8

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

500mL bottle, with coding on the upper neck, nothing resembling a date, drunk 9/28/25.
Clear, bright auburn with chocolate-raspberry tints and a small, light tan head.
Big oakiness seems to show very fresh foeder usage. It isn't too tannic or raw, and smells of bright, floral, woody oak (however you describe oak's aroma). Soft raisin, vanilla, plum behind it, with a bit of piquant red berry and well-attenuated malts offering chocolate and light toffee. Clean, no alcohol noted.
In the mouth it's oaky again, unsurprisingly, but quite pleasant with pure oak flavor and not too much tannin. Toffee and berry with light tartness but strong malt textures through the middle. No alcohol noted. Good attenuation. Clean and well put together, which is a relief given the awful mess that was the raspberry version.