Barrel Series No. 1: J. Marie - Whiskey Barrel-Aged
River North Brewery

From BeerAdvocate magazine Issue #68 (Spetember 2012):

LOOK: Hazy straw amber, tiny bubbled lacing

SMELL: Wood, spice, fruity, peppery, yeast, faint booze, ripe pears, nectarines, light marmalade

TASTE: Mild smoothness, slick, lightly creamy, dry, wood, almond skin, enjoyable tartness, level alcohol, spicy, herbal, earthy, yeast, faint vanilla, ghost-like barrel juice, salty, long lasting finish

It really took us more than a few sips to fall into the depths of this brew but when we did it pulled us in hard. Perhaps the only thing that left us waiting was the slight lack of crispness most Saisons have, that is where the barrel aging element come in and provides such a deep character, we almost got lost in it.

STYLE: Saison
ABV: 7.5%
AVAILABILITY: Year-round

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bottle 896 out of 1092 courtesy of jdiddy via jedwards. Served in a tulip. Pours a dull, burnt orange with a slightly hazy clarity and a loose, bright white head that quickly dissipates into a tight band around the shoulders and an oily slick across the surface. nose expresses buttery notes and a hint of oak. Taste follows nose - there's a nice toasted quality to this beer. Mouthfeel is light-medium in body (closer to light) with an even carbonation and a trace of astringency at the finish. All said, a tasty brew - the whiskey barrel is unassuming an complements the style nicely. Well worth your time if the opportunity presents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013 Vintage - Bottle # 969/1092

APPEARANCE: Bright orange in color with a nice, white head that adds a good finger and a half to the top of the beer. It looks more like a Double IPA than a Saison. There is pretty decent head retention that eventually fades into a thin cap covering the whole surface of the beer.

SMELL: My first impression is orange peel with vanilla. But upon closer inspection, there is a ton of wood in the nose here. There is also just a tiny hint of funk as well. All of the smells here blend together perfectly. It doesn't get much better than this.

TASTE: There is so much going on in here. Plenty of sweet fruit flavors hit the palate right off the bat. The orange from the nose leads the way, but a lot of other citrus and tropical fruits dance around the tongue as well. Spicy and bitter hop flavors help to provide a balance to this beer as a touch of vanilla and oak round it out.

MOUTHFEEL: Wow, this beer really goes everywhere. It start off sweet and then finishes with a dry, sparkling finish slightly tart finish that causes a very slight pucker.

OVERALL: This beer really has everything I need in a beer. Fruit flavors from both the yeast and the hops, just enough malt to balance, a little spice and a nice dose of vanilla and oak from the barrel. Nearly perfect in it's complexity. One of my new all-time favorites.