Fitgers Blue Label Grande Reserve - Pinot Noir Barrel Aged

Brewed by Fitgers Brewhouse
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Duluth, Minnesota USA

On draught during the Winterfest 2008 in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota. Pours a hazy ruby brown brew with a fast dissolving off-white head that dissipates clean. Aroma is quite fruity. Complex with some roasted caramel malt, some flowery hops, cherries, some tropical fruit and a touch of dark berries. Taste is quite smooth, creamy with a fruity malt and berry flavor. Finish is quite sweet, with a dark pitted fruit character in the aftertaste that made this memorable. The alcohol warmth is a nice touch too.

Huge thanks to Oslo and Guerde for bringing this one back. Dark brown or reddish color. Wonderful aroma of sweet barley, wine and grapes, and a bit of French oak towards the end. The flavors are just outstanding. Plenty of sweet malt and barley. Woody and French oak vanilla. A little berry and raisin. Not much Belgian yeast character. Out-friggin-standing.

Thanks to Oslo for sharing. I enjoyed this but not quite as much as the other guys. To begin, I would describe this as more of a barleywine than a Belgian strong. The palate is far too thin for a Belgian strong. The aroma has sugar and sweet, fermenting fruit. Flavor is a little sour, with dried fruit, oak, some alcohol. I didn’t pick up on the grapes or pinot. Very full flavored, but it might benefit form the addition of a little more malt.

Winterfest 2008. Boy was it a treat to get something barrel aged in something other than bourbon! Fruity aroma with cherries and some misc berries over the grape and hints of oak. Similar body with a smooth finish.

Draft at Winterfest 2008, St. Paul, MN. Bourbon barrel aging aspect is evident in the nose. Caramel hints and alcohol strength. Dark, cloudy reddish brown with orange and yellow hues. Some lace. Not my favorite barrel-aged brew. Nice flavor, just not spectacular.

Growler. Initial aroma of dark fruit esters. Plums and raisins. Light chocolate. Spicy and creamy esters. Plenty of grape tannin with a touch of blueberry essence. Very nice, that continues to develop as the beer opens. Pours afairly standard hazy amber/brown. Flavor has lots of plenty of tart grape tannin. Big Pinot barrel prenece. Sweeter esters develop into lush grape skin tartness. Lush body. Tongue coating texture with a very pleasant tannic finish. There’s the smallest hint of btiter bakers chocolate on the finish as well. Excellent use of barrel aging. Thanks Alister and Andy!

Poured from a growler, courtesy of Alister and Andy’s mystery mule. Thanks! Ruby brown pour lightly hazed. Aroma is tannic, musty, and dark; all wet wood, wine opened to the air, heavy molasses bread and pit fruits. Bit of heat, but not to such strength as indicated; lagered fruitiness lending smoothness and polished character. Flavor is dry and very tannic with the tangy, ebullient bursts common in Pinot still evident despite this bitter nuttiness and aged attic quality that seems more prevalent. Tart cherry and pomegrante wisps. Palate is medium to full with a firm, whisking earthy texture that dries out heavily with some spiciness in the finish. A generous, unconventional, well executed warmer; plenty of erudition in this blanketing sipper.

Winterfest 2008
Very fruity aromas of cherry, plum, blackberry, caramel, with oak secondary. I enjoyed this very much. The flavors all seemed to work well together. Probably my 2nd or 3rd favorite beer of the night.