Peach Brandy Barrel DB V.S.O.J. | Revolution Brewing

The original Deep Wood release – way back in 2012 if I remember correctly – featured one bomber a month, typically starting in October and ending in January. While those months haven’t changed, the number of beers released per month has, now sitting at about 4. Then in 2019, Revolution surprised everyone by releasing Strawberry Jacket and Honey Jacket during July. Now July is part of the Deep Wood season. (One July release even featured the return of V.S.O.J., so it’s really a thing.)

Before the pandemic struck in 2020, Revolution was planning to release Thundertaker (for the first time) in April. That didn’t happen due to obvious reasons, but that April-ish release window for one Deep Wood beer stuck. Supermassive Cafe Deth, Cuvee de Grace, and V.S.O. Gravedigger have all made appearances in this slot. While the most desired beer released during this window was the V.S.O. Gravedigger, I think we have a new “most desired” beer during this timeframe – Peach Brandy Barrel Double Barrel V.S.O.J. (which I’ll shorten to Peach Brandy Barrel DB V.S.O.J., still a mouthful!).

Background

With that long name comes an impressive creation. It starts out as Institutionalized barleywine aged in bourbon barrels (Straight Jacket) for 2+ years, making it a V.S.O.J.. Then parts of it sat in rum barrels (add Double Barrel to the name). That whole beer has been finishing in peach brandy barrels since November 2025. Since I’m not only a podcaster, but also a season ticket holder, I got the email with Marty Scott’s notes from the barrel desk with the complete breakdown:

26% – 30 month sweet component – French oak Bourbon (ex-wine)

22% – 30 month sweet component – American oak Cruzan Rum

26% – 14 month sweet component – Buffalo Trace Mash #1 Bourbon

26% – 13 month dry component – Willet Bourbon

(You should seriously sign up for the Deep Wood Season Ticket for 2026-2027 when it becomes available. The amount of stress that gets relieved on releases is worth it alone, not to mention the extra perks.)

The Beer

Peach Brandy Barrel DB V.S.O.J. pours a caramel brown color just like Straight Jacket. A finger of head rests on the beer for some time while alcohol strains the glass if you swirl it. That alcohol stain drips down the side of the glass letting you know it’s a 15.8% beer. Whereas V.S.O.J. and Straight Jacket have crimson highlights, Peach Brandy Barrel DB V.S.O.J. is just dark even when you’re hitting it directly with light.

Peach Brandy Barrel DB V.S.O.J. meets your nose with rum spices first, followed by typical Straight Jacket aromas of caramel, butterscotch, and vanilla. A fruit aroma does present itself but I would be hard pressed to say it was peach. Additions in other Jacket variants like Life Jacket and Strawberry Jacket were much more prevalent on the aroma.

Most importantly (for me anyways), Peach Brandy Barrel DB V.S.O.J. is not as sweet as DB V.S.O.J. The peach shows up in the taste but it’s not the dominant flavor. Rum spices, caramel, butterscotch all show up, making Peach Brandy Barrel DB V.S.O.J. taste like a bourbon soaked peach pie (minus the crust). The rum or peach brandy barrels makes it finish dry rather than sweet, really making the entire can enjoyable. It’s a fun ride and the rum spices and peach stay on your tongue long after the sip.

Peach Brandy Barrel DB V.S.O.J. is definitely an excellent beer but it’s not for everyone. If you like Straight Jacket and V.S.O.J. you might not like Peach Brandy Barrel DB V.S.O.J. as much. If you liked Rum V.S.O.J. or any of the fruited Jacket variants then you’ll love this. The peach doesn’t overtake the base beer as much as Strawberry Jacket’s or Life Jacket’s additions do, but it is noticeably there. The big takeaway here is that you get everything – the peach, the rum, and the V.S.O.J. It’s a fun and delicious ride for anyone willing to take it.

Revolution will release Peach Brandy Barrel DB V.S.O.J. on Friday, April 17, 2026. Pre-orders are available here.