BA Project (Blonde Ale) : Cognac (2014)
(Batch of BA Project (Blonde Ale) : Cognac)

750 ml bottle into tulip glass; 2014 Vintage, 2580 bottles produced. Pours fairly hazy deep orange/amber color with a 2 finger fairly dense off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of big apricot, peach, pear, apple, lemon zest, orange peel, light banana, clove, pepper, cognac, oak, candi sugar, honey, herbal, grass, light vanilla, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great complexity and balance of big fruity/earthy yeast, pale malt, and moderate cognac barrel notes; with great strength. Taste of big apricot, peach, pear, apple, lemon zest, orange peel, light banana, clove, pepper, cognac, oak, candi sugar, honey, herbal, grass, light vanilla, and yeast earthiness. Good amount of earthy yeast spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of apricot, peach, pear, apple, lemon zest, orange peel, light banana, clove, pepper, cognac, oak, candi sugar, honey, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Damn nice complexity and big robustness of fruity/spicy yeast, pale malt, and moderate cognac barrel flavors; with a great malt/yeast/barrel balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a smooth, fairly crisp, and lightly slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with only a light-moderate warming present well after the finish. Overall this is an excellent barrel aged Belgian strong pale ale. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of big fruity/spicy yeast, pale malt, and moderate cognac barrel flavors; and very smooth to sip on for the huge ABV. A very enjoyable offering.