Wheat Wine 2013 - Vintage Port Wine Barrel Aged
Smuttynose Brewing Company

Poured from the 500 ml bottle into the test glass
A - Bottle opened with an encouraging hiss. Dark mahagony color, gentle, determined carbonation meanders up the glass wall. A thin everpresent ring of off white resides.
S - Vanilla, toffee, caramel, a hint of that port, with blackberry reduction, balsamic, black pepper. Leather, dark fruit, fig, raisin.
T - Well all the above, with the focus being on the dark fruit. There is an amazing deph and circular element to the flavors
Here the pepper dark grapeskin, blends seamlessly with the wheat base, yeast is neutral. A molasses and burnt brown sugar add to the myriad of flavors.
M - Bold, slick, palate coating, bozzy exhale with each sip acts as clean up. The linger is for days. Sweet start, then a move toward dry that is now match.
O - A true gem, sipper loaded with flavor. The Port barrel treatment is inspired. Age has treated this quite well

 

I had a couple of 10oz snifters of this yesterday at Hayseed.

It was a deep, dark, opaque chestnut hue. Had a thin, wispy head, mostly just rim bubbles, with some light lacing. Nose was rich and sweet, with lots of raisiny notes. Body was medium-plus, and it was very smooth going down.

Had a smidge of caramel and toffee to start. Thereafter it had some caramelized brown sugar, vanilla, currants, raisins and prunes. There was also some sweetish port action noticeable here. This is high-octane, warming, dessert-style sipping bier, and a damn tasty one at that! Prosit!!

4.28/5 rDev +4.0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

1877

Bottle from the brewery.
Huge fruity prune and plum notes with some light port and sherry. Earthy light soy on the nose as well. Wow that does not taste like I would have expected. Syrupy sweet fruity prune raisin with some oaky port and soy notes and a long warming finish. Oddly unique sipper that really grew on me especially as it warmed.