Barrel-Aged Project 2013 (Blond Ale) - Bruichladdig Barrel
Brouwerij Hof Ten Dormaal

i actually had the 2014 vintage of this, which is not listed here, but assuming its the same thing. it was cool to have this and the dark from the same barrels side by side, the two could not be any more different than they are. while the both exhibit intense scotch whiskey character, the blonde edition is also sour. im not sure if thats intentional or merely a product of its age at this point, but i would think the former. there is a desireable almost lambic sourness to this with some woody funk that i think is really tasty with the smoke and earthy peatiness of the whiskey, some lemon and orchard fruit here too, enormously complex and weird flavor, i wouldnt have expected to like the acidity with the whiskey but i really do, and this is quite malty for its pale color, its sturdy and bready and full bodied and even a little sweet, more complex as a base beer than anticipated, and just a totally different animal than the dark. more whiskey than wood for me here, smoke and peat through the finish, confectioners sugar, dried apricot, lots going on. if there was any recipe difference between 2013 listed here and the 2014 i had, let me know. i liked this because it was strange, but between the two from these barrels, i would absolutely choose the dark to have again in the future...

 

Pours a pale honey color, that settles into the glass with a huge fizzy off-white head that disappears quickly. Aroma is sweet malts and hints of honey, some dried grass and tree fruits. Flavor is once again very sweet, with tree fruits and floral notes up front and a bit of earthiness and honey on the finish. I assume that hint of earthiness is from the barrel, but this one is super sweet and very bready/malty. Feel is very high carbonation, with a syrupy body that leaves a lingering sticky sweetness and a carbonation prickle. Overall, not at all what what I was expecting from a beer aged in single-malt scotch barrels. No real barrel presence and just overwhelming sweetness.