The Return of a Legend: Cherry Busey Hits Taprooms Friday
Cherry Busey is back this Friday!
Our award-winning Flanders-style Red Ale aged in red wine barrels and finished with tart Montmorency cherries is one of our most anticipated King’s Reserve releases. With a flavor nearly two years in the making, Cherry Busey delivers bold tartness, oaky depth, and a legacy of Belgian-inspired craftsmanship. Don’t miss this limited release—available while it lasts!
Cherry Busey is back!
This beloved King’s Reserve release has built a cult-like following over the years. A Flanders-style Red Ale aged in red wine barrels and finished with a massive dose of Montmorency cherries, Cherry Busey is as complex as it is crave-worthy.
We caught up withWood Cellar Manager Andrew Hood to get the inside scoop on what makes this annual release so special:
“Cherry Busey is one of our most time-intensive beers. We’ve been making it for 11 years now. Both Dave [Colt] and I are huge fans of Rodenbach Brewery in Belgium, and one of their beers inspired this project. We were even lucky enough to host one of their former Brewmasters at Sun King years ago.
The process begins with a Flanders-style Red Ale, which we age in red wine barrels for at least a year, sometimes up to 18 months. From there, the beer is racked onto tart cherries for another five months. All in, each batch can take nearly two years to make.”
That patience pays off in every pour.
Aromas of dark fruit, oak and wild yeast greet your nose, followed by layers of tangy cherry, red wine tannins and a smooth, oaky finish. The wild yeast contributes to its tart, funky backbone, giving it the edge that barrel-aged beer fans live for.
A Legacy of Flavor
Cherry Busey has earned more than just fanfare. This King’s Reserve release has medaled three times at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival®:
🥈 2016 Silver – Belgian-Style Fruit Beer
🥉 2015 & 2017 Bronze – Belgian-Style Fruit Beer
It’s the kind of beer that rewards your patience, and maybe your cellaring skills, too.
When & Where
Cherry Busey releases this Friday and will be available at Sun King taprooms while supplies last. As always, selection may vary, so check with your local taproom for availability.
King’s Reserve: The King’s Reserve series is home to our most unique, barrel-aged creations. Every beer in the series has spent time in oak, developing flavor, depth and character you won’t find anywhere else.
Whether you're a longtime fan or tasting Cherry Busey for the first time, this release is worth savoring.