Single Barrel Rain Shadow - Rye 2020
Buxton Brewery

L- Wow, completely black with just visible rising fine bubbles just behind the glass. The latter formed a fine looking very deep tan micro-bubble 1Cm foam cap. Superbly elegant. Forms lacing on the way down.
S- [This is blind-tasted]. There is a hint of liquor (barrel aged?) and lovely cocoa/chocolate with perhaps a small coffee note within it.
T- Follows the smell closely, with a toasty/charry note in the finish and a moderate whisp of smoke. First sip and I finally get a minor ABV% zing on my palate only about 5 seconds after swallowing. Second sip, I'm usually poor at guessing types of liquor barrels - I'll take a punt here > rum. Third sip, cocoa then rum again, with the liquor+ABV% giving a balancing dry aspect into the finish.
F- This is notably, seriously pungent. Absolutely perfect for slow-sipping. It's waaay too intense to rush. Even though this is a mere 330ml can it would be plenty for two people to share and get the full experience.
O- As a child my favourite kind of cake/pastry was called a rum truffle. A tennis ball sized sphere of near black very dense moist chocolate sponge with a hint of rum flavour. This is like a rum truffle turned into beer form. Unctious, rich, just inside the borderline of extravagent whilst remaining fully clothed (polite to the palate). Would I drink it again? Hell yeah! Buy it again?... unsure, it's damned expensive but the occasion might arise.
Bought from Bacchanalia, Mill Road, Cambridge 330ml can £11.25 (ouch!). BB: 31/12/2022.

ps. Now reading the lable I see it's rye-whiskey barrels i/o rum - doh! But like I said I'm lousy at guessing barrels. Try it yourself and see how you get on.