8.5

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8.5 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 8.5

Bottle thnx to Sam ! 2016 vintage, drank 2025. Pours clear blonde, small white head. Scent immidiately shows oak, even from a distance. Concentrated maltyness, barleywine / TIPA (but without the hoppy intensity) very ripe fruits, caramel, whiff of bourbon ( vanilla, oak, bit booze). Off to a good start ! Taste is very smooth. Spirits and barrel greatly co-operates with the beer, rather than being a boozy cover . Maltyness is very present, with honey, bread, and some caramel. And yes , even a bit hoppy (still!) . Aged blonde, but in the very best way desireable. Alcohol is heavy, but balanced. As always, firestone and BA - it's a rare to top combination.

9

Backlog

9

This is so off the chain. Age this son.

8

Pale caramel, light roast cereal, vanilla, charred wood & bourbon nose. Light Japanese pear. Sweet & bitter taste. Round, visc, full mouth.