Left Hand Special Widdershins

Pours a copper color with a tan head. Aroma is malty, caramel, toast, oak, vanilla, a hint of fruity brandy, and a hit of alcohol. Flavor is fruity, brandy, caramel, toast, oak, vanilla, and a sweet alcohol finish.

I paid for this?!? Paint stripper probably has better body, character, aroma and more.

Firkin at the draught house. Started out promising, but soon became a chore to drink. Poured 100% flat with no head and a dark reddish amber color. Smell was honeydew melon, brandy and alcohol. Fruity, melony aroma was interesting, but the flavor was just too a bit too boozy with the same melon character after a half a glass, and the complete lack of carbonation made this unenjoyable unfortunately.

Name: Widdershins, Brandy Barrel
Date: January 31, 2009
Mode: Cask
Source: Beerfest, ACAT
Appearance: hazy amber, scant white head
Aroma: sweet dark caramel aroma with lots of earthyness, sweet vanilla, touch of brandy
Flavor: rich caramel malt flavor, touch of hot caramel, light oak with balancing bitterness
Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 14/20
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

Smoky aroma and flavor. Pours cloudy orange. Full bodied malt profile with some toasted grain and caramel. Finish is pretty sweet. Unfortunately not getting a good hop picture here and after the sweetness and smoke there is not much left for me.