Brynhildr's Gift- Red Wine And New Oak Cask Aged
Olvalde Farm and Brewing Company

08/12/2016

Poured from 750 mL bottle into snifter.
A: Pours a clear orange amber with very mild carbonation which produces a thin skim of head that quickly dissipates. Seems under carbonated.
S: Red wine, sweet caramel malt, and oak.
T: Warm juniper, cinnamon, woody toasted oak, and a hint of red wine. Better here than aroma was suggesting.
M: Smooth and sweet. Moderately heavy body. Warming alcohol. Distinct lack of carbonation is a ding here.
D: This has promise, but needs some tweaking. I like the complexity and interesting components of the taste. Lack of carbonation hurts both appearance and mouthfeel. Aroma could also use a bit more.

From what I can tell, bottles are pretty inconsistent; I've seen over-carbed, under-carbed. For what it's worth, mine was pretty spot on. A high level of carbonation, good retention, nice sticky lacing. This strikes me more as a Biere De Garde than a Saison. Dark auburn, orange red highlights. Smell is oaky, tannic, spiced (definite herbal note, though not the piney side of juniper ... more the anise and berry flavor), melange of woods, something like rye / caraway, waxy honey. Incredibly complex. Feel is medium to full, a caramel stickiness.

One crazy unique and interesting beer.

 

This beer pours a murky ruby color. The head is nonexistent as is normal for a wine barrel aged beer. The aroma is of caramel, oak, tannins, plums, dates, and faint whiffs of allspice. The taste is luscious, and warming. Tons of molasses and oaky tannins, bushels of dark fruit, cherries, dates, and plums round things out. The mouthfeel is full bodied with a thick viscous texture. The carbonation is of the extreme low end, but works well with the style. Overall, this is a very well crafted beer. I'd like to see a tad bit more carbonation to cut through some of the stickiness, but what is in my current glass is still extra tasty.

 

 

 

 

Massive head of foam after a huge pop from opening the swing top. Cloudy burnt orange body. The nose smells of honey and some sour wine grapes. Smells close to a wild ale or sour. Taste is awesome. Honey and malt sweetness, red wine grapes, sour apple and pear. The sweetness balances out any sourness to blend to a beautiful beer. Complex, but so easy on the palate to drink. The feel is very soft and velvety. Overall, just an awesome beer. Olvalde continues to hand craft beer after beer that are so unique and enjoyable. This might be the best beer I've had from them yet. An absolute must try!