter collection for more dark beers.
You can also browse our wider craft beer collection for speciality releases and independent Irish brewing collaborations.
Brickyard X Dot Brew Over Barrel 10 Ex Maple Syrup Barrel Imperial Stout 33cl 10% is a distinctive anniversary beer celebrating ten years of Brickyard Dundrum.
Combining DOT Brew's barrel-ageing expertise with a rich Imperial Stout and the unusual influence of an ex-maple syrup barrel, this release offers woody, caramelised sugar, chocolate and biscuit characteristics.
For fans of strong, dark and experimental Irish craft beer, Over Barrel 10 is an interesting addition to the Brickyard 2016–2026 anniversary celebrations.
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