10 e Lode Barrique
(has 1 batch)

F: no real, some tan bubbles. C: black brown, hazy, opaque. A: woody, dark malts, caramel, red wine, bit vanilla, overripe fruits, bit plums, not so complex one. T: malty, bit red wine, sweet mellow fruity, bit tannins, bit woody, light caramel, nice smooth mouthfeel, almost no warming alcohol, a lot of character from red wine with mellow dark fruits tones yet not so complex as expected, enjoyed, full body, no carbonation, 33cl bottle from 100 Beers in Sofia, Bulgaria.

One of several versions of this Italian barleywine, this one aged for half a year on Italian red wine barrels. Stubby, classical barleywine bottle, bought at Gedeelde Vreugde in Sint-Niklaas. Very loosely structured, pale tan coloured head, immediately opening in the middle but nevertheless settling as a moussy, bubbly, steady ring over a lightly misty, deep and dark copper coloured beer with glowing, ruby red hue, almost looking like a dark red wine. Deep bouquet of tart red wine, biscuit drenched in ruby port, oak furniture and wet vanilla-ish oak, overripe blue plums, subtle hints of pear, pipe tobacco, wet leather, lightly toasted brown bread, elderberry syrup, sherry. Sweetish onset with softly tart edges, fruity, hinting at ripe blue grapes, blue plums, elderberries and black cherries, very softly carbonated, with a smooth, vinous, supple mouthfeel, yet not feeling as 'thick' as expected. Brown bread- and chestnut-like maltiness underlies a growing tannic woodiness, with a lovely drying effect in the end, lasting quite long, the dryness further accentuated by a colourful, very emphatic, lively flavour of Montepulciano, eventually overtaking it from the basic beery properties - though a deeply situated, leafy, bit earthy hop bitter touch remains present at the back, under a pleasantly warming glow of port-like alcohol. Italians master the art of barleywines like no other people these days - I have argued many times before that if the French were to apply their wine knowledge and heritage to the barleywine style like they did, they would immediately rise to the top of European craft beer. This one is a fine example of the wine influence in Italian barleywines and, though perhaps not all too accessible as a craft beer per se, an impressive introduction to this specific concept - albeit not the finest I had so far, perhaps lacking a bit in body and complexity to be of truly international stature.

Thnx to Jeroen. Pours very dark brown, nearly black. No head. Smell is intense, vinegar-like, yet not sour. Deep scent, but not really intense. Taste is full and round, sweet, fairly complex, nutty notes, some booze notes, yet not overly so. very fruity, red grapes, very full bodied, ending in pure red-wine fruityness. not overly , but noticable booze. Slick body, very low to no carbonation. dies of easely . Even though there is quite some alcohol ( 10 pct ) and a thick body, I found the beer to taste not very intensely.

Bottle (thanks martin). Pours copper. Aroma is sour, oak, malt, wine, slight booze. Flavor is sweet and sour, oak, tannins, malt, dryness. Finish is sour, sweet, and oaky dry. Overall: good.

A little carbonation would have been nice, but a really nice flavour.

On tap @Birre sotto l’albero, Bir&Fud (Rome). Pours brown with a minimal beige head. Aroma of malt, caramel, toffee, dark fruits, alcol, oxidation. Flavour is medium sweet with a decent bitter end, it lacks complexity. Medium to high body, almost flat. So so...

RBESG 2010, bottle at Brasserie 4:20
Hazy amber color; very small head. Light caramel aroma, very light sweat. Good body strength, sweet caramel flavor, there is some dryness in the end that may be due to the barrel ageing. Easy.