Twenty Three Anniversary Ale - Bourbon Barrel Aged Triple Exultation
Eel River Brewing Co.

 

Poured from a bottle - murky brown/mahogany color with short khaki head leaving a bit of lacing. Had this one in the cellar for a year. Nose is sweetish caramel,vanilla and dark dried fruits with a hint of alcohol. Taste follows with sweet malt and bourbony wood. Finish is a little thin and slightly dry.

 

 

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a slightly hazy, dark mahogany brown, with little light transmission in the glass with a half finger khaki head with great retention and nice lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, vanilla, bourbon, raisins and dates. Flavor is rich biscuit and mildly caramel malt, bourbon, oaky vanilla, molasses, dates and a little dark fruit from the bourbon in the finish, a bit boozy. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess, nice mouth feel. The old ale body of this really became stellar in the barrel. Bourbon is a bit forward, but the deep biscuity malt supports it and the good barrel oakiness very well. The flavor just keeps improving throughout the taste with a very satisfying, malty and bourbony finish. I really liked this a lot and will try to track down a few more for cellaring. The profile is a cross between the biscuit malty style of English barleywines and an American strong ale. They nailed this one.