A Deal With The Devil - Triple Oak-Aged
Anchorage Brewing Company

 

 

 

2021 batch 3, drank in June 2022. Didn't get as much from this as previous ADWTD. Felt sweet without complexity that you would expect. Still very delicious, just not worth the price.

 

 

 

 

Complex and boozy, hits all the right barley wine notes but adds so much more. Fruity, sweet but not cloying. Thick but not too heavy, just all around outstanding.

 

My first sacrifice at Dark Lord Day 2023 (it's back baby!!!), this screenprinted batch 1 Triple Oak label--sporting those the Aussie stickers with pride--poured a mildly viscous clear reddish-copper with nary a head to speak of, though ringed by a bubbly tan chain.

Intensely woody up front, it even leans a little pungent and catty right out of the bottle. However, it quickly transforms into an explodingly delectable maple tempered by a whiskey heat that both continue to expand on the exhale and with each subsequent sip.

Though this definitely shows its age, it's quite the experience nevertheless. Still, I'm not sure anything can beat my nostalgia for the original cognac-only bomber, despite my Double Oak rating being the highest of all three.

 

 

 

As good as it gets. From the bottle at Rosada Ranch on 04/02/23.

This is a special one. I wanted to crack this while reading Brandon Sanderson's "Tress Of The Emerald Sea". So I did.

Apppearance is dark brown, just a shade brighter than a cup of coffee. Definitely some translucence.

Nose is just a cacophony of oak, bourbon, dark bread with plum jam, apple butter, caramel soaked raisins, and coconut. Wow. Simply exquisite. The nose is expressive, but not overbearing. Restrained.

The taste follows the nose perfectly. Sweet, dark fruit, like plum, date and fig, combined with caramel and brown sugar, rich breadiness, oak, apple, cherry, baking spices. Everything works perfectly with each other.

Mouthfeel is full bodied. Not thick or syrupy either. Not too cloying. A little bit of evaporation to counteract. Some tannins to dry. It fits well in this regard. It doesn't hang too heavy on the palate.

Overall this is stellar brew. I can't think of many words to really capture how absolutely amazing this experience is. A product crafted by masters in thier field and it shines through brilliantly.

2022 vintage

Review 1600! I've saved a truly legendary beer for this milestone review, the highest rated American Barleywine on BA and 13th highest rated overall. I just had the Double Oak version yesterday and it was damn good, so I have high hopes for this. Let's crack this beast open and see what it's all about

Pours a cloudy dark brown with just a finger of tan head that quickly fades to a nothing and leaves no lacing, but with fantastic legs

In the nose, it's also quite similar to Double Oak, though with some more barrel presence. I'm picking up on aromas of earthy bourbon, charred oak, molasses, burnt caramel, plum, black cherry, cognac, toasted coconut, sweet vanilla, old leather, light fig, and toffee

The booze is more forward here, but it pushes such wonderful complexities in taste that it actually adds to the experience. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting cocoa powder, black cherry, cognac, toasted oak, sweet bourbon, honey, molasses, dark toast, fig, sweet vanilla, raisin, light toffee, and tobacco. The swallow brings notes of leather, smoky tobacco, charred oak, molasses, fig, black cherry, toasted coconut, port wine, plum, cacao nib, burnt caramel, brown sugar, and light walnut

A full body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation, resulting in a rich and silky beer. Finishes a tad sticky, but the boozy tingle dries it out over time

This is incredible. The Double Oak version was great too, but this one edges it out. Definitely a beer I'll remember for years to come