Drakes Apple Brandy Barrel Olde Ale

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

6 oz bottle, via odeed I think. Pours a dark amber body with a few small floaties churning about. Small fizzy beige head that ran to a thin ring. The nose is a nice mixture of fruity dark malts, brandy and wood. Some light alcohol, and as it warmed, a great baked apple note came out. Slightly sweet baked apples lead off the flavor with a nice oaky dryness. Amazingly well hidden alcohol. This is just so packed with flavor, it doesn’t fall short anywhere. Big toffee and caramel maltiness with just a little bit of an aged character. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, but not cloying or sticky at all. Perfect attenuation level. Perfect soft fizzy carbonation and just ever so slightly warming all the way down to the belly. Easily the best beer in this small series. This is the only one that I actually wished were a bigger sized bottle. The balance struck between the beer and the barrel with this one was just excellent.

Bottle. Deep mahogany color with an ivory head. Warm, alcohol aroma with notes of wood, cherries, apples, must, tobacco and leather. Another beer I could sit and smell for hours! Rather thin mouth feel with a grainy malt flavor and notes of candy, fruits, oak, straw, tobacco, brandy and must. A very complex flavor that goes though a ton of changes as it breathes and warms. Man, this is GOOD. I really didn’t care for it much when I first tried it but I must have figured it out!

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

Bottle at After4ever’s tasting

Beautiful caramel color, very little head. Nice brandy-driven aroma. Lovely dry, woody flavor with brandy dancing along the palate. Warm mouthfeel, weakly sweet. Beautiful, beautiful beer.

6 oz. punt poured a clear dark copper brown with a minimal amber head. Aromas of apple, carmel, oak, dark fruit and a hint of spice. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of carmel, apple, plum, raisin, oak and pepper with a smooth warming finish. Avery tasty treat! ($5 @ the brewery)

Courtesy aspidites and stoutlover72. Dark brown/very dark amber and a few islands of off white carbonation. Aroma of big time calvados and oak supported by juicy dark fruits, light floral perfume, toffee, lightly roasted malt, and subtle alcohol warmth. Wow, complex brew. Calvados and oak up front as anticipated, then layers of flavor- roasted cookie malt, caramel, toffee, cocoa, butterscotch, earth, oak tannins, sherry, figs, dried fruits, chocolate nougat, mocha, alcohol. Long, dry finish and aftertaste of calvados, oak tannins, chocolate nougat, and alcohol. Full body, balanced. Excellent, complex brew.

Clear very red brown body, lasting creamy beige head; Very fresh geuze barrel apple dark roasted nuts brandy aromas; Very full upfront balanced warm body; Very full long very alcohol warm finish with lots of warm brandy barrel aroma late soft vanilla. GREAT!!!

[Freakin Frog] Poured a lightly hazy, reddish mahogany color with a small, off white head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of apples, vanilla, caramel, light brett, and dried fruits. Taste of caramel, vanilla, some dark fruits, nuts, and light alcohol with a dry finish.