Livery Barrel Aged Agent 99

Brewed by The Livery
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Benton Harbor, Michigan USA

Bottle… March 08 Tampa Bay Tasting… This beer rocks!… Cloudy golden ale with a small, creamy, white head. The aroma is terrific and fruity as hell; chock full of mysterious tropical and fuzzy fruits alongside perfumy goodness. Full-bodied with a skim milk mouthfeel and moderate carbonation. Fruity, tangy flavors of golden raisins, mango, apricot and papaya. Good bitterness. Extremely drinkable. At no point does the high ABV rear its head. Finishes tangy, fruity and sweet. BBB63 came through with this one!

On tap and enjoyed at Steve’s Birthday bash, snifter: Coppery red with a small head and spotty lace. (still could use more carbonation). The nose detects pear, crabapple, cherry pit and even a hint of a rye-like ester. There is also some wood, caramel, bready and slight alcohol notes as well. Very aromatic and phenolic, NICE!

The taste starts sweet but not cloy with a grassy bitterness. I found a constant yeast and nutty profile with warming alcohol and wood upon the finish. Sublime Creme Brule and mineral water also dashing in and out.

The mouth feel is smooth and oily, warming but not boozy. OUTSTANDING, the barrel influence is there but accents the beer and does not overpower.

Tap at the ’08 MBG Summerfest. Hazy copper brown pour. Vanilla, oak, subtle bourbon, banana, orange and dark fruit. Medium-full body with lots of carbonation.

Tap at MBGSF 08. Pours a hazy, rusty color with a thin tan colored head. Aroma is oak, citrus, light bourbon. Flavor is caramel, grapefruit, oak, yeast, vanilla, brown sugar. Palate is full to medium bodied, mild carbonation, finished bitter with a hint of malt sweetness. Greta use of barrel aging. Flavor improved as it warmed. Rock solid all around.

Draft @ The Livery. Pours a murky, grapefruit-brown color; bright off-white head with web-like lacing; attractive, chewy looking pour. Lots of tart grapefruit, brown sugar, and sour cherries and breadiness; excellent grapefruit and toasty oak notes. Medium-to-full, dense chewy mouthfeel: lots of chewy grapefruit, brown sugar, breadiness and toasty wooden character; gorgeous, soft mouthfeel; tart grapefruit note sits beautifully inside the oak and chewy malt core. Excellent stuff. Lengthy finish, showing brown sugar, candy sugar, and toasty oak.

growler from BBB63. Amber/copper. Big nose. Fresh figs, Lots of them. Flavor is Dr. Pepper. Big sweetness, lots of flavors and other characters going on.

Growler from BBB63, thanks Mike. Shared with bikesanbeers, my girlfriend Cyn and his girlfriend Jessi. This is so damn easy to drink its kind of insane. Pours copper with a tan ring. Nose is sweet and oaky, with hints of alcohol, overall a very big nose, There is also apple elements in the nose. Taste is sweet, with some molasses, sugary, big alcohol is hidden, this an interesting brew, it reminds me of a Weizenbock with its apple cidery taste and look. This was very easy to drink and as such got me somewhat trashed.

Draft sample at MBGF Summer08. Poured hazy reddish brown color with an averaqge frothy off-white head that was mostly lasting with good lacing. Heavy complex tart fuirt and alcohol aroma. Medium to full body with a sticky smooth texture. Medium to heavy bittersweet flavor with a medium to heavy bittersweet and small alcohol burn finish of moderate to long duration. This is a standout beer.