Apple Brandy Barrel Noir
Prairie Artisan Ales

Bottle no apparent date:
Poured straight down the middle of the glass, there was a scant showing of tan head. Not long lasting, there is a thin ring around the glass. Some parts stick to the glass as I tip it, but there is no lacing as the bubbles make their way back to the beer itself.

Nose had me going one of two ways initially - I get a nice roasted malt base which is good for a stout. However, the barrel aging gives it a hint of tartness that I've noticed in infected beers. I am sure this isn't infected, so when I think about the notes I might get from the barrel, it seems fine. That impression also mostly faded by mid-glass. There is a sweet apple note, but also a little tartness that almost seems a little plum-like. Chocolate, roasted malt, fireplace char all get a little say in the nose.

Right up front, the apple hits - not strong, but just the first distinct note I get. It's more apple juice than brandy initially. Getting the beer to the back of the palate brings out the chocolate/vanilla, cocoa notes of the stout. A nice little warming occurs as the brandy flavor and 12% of this beer begin being sensed. The sweetness is tolerable to this point, but that tolerance is tested a tad as the ending stays pretty sweet. The last notes are finally a little bit of char, but also a little cherry cordial sorta flavor.

This beer is quite slick and smooth, medium heavy feel, and full bodied. Obviously not dry at all, given the sweetness that lasts the whole taste.

I really liked my first few sips. The sweetness built up, however, and my feelings were tempered. It never became a chore to drink, and I think it would work great as an after dinner sipper, maybe even to share.

 

Review: 2194
Name: Apple Brandy Barrel Noir
Brewery: Prairie Artisan Ales
Location: Krebs, OK
Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
ABV: 12%
Date: Unknown
I am shifting to an imperial barrel-aged beer from Oklahoma: Apple Brandy. My brief knowledge of Apple Brandy is that it is a brandy made from apples. I have tried this before, and it has a faint hint of apples. It was distilled to create the brandy. I am still determining if brandy will push through the imperial stout. I am using a tulip glass and serving the beer at 48 degrees. The pour created a creamy, one-fingered, medium-tan head with poor retention. The quick dissipation left no lacing on the glass. The jet-black beer has dark mahogany hues, is charting at SRM 38, and is opaque. The appearance is average for this style.
That is interesting. When I first nosed the glass, the beer had a faint apple aroma, along with alcohol, chocolate, oak, and coffee. Nosing the glass several times, I detect bread, roasty, lightly toasted malts, molasses, earthy, light smoke, char, raisins, and floral. The beer has a lovely malt complex accompanied by a heavy barrel aging. I was expecting an elaborate nose, but it is straightforward.
The beer did not hold up in the cellar; it was vinegar. I am going to close this review and give the beer an average rating, and I will come back to it if I can get a hold of another one. I did not detect the vinegar in the nose, and when I sipped the beer, I was stunned and said, " it has turned.

 

 

 

 

2016 Vintage(I Think)

A: Poured into a snifter to a black beer which is topped by a small light tan head which fades quickly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of brandy barrels with some chocolate, coffee, and roasted malts
T: Taste is chocolate and coffee up front with some brandy barrel influence. Hints of roasted malts and toasted marshmallows. On the swallow there's more brandy barrel, chocolate, coffee, and roasted malts
M: This beer has a body which is lighter than anticipated and slightly silky. Carbonation is quite low, but it is there while the beer has a sightly drying finish due to the ABV
O: Overall this beer is quite good. It has also held up well over time. Complexity also grows as the beer warms. It's definitely worth a try if you like barrel aged beers.

#105 Love it, Apple really come thru!

 

Pours black with a finger of khaki foam. Head retention is good after an aggressive pour. Aroma is big. Apple brandy, toffee, barrel, char, and caramel dance and play over roasty and toasty malts. Flavor profile is medium-thin. Roasty and toasty malts lead the charge. Toffee, caramel, molasses, and apple brandy tag on for a flavorful brew. Mouth feel is velvety, and soft, but never hits creamy. It has a medium-thick consistency. Overall, solid stout with hints of apple brandy coming through.

Reviewed from notes. Reviewed 1/12/19. 2018 version.

 

Really enjoying this. Much less sweet than anticipated and has a nice chally bakers chocolage predominace. The apple brandy tastes genuine and natural whereas I feel I lot of prairies beers are try hard and artificial. Namely vanilla noir which is awfully fake.

Its not terribly complex. Taste like a very simple, basic, strong old school RIS with roasty notes layered with oak and yesz apple bransy. Quite thick and very hot.

 

This rating is based on the original from a few years ago. Pours dark brown/black with exceptional thickness. The Apple Brandy melds perfectly to make this an exceptional barrel aged stout. For a number of years this was my favorite beer.