Lord Byron Double Wood Blonde Cask + Beer
Get ready for EXCLUSIVE two-way barrel magic – A rum shaped by a beer, then beer shaped the rum! This is a true flavour feedback loop and perfect flavour symmetry with both products sharing the same DNA: vanilla, oak, spice, tropical fruit, and warming alcohols echo across the pairing in seamless harmony.
Our old friends at Lord Byron Distillery are back with their Double Wood Blonde Ale Cask Finish Pure Single Rum and collaborating with the crew at Common People Brewing Co. and their Rum Barrel Aged Billycart Blonde to create the ultimate matched boilermaker. Spirit meets beer, beer meets rum, heritage meets craft, and the combo absolutely sings.
What we have on offer this month, is a bottle of exquisite pure single rum from Lord Byron that was matured for 4 years in ex-bourbon, then finished for 4 further months in a cask that previously held the Belgian Blonde Ale. You also get a single 440ml can of 10.3%abv Belgian Blonde Ale that was finished for 10 months in a barrel that the Lord Byron rum came out of. Even if you don’t normally drink beer, this is an excellent opportunity to taste for yourself the effect these two products have on each other. It’s a totally excellent scientific experiment!
If you want more of the beer – it’s available in 4 packs from our online store!
We’ve featured a few releases from family-owned-and-run Byron Bay Distillery Lord Byron. Each expression of their pure single rums we’ve offered over the years has been nothing less than exceptional. We’re absolutely proud of our long-standing association with this amazing distillery and beyond excited to talk about this months offering – but it’s not just from them alone this time.
For two years now, Lord Byron have been sending some empty barrels into the Northern Rivers hinterland to their mates at Common People Brewing Co (in Bangalow). These still dripping barrels have then been filled with a Belgian Blonde Ale to soak up the rummy goodness for ten whole months!
A Belgian Blonde Ale (in case you’re wondering) is bright, golden, and dangerously smashable – crisp pilsner malt, spicy Belgian yeast, a flicker of soft fruit, and a dry, clean finish that hides its punch. Light on the palate, big on charm, it’s the kind of beer that looks innocent and drinks effortless, but absolutely knows how to make an entrance. In the case of the Barrel Aged Billycart Blonde – it’s an ale that’s not to be taken lightly – weighing in at a hulking 10.3%abv!
At 3.6 standard drinks per can – BEWARE! – this ale will frikkin’ have’ya if not handled with care!
Last year – they canned their first batch of their rum barrel aged Belgian Blonde Ale especially for the Bangalow Billy Cart Races. One of those barrels was sent back to Lord Byron and was then filled with 4yo ex-bourbon aged Lord Byron Pure Single Rum (as part of their ‘Double wood program’) and left to finish for another 4 months before being bottled exclusively for the Rum Tribe at a delightful 45.2%abv.
And so, we thought what better way to fully enjoy this rum – than to offer it with a can of the beer that helped shape it! The ultimate matched rum-boiler maker. But what is a ‘boilermaker’ anyway and where did the term come from?
A boilermaker is the ultimate “clock‑off and don’t talk to me yet” drink: a beer for the thirst, a shot for the feelings (originally whiskey), taken in whatever order your day demands. Born in the rough‑and‑ready bars of 19th‑century American metalworkers, it was the after‑shift ritual for the folks who literally built the boilers that kept industry running. They didn’t want fancy. They wanted fast. And thus the humble, heroic boilermaker was born – part refreshment, part reset button, all attitude. Toss the shot, chase it with beer, and suddenly the world feels a little less like a 12‑hour shift at the smelter.
Our Tasting Notes
Nose: Somewhat woody on the nose at first pour. But give it a minute or two in the glass, a swirl and some warmth and the nose opens right up. The oak notes become more of a table supporting big almost (but not quite) funky fruity notes with rich crème brulee and lovely vanilla-ery floral notes there as well.
Palate: Very easy drinking for 53% – no burn, just gentle warmth. Rather dry on the palate at first then sweet tropical fruit crashes through and it becomes lots creamier in the mouth. There’s also a definite nuttiness that appears adding richness and roundness to both the flavour and mouthfeel.
Finish: A medium finish that sees that sweetness on the palate become dry again. Bitter licorice, dark chocolate , espresso and a slight oak-ey mustiness alongside vanilla and even some choc-orange notes as it fades.
Wow – this is a bit of a chameleon, constantly changing its colours. Woody to sweet, dry to rich and creamy, and back to dry again… all with a lovely nuttiness I usually find in red-wine barrel aged spirit. This is real ‘talking rum’ – you’ll want someone to drink it with so you can talk about what you’re tasting. In fact – it’s so intriguing its downright conversational!
From Lord Byron
Nose: Layered and expressive with sweet bourbon cask influence over a floral, slightly herbal backbone. Caramel, cookie dough and honey sit alongside apricot and tropical fruit. Deeper complexity emerges with pine needles, jasmine, tree bark, dried ginger, clove and citrus peel notes. Subtle smoky, savoury and mineral tones add further depth.
Palate: Full-bodied and textured with a creamy, slightly waxy mouthfeel. Bourbon and rye spice lead into honeycomb, toasted oats, roasted nuts and salted vanilla. Fruit evolution moves through fermented pineapple to ripe tropical notes. Mid-palate layers of white tea, wintergreen, cedar, nougat and baking spice are supported by long, dry tannins and a defined oak structure.
Finish: Long, dry and evolving, showing bourbon warmth, dried apricot, toasted oak and nougat. Herbal and floral elements linger with soft spice fading gradually into a complex, drying finish.
From Common People Brewing Co.
We have been getting very creative and collaborative again down at the brewery with our regular autumn Belgian Blonde. For the second year running we have teamed up with Lord Byron Distillery to get some of our Billycart Blonde into some of their rum barrels.
Now, just as this year’s Bangalow Billycart Derby is about to kick off, we have released the 2026 version of this very special beer. This is an extremely limited release and won’t last long!
Over the past 10 months our Belgian Billycart Blonde has been residing in ex-rum barrels from our friends at the Lord Byron Distillery, creating an otherworldly beer for the senses.
When the brewers put their collective noses together, closed their eyes and inhaled the sweet aroma… mmmmmm..
Then tasted the nectar… yes, it’s all there…
The silky smooth vanilla and oak notes imparted by the barrels. The characteristic rum flavour. The phenolic and spice from the Belgian Blonde beer. And the warming heat from the higher alcohols. All working in perfect balance.
