8

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

Poured from a 2017 vintage, 750 ml bottle. Aroma is a balanced note of red wine and dark wheat. Toasted bread, nuts, caramel, toffee and some light chocolate notes with hints of roast. Hints of oak and light alcohol notes. Pours a dark brown color with lighter brown hues on the edges with a large, thick, pillowy, tan head that recedes slowly to a small head that persists. Moderately high lacing and small legs. Flavor is somewhat sweet with a hint of acidity from the red wine. Moderately strong malt notes of toasted bread, nuts, wheat crackers, and caramel with lighter toffee and faint chocolate notes. Medium bitterness that lingers a bit in the finish and light alcohol notes. Light red wine notes add a bit of fruitiness and a hint of oak. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Low astringency and low alcohol warmth. Overall, a good beer. It's not crazy, but I had low expectations for this one and it has far surpassed them. The red wine notes and oak are light and well balanced. Despite not being a big beer, the malt character is rich and supports the barrel treatment. Maybe this beer is just a sign that I'm tired of the bigger dark beers that seem to get all the barrel treatment these days. This is a callback to when 7.8% was big.