Tag Archives: barrel aged

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Deschutes Brewery, Porter - Imperial, USA

Deschutes Black Butte XXVII

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Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 11.6%
Style: Porter – Imperial
Other Notes: 27th Birthday Reserve. Ale brewed with rose water with 50% aged in bourbon barrels blended with ale with apricot puree, cocoa nibs, pomegranate molasses and spices

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Our 27th Anniversary Imperial Porter was brewed with Theo’s cocoa nibs, pomegranate molasses and select spices, blended with apricot puree, and then aged in bourbon barrels. The result is a truly exquisite ale with bold chocolate character, inspired flavors of fruit, and just a pinch of spice. The perfect way for us to celebrate our golden birthday with you!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.03
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. black waxed bomber, 27th birthday reserve, with a best after date of 20th July 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark brown with an orange hue, and a thin khaki head that dissipated quickly, while leaving some sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Roasty, cocoa nibs, chocolate, fruity, tangy, dried apricot, orange, with soft bourbon notes.
Taste: Moderately roasty, chocolate, cocoa nibs, vanilla, lightly sweet, molasses, fruity, dried apricot, orange marmalade, pomegranate, and a hint of bourbon.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Interesting series of adjuncts that I wouldn’t have put together, but results in an interesting and pretty enjoyable sipper.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, de Garde Brewing, USA, Wild Ale

de Garde The Law of Motion Réserve

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Brewery: de Garde Brewing
Country: USA
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Wild Ale

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A spontaneous Wild Ale with Cider apples aged in oak barrels for four years. Made with our friends at Baird & Dewar.

My rating: 3+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.97
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 1 pint 9.4 fl. oz. corked and capped bottle, bottled in April 2021. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A nice clear golden colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Tart, funk, apple peel, green apple, apple cider.
Taste: Tart, sour, apple peel, apple cider, lemon juice, with light oak and pineapple notes.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: The aroma was what I was expecting, but the taste didn’t quite reflect in the same way. I thought the lemony sourness overpowered the cider a bit and the nice funkiness that I got in the aroma wasn’t very noticeable.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, de Garde Brewing, USA, Wild Ale

de Garde Riesling Ivy

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Brewery: de Garde Brewing
Country: USA
ABV: 7%
Style: Wild Ale

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A spontaneous Wild Ale with Riesling grapes aged in oak barrels for two years.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.03
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 1 pint 9.4 fl. oz. corked and capped bottle, bottled in March 2021. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A very nice clear golden colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Light tartness, sweet Riesling, with notes of pear, honey, and oak.
Taste: Lightly sour and tart, Riesling grapes, pear, green apple, oak, and a touch of lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with high carbonation (overly so).
Overall: The look and aroma was great, and the taste was nice, but the over carbonation did affect the experience as it was a touch uncomfortable on the palate. I would love to try this again with less carbonation.

4 - Good (buy), Barleywine - English, Beer Reviews, Birra Baladin, Italy

Baladin Xyauyù Barrel

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Brewery: Birra Baladin
Country: Italy
ABV: 14%
Style: Barleywine – English
Other Notes: 2014 vintage, bottle #0402

Brewer Description: (from Untappd) It represents the complex expression of Teo’s mind in the creation of his couch beers. An high fermented beer after a macro oxidation process and 12 month aging in rhum barrels, which give a natural and turbid aroma. In the glass is without cream and gas.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 500ml waxed and corked bottle, 2014 vintage, bottle #0402. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark brown in colour with no head and no lacing.
Aroma: Dark fruit, raisin, dates, rum, molasses, caramel, toffee, and a touch boozy.
Taste: Like the aroma, sweet, dark fruit, raisin, dates, rum, brown sugar, molasses, caramel, toffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied, a touch syrupy, no carbonation.
Overall: Definitely a sipper as it was almost too sweet for me. Just not as balanced as the Fumé.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Barleywine - English, Beer Reviews, Birra Baladin, Italy

Baladin Xyauyù Fumé (Islay Whisky)

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Brewery: Birra Baladin
Country: Italy
ABV: 14%
Style: Barleywine – English
Other Notes: 2014 vintage, bottle #1762

Brewer Description: (from Untappd) It represents the complex expression of Teo’s mind in the creation of his couch beers. An high fermented beer after a macro oxidation process and 12 month aging in Scottish whisky barrels from Islay, which give a natural and turbid aroma. The color is deep dark brown with copper notes, in the glass is without cream and gas.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.68
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.5

Intro: A 500ml waxed and corked bottle, 2014 vintage, bottle #1762. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A copper bronze colour, almost syrupy with no head and no lacing.
Aroma: Peat, leather, dark fruit, whisky.
Taste: Moderately sweet, dark fruit, brown sugar, toffee, caramel, light peat, and smoky notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied, a touch syrupy, and no carbonation.
Overall: An excellent sipper with good balanced sweetness. Admittedly, there was a worry on my part that this would be overly sweet like the Xyauyù Barrel, but no, it was really enjoyable.