Hilliard’s Beer, located in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, was one of just five breweries invited to collaborate with Jameson Irish Whiskey for their Drinking Buddies program. Todd Garrett and Adam Merkl of Hilliard’s were lucky enough to be invited to visit the Jameson distillery in Ireland, and they were sent home with five whiskey barrels to create a Jameson-inspired beer.

The embedded video is a recap of Garrett and Merkl’s visit to Jameson, as well as a nice overview of Hilliard’s.

After some experimentation, Hilliard’s decided to brew a beer inspired by the classic whiskey sour cocktail. They brewed a kettle-soured saison and fermented it with Belgian yeast and lactobacillus, and then they aged the beer in the Jameson barrels. The resulting beer should be tart and lemony, with flavors of caramel, vanilla and charred oak imparted by the barrels.

The beer will be released to the public on Wednesday, August 19. In addition to being available at the Hilliard’s taproom in Ballard, select spots around town will also be pouring it.

Original press release:

NEW YORK, NY – (June 23, 2015) Jameson® Irish whiskey announces today the next phase of the Jameson Drinking Buddies program, highlighting distinct craft beer collaborations with American breweries. Continuing on last year’s successful collaboration with KelSo Beer Company of Brooklyn, Jameson is partnering with five local breweries from across the US who exemplify devotion to the spirit of their neighborhoods and share Jameson’s passion for craft & quality in the beer they produce.

The five breweries from across the US include – Angel City Brewery in Los Angeles, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company in New York, Deep Ellum Brewing Company in Dallas, Great Divide Brewing Company in Denver, and Hilliard’s Beer in Seattle. Jameson invited each brewery to the distillery in Ireland, and then sent them home with Jameson Whiskey barrels to create a limited edition beer inspired by both their experience in Ireland, and their own unique neighborhood.

Showcased in a video series, being released over the coming weeks on JamesonNeighborhood.com, is the story of each partner brewery in the Drinking Buddies program. From visiting the Jameson distillery in Ireland, to becoming buddies with the whiskey distillers, the series sheds light on each brewer’s Drinking Buddies experience. Following the distillery visit, the brewers returned home to their neighborhood breweries with Jameson barrels, where the episodes chronicle the beers they ultimately brewed.

“The breweries involved share Jameson’s passion for craftsmanship, quality, and creativity,” said Sona Bajaria, Director, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Pernod Ricard USA. “With the creation of these locally brewed Jameson-inspired beers, our goal is to pay homage to the spirit of each brewery’s neighborhood.”

Hilliard’s Beer Jameson Whiskey Barrel Sour
– Color – Chestnut
– Aroma – Citrus, spiced wood, and a light sweetness
– Flavor – Kettle-soured Saison with tart, lemony notes from the Belgian yeast and lactobacillus. Flavors of caramel, vanilla and charred oak imparted by the barrels.
– ABV – 5.5%