Bluffton’s Southern Barrel brings home national brew awards

Southern Barrel Brewing Co., at 375 Buckwalter Place Boulevard, has snagged a gold and bronze medal at the Can Can Awards.

The company’s Frozen Barrel Imperial Milk Stout took gold in the “Wood and Barrel Aged Beer” competition.

The Saison N’on N’on took a third place in the “Saison” competition.

Walter Trifari, Southern Barrel head brewmaster, said the milk stout was brewed with higher alcohol and very fine milk sugar then aged for three to four months with vanilla beans in wood barrels previously used to age whiskey.

“It has some chocolate tones, vanilla and whiskey,” Trifari said. “The lactose sugar is a milky smooth finish.”

The Saison N’ on N’on is brewed with the Saison yeast and carries a spicy, citrus like flavor, Trifari said.

“It is quite refreshing on a hot day,” Trifari said.

The beer is a staple brew for the brewery and always on tap, Trifari said.

The Can Can Awards is in its second year and pulled more than 400 contestants from small and large breweries from across the country, its website states.

Judging took place over five days in Nashville and Atlanta, the website says. Awards were announced on Tuesday.

The brewery is open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays-Tuesdays; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays.

For more information, call 843 837-2337.

This story was originally published June 29, 2017 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Bluffton’s Southern Barrel brings home national brew awards."