E-Malt.com News article: USA, NV: IMBIB Brewery to open in Reno on June 27

Much like its name, the brewing process at IMBIB has an old world association. Before the invention of modern brewing equipment most people used barrels. Co-Founder Matt Johnson says aging beer in a barrel is much different than the standard process that most breweries use today, KOLO8abc reported on June 18.

"You're letting go of control over the beer when you put it in a barrel, because what happens in that barrel is the barrel breathes. So, it lets oxygen into the beer and it lets other things out of the beer," says Johnson.

Barrel aging can be used to make sour beer or to create more complex flavours.

"Much like wine, the beer will pick up whatever is in that barrel. So, we may start with a white wine barrel and the beer that's going to come out of there is going to have this nice, bright acidity from the white wine that was sitting on that wood previously," says Johnson.

"Rarely do you get a beer out of a barrel that is exactly what you want. So the art form is blending that beer with maybe another barrel aged beer that has a different character to it," he added.

Since the owners at IMBIB all started as home brewers, they want to teach their customers about the brewing process as well. You can learn how to pick out different flavours in a beer through their sensory classes, or they can teach you how to become a certified beer judge.

IMBIB will have its grand opening on June 27th. The brewery is located at the corner of 2nd and Locust Street, Reno.


19 June, 2015