The Poitier, Brandy Oak Barrel Aged
Martin City Brewing Company

12oz can. Poured out a clear, golden amber color with a small, off-white head of foam. It left sudsy trails of lace on the glass. It smelled of brandy, caramel, toffee, malt and booziness. Very sweet and boozy with caramel, toffee and brandy flavors.

 

 

these guys have been hit or miss for me, some really ambitious beers but some less than amazing execution at times. this is a pretty cool beer, but its not perfect. its a cool idea, not sure i have seen a belgian tripel done in brandy before. the base beer seems really sweet, not as refined and complex as others, and the brandy barrel is intense both in the oak and the spirit itself, both lending a whole lot to this brew. tons of wood, sweet grape, hot alcohol, fluffy wheat, concentrated juice, sugars, vanilla, and high ester belgian yeast. its all a bit too much, and as well as i like all the wood in here and all, it doesnt seem to be the best fusion of barrel and base beer. this much brandy needs something a little more substantial where the grain can contribute a little more, a dubbel or better yet a quad would have been better choices i think, there just isnt enough beer behind the barrel influence here for it to be real balanced. still, cool beer because its so different, just not sure how much of this i really could drink...