Tag Archives: barrel aged

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Denmark, Insight Cellars, Wild Ale

Insight Cellars Pot & Column Kriek

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Brewery: Insight Cellars
Country: Denmark
ABV: 7.6%
Style: Wild Ale
Other Notes: Danish Wild Ale with cherries aged in Barbados rum barrels. 2021 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Named for the unique dual distillation method used to make Barbados rum, this beer is a blend of 75% Danish Wild Ale aged in Barbados rum barrels for two years and 25% two-year-old Danish Wild Ale macerated with a generous dose of whole Stevnsbær cherries. These special barrels from the birthplace of Caribbean rum infused our Danish Wild Ale with notes of coconut, caramel and citrus, which pair beautifully with the complex dark fruit and marzipan flavors of Denmark’s signature Stevnsbær cherries from Frederiksdal Estate.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.27

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle, 2021 vintage, bottled on 21st June 2023. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A deep red colour with a slight purple tinge, and a one finger pink head that had good retention, that eventually settled to a thin cap, while leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: Lightly tart, cherry, cherry pie, oak, caramel, with a splash of lemon zest.
Taste: Sour, tart, cherries, caramel, oak, light funk, with a finish that is of bitter grapefruit.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Good cherry in the aroma and flavour, while the bitter grapefruit on the finish is interesting, it actually works for me, and I enjoyed it.

4 - Good (buy), Amager Bryghus, Beer Reviews, Denmark, Stout - Imperial

Amager Double Black Mash (2023) Bourbon BA Version

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Brewery: Amager Bryghus
Country: Denmark
ABV: 13.2%
Style: Stout – Imperial
Other Notes: Widow Jane BA (label says 10 months, Untappd says that was erroneous and it should be 22 months)

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Take a good thing and make it even better – that’s the philosophy behind Double Black Mash. This huge Imperial Stout was easily big and potent enough after the first mashing, but we thought what the heck let’s give it another spin. So we mashed it in a second time doubling everything that was already good while aiming for great. All grain, heavy duty, no nonsense. Did we hit what we aimed for? Well, that’s really up to you to decide. If you like it big and black this is your kinda beer for sure.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.43

Intro: A 750ml black waxed bottle, 2023 vintage, with a best before date of January 2029. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A deep black colour with a thin brown head that dissipated quickly to a ring around the glass while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Bourbon, light roast, chocolate, toffee, licorice.
Taste: Bourbon sweetness, chocolate, vanilla, toffee, wood, light roast, and a touch bitter on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable sipper with great aroma and flavours. Back to basics barrel aged beer without the need to over adjunctify (is that a word?).

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Brew York, England, Stout - Milk / Sweet Imperial

Brew York Empress Tonkoko BA Heaven Hill

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Brewery: Brew York
Country: England
ABV: 10.6%
Style: Stout – Milk / Sweet Imperial
Other Notes: State of Mind Edition 2024. Heaven Hill BA, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Coconut & Cacao Imperial Milk Stout

Brewer Description: (from can) Brewed and released just once a year, each Barrel Aged Empress Tonkoko release spends at least 12 months in a unique selection of barrels. Heaven Hill Bourbon was selected to add a caramel sweetness, subtle rye spice, and rich oak to add depth to an already deeply decadent beer.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.16

Intro: A 330ml can, 2024 State of Mind Edition (not sure what this means), with a best before date of 27th November 2026. Poured into whatever glass I could find at the hotel.
Appearance: Black in colour with a one finger beige head that had good retention, and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Dessert, coconut flakes, vanilla, caramel, tonka beans, nutty, toasted almonds, dark chocolate.
Taste: Light roast, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, coconut, bourbon, tonka, nutty, boozy, and a light spiciness on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable sipper with a very nice aroma.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, De Struise Brouwers, Winter Warmer

De Struise Tsjeeses Reserva Bourbon Barrel Aged

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Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 10%
Style: Winter Warmer
Other Notes: 2014 Vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Belgian X-Mas Ale, bourbon barrel aged.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 330ml bottle, 2014 vintage, bottled on 9th November 2016. Poured into whatever glass I could find at the hotel.
Appearance: A cloudy copper brown colour, with a thin half finger tanned head, that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Sweet, candi sugar, plum, raisin, toffee, caramel, toasted bread, chocolate, oak, and bourbon.
Taste: Moderately sweet, plum, raisin, candi sugar, toffee, bourbon, oak, and a touch boozy and spicy on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Good aroma and interesting flavours. I preferred the Port BA version more than this Bourbon BA version, but it could very well be that I let this one age for too long.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Lambic - Fruit, Pellicle Vergistingen

Pellicle Collision: Gelber Muskateller

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Brewery: Pellicle Vergistingen
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: 2024 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) This beer is a blend of 1 & 2 year old lambics and our very first self brewed beer from 2,5 years old. It was macerated on Gelber Muskateller grapes from Nahe, Germany and blended with 30% of wine made from the same grapes. Aged on ex-Bordeaux barrels.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.49

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, with a best before date of May 2027. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A mostly clear golden colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Lightly tart, yellow stone fruit, peach, apricot, sweet fleshy white wine grapes, citrus orange notes, with some vinous notes.
Taste: Sour, tart, white wine grapes, yellow stone fruit, apricot, nectarines, citrusy, orange peel, a touch of honey, and light vinous notes with a slight funk on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.
Overall: Great aroma and flavours, and just drinks really well.