Tag Archives: french oak barrel aged

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Heroes Beer Co., Hong Kong, Italian Grape Ale

Heroes BB&FOAGAwBOGADFB&C (7th Anniversary)

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Brewery: Heroes Beer Co.
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 6.7%
Style: Grape Ale
Other Notes: Bottle 472 of 500

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Bourbon Barrel & French Oak Aged Grape Ale with Blood Orange, Green Apple, Dragon Fruit, Blueberries & Cinnamon. For our 7th anniversary we decided to go outside of the box. BB&FOAGAwBOGADFB&C is a Red Sangria-inspired Grape Ale. Aged in both Bourbon Barrels and French Oak, it offers subtle funk and fruity complexity. Expect vibrant, cocktail-like notes of grapes, blood orange, with a touch of cinnamon spice. The beer was fermented on skin and the oak aging introduces a soft tannin, mimicking the depth of a classic sangria. The finish is crisp yet smooth, with just enough sweetness to round out the bright acidity.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.07

Intro: A 750ml clear bottle, bottle 472 of 500, packaged on 6th November 2024, with a best before date of 5th May 2026. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy purplish red colour with a half finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving only sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Yoghurt, fruit cake, orange, green apple, grapes, with notes of cinnamon.
Taste: Light to moderate sweetness, fruit cake, fruit cocktail mix, orange, grapes, green apple, notes of mixed berries, vanilla, and a splash of cinnamon spice.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Lots of fruit, easy drinking. Bourbon barrel might be there, but it’s not obvious. It’s not as complex as it sounds, and thus seems quite expensive for what it is.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Deschutes Brewery, USA

Deschutes Pinot Suave

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Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 11.8%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Other Notes: Belgian style ale with pinot noir grapes aged in French oak barrels

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Belgian style ale aged in French Pinot Noir barrels with Pinot Noir grape must. The result, notes of Pinot grape, berries and fruit along with light malt and a hint of caramel.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.1
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. black waxed bomber, bottled on 25th April 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: An amber orange brown colour with a thin tanned head that dissipated quickly to a ring around the glass while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Sweet malt, caramel, dark fruit, prunes, fig, vinous, grape.
Taste: Sweet, vinous, overripe grape, dark fruit, prunes, raisin, caramel, oak, with red berry notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: A touch sweet, but the Pinot Noir grape must and barrels give this sipper some nice interesting aroma and flavours.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Farmhouse Saison, Oxbow Brewing Company, USA

Oxbow Barrel Aged Farmhouse Pale Ale

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Brewery: Oxbow Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Farmhouse Saison
Other Notes: Barrel-aged farmhouse ale

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Barrel Aged Farmhouse Pale Ale is an American-hopped mixed-fermentation saison aged in American and French oak barrels.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.27
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 500ml bottle, bottled on 7th June 2021, and poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A nice hazy golden straw yellow colour with a two finger white head that had good retention while leaving nice lacing.
Aroma: Citrusy, lemon, lemon zest, lime, oak, dusty, vanilla, brett, light funk.
Taste: Light sour, lemon, lemon zest, lime, peach, with light oak and funk.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Enjoyable, refreshing, and really easy to drink.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Alvinne, Wild Ale

Alvinne Cuvée Sofie Alvino

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Brewery: Brouwerij Alvinne
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: 2016 vintage. Alvinne limited edition, single cask, 700 bottles. 2012 French Oak from Burgundy. Grape variety – Boskoop

Brewer Description: (from bottle in Dutch) Alvino is een exclusief project omdat we enkel druiven van eigen kweek gebruiken. De oogst van 2016 was uitzonderlijk goed, voldoende om aan twee vaten cuvee sofie 20kg per vat toete voegen.

(translated to English) Alvino is an exclusive project because we only use grapes from our own cultivation. The 2016 harvest was exceptionally good, enough to add 20kg per barrel to two barrels of cuvee sofie.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.15
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 500ml bottle, 2016 vintage, with a best before date of December 2021. Poured into an Alvinne teku glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy copper amber colour with a one finger off white head that dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: Sweet malt, grape, grape juice, oak, lightly vinous and light funk.
Taste: Lightly sour, grape, lightly vinous, oak, a splash of sweetness, apple, tart, funky.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Not as vinous as expected from the barrel, but it was still enjoyable and easy drinking.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Alvinne, Wild Ale

Alvinne Wild West Barrel 58

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Brewery: Brouwerij Alvinne
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: 2016 vintage. Alvinne limited edition, single cask, 400 bottles. French Oak from Pineau de Charentes

Brewer Description: (from bottle in Dutch) Barrel 58 is een uniek project waar we enkel zelfgeplukte bessen toevoegen aan Wild West rechtstreeks op het eiken vat. Passie, toewijding en kennis… Barrel 58 5 maand gerijpt op een Pineau de Charentes barrel. Sleedoorn (Moen), braambessen (Gavere), bosbessen (Vlaamse Ardennen).

(translated to English) Barrel 58 is a unique project where we only add self-picked berries to Wild West directly on the oak barrel. Passion, dedication and knowledge… Barrel 58 matured for 5 months on a Pineau de Charentes barrel. Blackthorn (Moen), blackberries (Gavere), blueberries (Flemish Ardennes).

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.39
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 500ml bottle, 2016 vintage, with a best before date of December 2021. Poured into an Alvinne teku glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy rusty orange brown colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly and settled to a thin layer.
Aroma: Tart, sour, mixed berries, vinous, oak, with a splash of vinegar and acetone.
Taste: Sour, tart, mixed berries, vinous, grape, oak, and lemon.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Very nice and balanced with great complexity and enjoyable berry notes.