Dark barleywine from this to me unknown Swedish microbrewery, sampled at Billie’s Craft Beer Fest. Creamy, yellowish beige, tiny-bubbled, opening head, very dark chestnut brown robe with mahogany glow. Aroma of candied fig, caramel sauce, cognac, candied orange, milk chocolate hint, vanilla, black pepper, canned peaches. Sweet, dense onset, candied cherries, dried figs and preserved apricots, medium carbonated with full, vinous, oily body, a tad syrupy even; thickly toffeeish, caramelly and biscuity malts with dark-chocolatey edges under a layer of old brown honey-like sweetness, peppery hopped in a structurally important way and eventually heated by brandy-like booze. Rounded, full, complex and demanding, perhaps a tad too dark-malty for a barleywine and in that sense showing off some imperial stout features; a bit less booze and sweetness could also prove beneficial, but taken for what it is, I have to admit it was a welcoming distraction from all the pastry stouts and hazy DIPAs at the festival.

0,33 litre Can, from Systembolaget Charlottenberg. ABV 14%. Dark brown/ Almost Black with little head. Roasted malts, raisins, Caramel, sweetness, Smooth, boozy.