Double Oak Bruin
Town Hall Brewery

Dark ebony shade, full opacity, short-lived whitish head.

In the nose: Bold, brash, funky and fruity. Wine barrel spilling out everywhere, with bourbon limping behind. Oak and vanilla touches. The Belgian brown hides in the background.

In the mouth: Red wine tannins blast the palate and splatter all about with tart fruity flavors. In time, other flavors emerge from beneath the fruit, chocolate and caramel come crawling from under. A little vanilla, a bit more oak. Getting stronger and sharper as go further. Cherries and maple are also popping up. The Belgian brown beneath holds it down with aplomb, but it's individual flavors are outshone by the barrel's contributions. At turns sweet, sharp, and tart, this effort from the barrel-aging masters keeps the palate twisting and turning. The alcohol rises, the feeling of well-being grows. Flavors of wine and bourbon take turns providing interplay. Cherry and grape, oak and whiskey, deep and sweet, rich and delicious. Nice one.

Inspired by the many wine cask finished bourbons in the market today, this is the perfect blend of both bourbon and wine barrel aged beers. Using two very different oak barrels creates a beer that offers aromas that may resemble fudge, chocolate, red berries, vanilla, buttery caramel, and maple sugar.

 

On tap. Khaki head. Amber ruby copper color.

There is a ton of flavor going on here. All kinds of dark berries and currants. Dried cherries. Red grapes. Maple, toffee, caramel, and tart cherries. Vanilla. Oak and some chocolate/fudge in the background.

A very complex and flavorful Belgian Bruin. This one really surprised me.