The Black Sheep Ale House in Mineola to serve rare beers, ciders

A wild ale, a maibock and a stout-barleywine blend walk into a bar...

Well, they won't so much walk into a bar as roll in, inside the casks in which they were aged. And on the evening of Thursday, Jan. 24, at the Black Sheep Ale House in Mineola, all three (from Sesma Brewing Co., Rogue Ales and Evil Twin Brewing, respectively) will be tapped — along with nearly two dozen other barrel-aged ales and ciders. It all takes place during the bar's third annual "The Black Sheep's Got Wood" tap takeover. It's a maltfest worthy of a cold January night.

From the tavern's 4 p.m. opening time to its closing in the wee hours, The Black Sheep will pull five-ounce pours of rare and hard-to-find ales such as the Bruery's anniversary Etain, a blend of 10 years' worth of bourbon-barrel-aged ales, and a winter sour ale from Switzerland's Brasserie Trois Dames that melds a saison with an oak-aged strong double wit. Other producers represented are Barrier Brewing Co., Crooked Stave, Denmark's To 01 (specifically, an imperial stout aged in cognac casks) and Firestone Walker Brewing Co., from California, with their Twenty One anniversary ale. 

"Every year that's a tough get," said manager Bob Miller of the Firestone Walker. Miller said that he and owner Vince Minutella begin prepping each year's cask-ale tap takeover "literally, the day after the prior year's ends. It takes some work." 

The event does not require a ticket, and prices for the five-ounce pours will range from $4 to $9. "We want to encourage sampling, as we put a lot into the lineup for this event every year and want our patrons to be able to try several and still partake responsibly," said Miller.

Later this year, the tavern will add a kitchen, double the size of the bar and add a beer garden, Minutella told Newsday several weeks ago.

The Black Sheep Ale House, 78 2nd St, Mineola. 516-307-1280. blacksheepalehouse.com.