Get ready for the 2021 release of Old Man Hattan, an eccentric barrel-aged mashup of two classic cocktails: the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan. Last seen in 2019 as a limited national release, Old Man Hattan is rearing its head again as a 400-case release.
The base beer of Old Man Hattan is a blend of signature Firestone Walker component beers, including Velvet Merkin, Bravo, and Stickee Monkee aged in whiskey barrels. The twist comes from select lots of Parabola and Helldorado that were aged in barrels previously used to mature cherry, orange, and aromatic bitters.
The result is a barnstorming beer that exhibits pronounced whiskey notes while artfully expressing essences of both the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan cocktails.
“Old Man Hattan is really true to its dual influences,” said Eric Ponce, Firestone Walker’s barrel program manager. “On the nose, you get hints of cherry, orange, and clove spice. It’s extremely smooth and drinkable, with traditional whiskey characters of tobacco and bitter chocolate.”
As a cocktail enthusiast, Ponce had been toying with the idea of Old Man Hattan for years. But since many bitters are made in stainless steel tanks, bitters barrels are hard to come by — which is why it took time for the idea to come to fruition.
Lightning finally struck when Ponce gained access to barrels retired from an artisan bitters program. “These bitters barrels are beautifully potent,” he said. “We really played around with the different component beers and barrel ratios to get everything just right.”
He added, “If you’re a fan of the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, or other whiskey-based cocktails, you’re going to love this beer.”
Old Man Hattan is available at our three taproom locations for a limited time. Residents of California and other eligible states can purchase directly from our online store.