Barrel-Aged Project 2014 (Blond Ale) - Madeira
Brouwerij Hof Ten Dormaal

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2014 vintage bottling. Pours moderately hazy deep orange/amber/light copper color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of huge golden raisin, peach, plum, pear, apricot, date, red apple, orange peel, berry, red wine, sherry, honey, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, nuts, white bread, and toasted oak; with lighter notes of pepper, clove, leather, herbal, grass, and yeast/oak earthiness. Touch of booze in the aromas as it warms, but not overwhelming. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/earthy yeast, wine barrels, and pale malt sweetness; with big strength. Taste of huge golden raisin, peach, plum, pear, apricot, date, red apple, orange peel, berry, red wine, sherry, honey, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, nuts, white bread, and toasted oak; with lighter notes of pepper, clove, leather, herbal, grass, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light-moderate peppery yeast and wine/oak spiciness on the finish. Slightly tart. Lingering notes of raisin, peach, plum, pear, apricot, date, red apple, orange peel, berry, red wine, sherry, honey, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, nuts, white bread, toasted oak, pepper, clove, leather, herbal, grass, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/earthy yeast, wine barrels, and pale malt sweetness; with a great malt and yeast/oak spiciness balance, with zero cloying flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from yeast/oak spiciness. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; with a smooth, creamy/bready/grainy, fairly sticky/tannic, and lightly slick balanced mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is well hidden; a light-moderate warmth, with minimal barrel booziness lingering after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic barrel aged Belgian strong pale ale! All around outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/earthy yeast, wine barrels, and pale malt sweetness; very smooth and dangerously easy to sip on for the huge ABV. This has aged extremely well for the style. I usually prefer them fresher. The fruity wine and oak flavors are exceptionally well balanced, and perfectly integrated with the base beer. Tons of increasing complexity as it warms, and never overly sweet or heavy feeling for the ABV. A highly enjoyable offering.

 

 

2014 vintage bottle, one of 1908 bottles, labeled "Brew No 3"

Pours dark amber with a medium head. A partial skim coat on the surface with zero lacing.

Aromatics lead off with toffee, caramel, raisins, sugar-dusted plums, and clove-studded apples.

Medium bodied with a somewhat creamy, sticky mouthfeel.

Plump malt, ripe figs, rum-soaked raisins, and caramelized grapes start the palate. Red apples, bubblegum, and a light boozy note follow through.

Finishes with sweet malt, a boozy warmth, and candied grape.

Tasty beer. Can't say I'm getting a lot of Madeira qualities but this drinks like a very complex quad.

2014 vintage Belgian Blond Ale aged in Madeira Barrels. It's tough to keep track of what this brewery is doing in terms of picking a listing, but it's usually worth the mental anguish. One of 1452 bottles. Poured into a snifter.

3.25 A: Murky apple cider color. About one finger of frothy off-white head formed and fell soon after without leaving behind lacing.

4.0 S: The nose on this isn't overpowering, but it sure has a lot of complexity. It opens with an almond nuttiness followed by a unsweetened toffee and caramel. Brown sugar and candied peaches then apple pie. Phenolic spiciness from the base beer with a light peppery edge to it. Finish it off with a vinous grape aroma. Despite the murkiness of the brew, there isn't a lot of yeastiness. Rather, it's quite clean with a tilt toward the sweeter side of the spectrum.

3.75 T: The barrel comes out much stronger in the taste. The madeira contributes an almond liqueur type flavor with sweet syrupy caramel. Lots of vanilla with woody undertones. Nondescript light fruits. Tart apple and sugary pie crust. Peppery spiciness from the yeast. Finishes with a lemony tanginess.

4.0 M: Heavier medium to heavy body. Good moderate carbonation. Rich and almost syrupy on the tongue. The sweetness accumulates amylase. Light spritziness with a warming finish.

4.0 D: This delivers in mirroring the barrel it was raised in. This drinks like a dessert wine. It's rich and robust, had great depth, and works best when sipped. It's been years since I first stumbled upon this brewery and it's barrel work and I'm glad to be back involved.