 kmweaver (2125), Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
Dec 15, 2007
375mL bottle. Started at cellar temperature and allowed to warm from there. Pours a deep, murky brownish-yellow color with a bit more clarity than its bourbon brother; the head dissipates quickly, revealing an oily, slightly viscous liquid with a reddish hue throughout. Plenty of leather and brandy and boozy raisins in the aroma; ripened dark fruits and caramelized sugar; just very generous and none of the sharp edges or greenness of the bourbon barrel version; a touch of creamy vanilla coming through. The mouthfeel on this is excellent; resilient carbonation coming through in a way that seems rather out of character for a lot of the BA things I’ve had recently, which seem flattened; the carbonation and soft citrus acidity serve to enhance the warming brandy and toasty vanilla-tinged oak core of this beer; the barrel character is lovely: soft, generous, with tons of butterscotch and caramel and dried dark fruits appearing; reminiscent of the magnificent barrel character of the Alesmith offerings, if a bit less forward. Just lovely. Lengthy, caramel and toasty oak and brandy in the finish; gently warming.
henrikb (1132), Aarhus, Denmark
Oct 7, 2008 Deep dark red amber body, beautiful big big bubbled beige head that disappears quite fast; Huge amazing nose, it has all the standard malt aromas but with an extreme clarity, also a fruit vinous sharpness that accompanies the malts excellent; Huge soft carbonation (way to much) on soft a little thin body, slat and sweet, could be more complex; The salts stay in a long finish, strange pleasant alcohol burn, the fill of the beer disappears way to fast. Good beer that lacks in every part but the nose.
jjpm74 (3155), Stratford, CT 06614, Connecticut, USA
Oct 5, 2008 2005 vintage courtesy of Darkelf. Pours brown with some negligible tan bubbles. Smells of cherries, spice, oak, some vanilla. Tastes fruity and oaky with some warming alcohol on the finish.
AmEricanbrew (1009), Swamp Shreveport, Left Coast, Louisiana, USA
Sep 17, 2008 Murky brown with a fleeting tan head. Big brandy , sweet vanilla woody aroma. Medium body with mild carbonation. Big boozy flavors of caramel, wood, vanilla brandy. Nice brandy essence here, but in the end this one’s just too boozy. Probably best to save this one for a cold winters night next to the fire.
BlackForestCO (549), Fort Collins and Black Forest, Colorado, USA
Sep 14, 2008 Huge shout out to SoLan who hooked me up with a bottle of this beer, I greatly appreciate it man. Poured a thick, deep garnet-brown color with a thin beige head that quickly receded to a ring. Aroma of sweet brandy, caramel malt, brown sugar, some sweet fruit including apple, plum, and some red grape, with a bit of oak present. Sweet, smooth entry with some strong plum and caramel, brown sugar, and toffee leading into a nice apple flavor with some sweet brandy and red grape. Nice vanilla and soft oak on the finish. Low carbonation, slick and smooth on the palate with a nice drying oak character. I really liked the Bourbon version, and it would have taken a lot to enjoy this more, but it delivered. One of the few beers that actually delivers. Awesome, I thank you again Alan.
Theis (2212), Frederiksberg, Denmark
Sep 9, 2008 Bottle at Sune’s (T+M thanks Mikkel). Clear reddish - white head. Fucking fantastic, brandy, smooth as hell, brown sugar, wood, light alcoholic, chocolate, sweetness, fruity, caramel, barley, high malty. This is fantastic. I would give this 800 - but the scale stops at 50..... so !!!!
|
