Pinot Noir Barrel Aged Buffalo Gold
Boulder Beer / Wilderness Pub

 

Buff Gold is pretty much the last beer I would think David Zuckerman would age in a Pinot Noir wine barrel, but here it is. Served in a shaker pint glass, the beer is pale gold, with a fair amount of haze and a dense eggshell cap. The head sticks nicely and a fair bit of lace is left behind.

Buff Gold is a pretty tame beer unto itself. The beer's lightness means the wine barrel is free to assert itself fully. A light sweet biscuit presence from the malts cuts through nicely. Bitterness is relatively light and has a citrus kick. Tart grape and cherry flavors from the wine barrel add a nice layer of extra complexity. A light woodsy aroma and flavor is at work too. The beer finishes dry, with lingering citrus and dark fruit flavors. A medium-light body with soft carbonation makes for easy drinking.

Buff Gold on its own is the kind of unassuming craft beer you give to a hesitant macro drinker to start them down the path. Putting it in a Pinot Noir barrel gave it a nice complexity that the regular beer lacks. I'm quite glad I tried it.