Drakes Apple Brandy Barrel Olde Ale

Formerly brewed at Drakes Brewing Company
Style: Old Ale
San Leandro, California USA

Pours a deep amber brown color with a tan head. Aroma is malt, must, and brandy. Flavor is malty, brandy, bitter roast, and a bitter finish.

Bottle in trade. Had 2 bottles and the second one was MUCH better than the first. I wasn’t sure of the nose on this until I realized it was the apple brandy. Added a weird element to the taste also that I thought was too distracting.

Bottle. [thank you, drmatt]
Pours a deep brown with a small flimsy beige head - settles at the rim of my glass. Impressive aroma of wood, apples, light caramel, alcohol. Low carbonation with a great oiliness. Flavour is very complex, there are sweeter fruits (apples), dried fruits (figs and plums), a heavy dose of alcohol as well. The woodiness appears nice. Very warming and round. Perhaps the alcohol is a bit over the top.

Looks like dirty swamp water with fog coming off of it, but that doesnt scare me.Lots of sweet alcohol and woody notes on the nose.So far so good, I am going in.Lots of flavor here.Alcohol is present and accounted for but not overwhelming, kind of bites your tounge.Some dark fruits, wood, vanilla and a hint of apples.I wonder if swap water tastes as good.The finish was a bit warming, kind of made me sweat a bit with the alcohol left tingling long after the ride.Overall I enjoyed this and was quite solid.Thanx to Alohac for this, Christian send more please!

Bottle. Pours a cloudy amber brown with thin tan head. Aroma a woody alcohol. Fairly smooth with sweet malt and woody alcohol and finsh of dry apples.

6 oz. glass bottle- color of hazy amber, with a white and tan head - nose of earthy, apples, alcohol and – taste of over ripe apples, bitter sweet, alcohol, earthy, port, and slight chocolate- body is chewy, slightly rough and with low carbonation – aftertaste of red grape skins, and brown sugar

Shared by eclectic. Mostly clear amber body with a small off-white head. The nose is cherry, oak, light horse blanket and caramel. The flavor is lightly sweet, lightly tart and vinous with cherry, vanilla and sherry. Medium/full body is soft with light carbonation. The finish is a bit thin and pretty hot.

Nip bottle from CaptainCougar. CRAZY. So active in the nose, with some mild oxidation mixing with a hoppy green apple fruit note, sharp and dry smelling, but also with an old stale wood smell. Bright and active up front, with a burnt of malt syrup, wood, maple, apple and grass, turning sharp and dry over the middle and into the finish, with a fizzy but thick finish, with some boozy brandy notes. Good stuff.