Livery 2009 Barrel Aged Carvana

Brewed by The Livery
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Benton Harbor, Michigan USA

BPW #83 On tap at the Livery. Appearance is golden brown. The aroma and flavors are toasted oak, whole peppercorns, very dry woodenness. Tasty beer.

On tap at the brewpub. Pour amber with a smallish quickly fading head. The nose is big with the barrel character, but a lot of the hops make it through. Same tithe the flavor. Boozy, but way bitter. abrasive mouthfeel with a long dry finish. I liked this more than any other beer I had that day, but Livery is quickly falling out of favor with me.

Tap: Murky brownish amber hue with a small fading head, minimal lace. The aroma has notes of classic and PNW hops esters, herbal, acidic fruits, and light hop spice as well as clean biscuity malts and hint of toffee. The taste is surprisingly astringent and bitter, the hops seems to be more noticeable in the barrel version than was in the initial offering. Murky and dirty malt profile accents the hops even more. A slight peppery note upon the finish. The mouth feel is aggressive and sharp. Different and each drink makes me interested, Even though Wally says no Liberty hops were used, it sure seems to have the same dry and astringent bitterness found in the Liberty Ale.