Streetcar 82 Brewing Co. collaborated with an Irish distillery to create a new whiskey that will soon be available in the U.S.

The Hyattsville brewery shipped several of its barrels used for aging an Imperial Irish red ale to Clonakilty Distillery in Ireland for use in making the whiskey, which adds complex new flavors to the whiskey.

“A representative of Clonakilty came across the beer locally and loved the idea of the brewery and the people behind it,” Clonakilty co-founder Padraic Coll told the Hyattsville Wire.

The barrels actually started out being used in distilling at Sagamore Spirit in Baltimore, which was started by Under Armour founder Kevin Plank, a University of Maryland grad. The beer was brewed in them for six months, and the Irish whiskey for 18 months.

Streetcar 82 co-founder Mark Burke said the collaboration had a special meaning for him, as his grandparents came from near Galway in the 1930s. He visited Clonakilty with his wife, Aimee, and daughter, Tucker, in 2022 and toured the rickhouse where the barrels are stored.

“I feel I have come full circle in honoring my Irish heritage and the legacy of my parents and grandparents,” he told the Wire.

Route 1 residents who want to buy the whiskey can pre-order here from Town Center Market in Riverdale Park, which is the exclusive seller locally.

Streetcar 82 will also be holding a special launch event from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12th at its location at 4824 Rhode Island Ave., with music from O’McPub Band.

Help the Wire grow in 2024!
Make a one-time donation or become a regular supporter here.