Tall Dark & Barrel-Aged
West Sixth Brewing Company

 

Dark black in color with a surprisingly off white head. Definite bourbon comes through on nose. Definite plums and molasses come through on taste with a slight warmth.

Pours a dark murky brown small tan head no real lace.

Aroma is dark fruits, sugary molasses notes, some bourbon notes, vanilla. Smooth nice smelling Quad.

Taste is not quite as nice and smooth as the nose. Good sugary notes, dark fruits but also anise coated dark tart cherry that doesn't seem to go. Know it's retired maybe but just picked this bottle up at the brewery should she sell even if it is old. Some spice and bitterness in the finish also.

Mouthfeel is big medium, smooth carbonation.

Overall nice nose, taste is not quite up to the aroma.

 

 

Alright straight Kentucky bourbon, you do your thang. And do it layered on top of West Sixth's Belgian styled darker stronger ale. The two collections of flavors intertwine and propel each one to a place that each wouldn't be able to achieve on their own.

Tall, Dark & Barrel Aged decants as a deep garnet color laced with an ominous foggy haze and topped with a dense but thing blanket of sandy tan foam. Its rich aromas captivate the nose with a host of dark, dried, stone fruit, whisky spice and mouthwatering malt sweetness. And as those malts slather the tastebuds, the initial impressions are decadently sweet with brown sugar, molasses, toffee and caramel; seemingly like rum cake.

While the middle palate is also awash with lavish malt sweetness, its nearly syrupy tone invites the taste of fruit to layer upon the grains with a taste of fig, date, raisin, cherry, apricot and light orange. All tasting of the dried variety of tar and jammy fruits, the macerated flavors welcome the spice of cinnamon, peppercorn, clove and allspice to both balance the fruit and take an edge off of the nearly cloying sweetness. The bourbon barrels add a strong presence of vanilla, caramel, coconut and whisky spice with the charm of toasted oak and acorn.

Full in body, the beer departs fro the standard Belgian quadruple ale by prefering a rich, thick and chewy palate rather than the racy effervescence and digestible character of classic abbey versions. But the nearly barleywine-like taste and textures delight the senses with a wealth of sultry culinary art. A long finish of sweet booze trends sherry-like with those spice cake flavors holding firm in aftertaste.