The K13 - Madeira Barrel-Aged
Voodoo Brewing Co.

Pours a dark burgundy color with a turbid haze to the transparency. The shape of the flashlight can be made out from the otherside, but that's it. Head is two fingers of khaki bubbles that leans more fizz than foam. Aroma is fig, raisins, toast, caramel, molasses, and oak with heavy port and brandy characteristics behind. Some sticky hops, oak and char comes thru, with the hops being prevalent at the onset, and oak being more prevalent at the back third. Having a difficult time placing it exactly, but it has a woody, branch note to it. Flavor profile is fig, raisins, toffee, walnuts, toast, caramel, molasses, and some heavy port notes just beyond. It never gets to being a cloying level of sweetness, but it gets awfully close. Oak cleans up the back just a touch. Heavy caramel, bready, and light earthy malts form the firm foundation. While the malts last longer than the initial sweetness, the real balance comes from a swell of alcohol heat that dries up the finish. Mouth feel is medium-thick with a consistent, off-spaced grit to the texture. The light grit allows it to finish with a creamy consistency. Overall, heavy port notes here, which when paired with the barleywine, form a bit of a sweetness bomb despite being devoid of flavor additives. Whether this sweetness is prevalent due to aging or not is unknown to me, but is worth noting. It hasn't quite fallen out of balance though, yet.

Served in a 15.5oz Speigalau tulip from a 22oz bottle. Bottle dated by hand 02/11/2020. Consumed / reviewed 12/28/2021. Stored cellar temp until serving time, when chilled in the fridge, but allowed to warm in the glass during this review.

Fairly clear burnt acorn-red with a persistent but modest off-white head curling thick at the ridges.

Very American! Hoppy pine and catty resin drenches the wood of the barrel, meeting an unfortunately potent character of orange and cherry lozenges. There is minimal room left for expressing any nuance of the faintly present notes of toffee and caramel.

The medium body has a smooth yet finely soft fizz, and comes to a paper dry finish.

I can't express how disappointed I was in this. I love madeira in general, and have really enjoyed the few madeira barrel aged beers I've had in the past.