Last month, Boston’s Harpoon Brewery teamed up with WhistlePig Rye Whiskey for a second time (I missed the first) to collaborate on a new barrel-aged beer, The Bock Hog, a rye whiskey aged Doppelbock—and this week, a bottle of the boozy collab arrived on the doorstep.

It’s a 9% specialty that was aged in two different types of casks that previously held WhistlePig’s The Boss Hog VII rye whiskey, Spanish oak and South American teakwood. It sounds like there’s quite a lot going on with this beer, which is served up in a wax dipped 22-ounce bottle.

Here’s the full press release:

The two New England craft beverage powerhouses finished the malty lager in casks that previously aged WhistlePig’s The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic, offering whiskey and beer fans alike something special to sip on this holiday season

If there ever was a boss in the world of lagers, it would be the famed and formidable Doppelbock. In pursuit of perfecting this nearly flawless beer style, Harpoon Brewery announced today a second collaboration with WhistlePig Rye Whiskey – the premier aged rye whiskey – with an elevated beer for sophisticated palates, The Bock Hog.

Fans of both brands will immediately recognize the play on words, as Harpoon’s Doppelbock – a strong, flavorful, malty lager – is conditioned in Spanish Oak and South American Teakwood barrels that previously housed WhistlePig’s The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic, which was inspired by the first recorded circumnavigation of the globe.

Like the whiskey that rested in these rare barrels before it, Harpoon’s The Bock Hog embodies a spirit of adventure and chasing perfection that is just beyond the horizon.

“We share more than just roots in the New England community with WhistlePig: we also share a sense of innovation, exploration and a dedication to our craft,” said Dan Kenary, CEO and co-founder of Harpoon Brewery. “During a time where we are limited in how far we can travel, I’m proud of our brewers and the distillers that created The Bock Hog and allowed the flavor profile of this beer to go the distance for us.”

With the base notes of the Doppelbock including toasted rye, toffee, rum raisin, and cacao, the Spanish Oak and South American Teakwood barrels add complexity with top notes like holiday spice, roasted nuts, vanilla, and char. Brewed at 9.0% ABV, this lager will warm you on cold winter nights at home and whisk you away for an exploration of flavors.

“The barrels used for The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic are incredibly special to us, but we knew they were in good hands with our neighbors at Harpoon Brewery. It’s the first time beer has ever been finished in South American Teakwood and it pairs masterfully with the flavor profile of a beer like Harpoon’s Doppelbock,” said Meghan Ireland, Whiskey Blender at WhistlePig.

Harpoon’s The Bock Hog is a limited release and will be sold as single 22 oz. bottles, sealed with a wax coating. It will also be available on draft starting this month at Harpoon’s Boston and Vermont breweries. Visit www.harpoonbrewery.com to learn more.

About Harpoon Brewery:

The Harpoon Brewery was founded in 1986 by beer lovers who wanted more and better beer options. When the Brewery was founded, Harpoon was issued Brewing Permit #001 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, since it was the first to brew commercially in Boston after a dormant period of about 25 years. Since then, it has expanded to a second brewery in Windsor, VT. Harpoon’s line of craft beer features its award-winning IPA and seasonal beers, along with special limited releases. In 2014, Harpoon became an employee-owned company.

About WhistlePig Whiskey

Founded in 2007, WhistlePig Rye Whiskey is the premier aged Rye whiskey, featuring the bold and often untapped flavor of Rye. WhistlePig Whiskey is leading a surge of innovation in the emerging field of North American whiskey. As the most decorated Rye whiskey – having received the coveted ‘Best in Show Whiskey’ title from the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, WhistlePig is widely viewed as the world’s finest Rye. With the opening of its distillery on its 500-acre Vermont farm in the fall of 2015, WhistlePig has also become one of the leading farm-to-bottle Rye whiskeys in the world. For additional information please visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. Please enjoy WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Responsibly. For additional information please visit whistlepigwhiskey.com.

It’s been awhile since I’ve had a doppelbock, so this one with the added barrel aging should be an interesting beer to review. I’ll crack it open and report on it soon.