Appearance: Chestnut brown, slightly cloudy, with a light
cap of beige foam (4/5).
Aroma: Sweet bourbon, vanilla, jammy Port wine,
brown sugar, molasses, a little black pepper, and a hint of oak (5/5).
Taste: I have never tasted any beer that more
closely resembles a Port than this. Very
interesting. This flavor is then laced
with sweet sugars and dark pitted fruits (primarily cherry) (4.5/5).
Mouthfeel: Full body with low carbonation. Beautiful warmth from the alcohol (4.5/5)
Overall: This was The Bruery’s second anniversary ale,
which I guess makes it a little over three years old at this point. I had it at their Taproom, and appreciate how
lovingly they have seen it into maturity.
It’s an incredible example of what the “big” end of this style can be,
with a very distinct and mature flavor and aroma. It’s also an exciting example of the “Solera”
method, where the same beer is created year-after-year and previous vintages
are blended into it for layers of depth and complexity. I guess for this version only Papier (1st anniversary) is
in the mix, but it’s nice to know that some of what I’m drinking will be around
for a long time. From my understanding,
similar techniques were used in historical Old Ale making. I could drink it all day if it wouldn’t make
me dead (4.5/5).
-Matt
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