Double Barrel Noir
Prairie Artisan Ales

 

Pours pitch black with a short lived dark tan head. Aroma is vanilla forward. Flavor follows the nose, sweet vanilla, chocolate and bourbon. Feel is richly thick. Overall another outstanding beer from this brewery.

 

 

 

Brew: Prairie Artisan Ales – Double Barrel Noir

Intro: 12 oz. poured into a tulip glass. Shared with a friend.

Appearance: Dark black color. Minimal head. maybe ½ inch. Minimal lacing as we drank

Smell: First you notice the barrel aroma of rum and whiskey. Very enticing. In the background you can discern chocolate and vanilla.

Taste: Followed along with the smell. Very nice. The rum stands out but not overpowering. Very well blended.

Mouthfeel: Medium mouthfeel, medium to low carbonation

Drink: Went down easy and quick, I could easily drink another in a session.

Conclusion: It was very enjoyable, one that I would certainly not pass up if I ran across it again. In fact, I like to have a few for my cellar. First rum aged beer that really spoke to me. Probably a top ten Prairie stout that I’ve tried

 

 

Very dark appearance with slight tan head. Aroma is a slightly sweet whisky that is very nice. Taste is a smooth slightly sweet whisky that is very nice and smooth whisky alcohol aftertaste.

 

 

 

 

 

Pours as black as the night with a small, fizzy head, immediately vanishing to a small ring of lacing.

Smells of dried figs, Maggi, bakers chocolate and earthy molasses, tied together by a very inviting spiciness. Offers a prominent soy sauce aroma, which blends into more chocolate and a heavy flower note, reminding me of musk.

Has a thick, full mouthfeel with a very prominent, unique tasting boozy peak. This gets easily balanced by whipped cream and the complex malt foundation of the beer, creating a long lasting enjoyment on the tongue.

Tastes of spicy licorice, caramel and roasty hazelnuts, with a slowly uprising alcohol bite, soothed by soft whipped cream. The barrels bring a great mixture of flavors to the palate, consisting of dried fruits, scented wood, cologne and wooden spices, enhanced by a note of boozy Nutella. Then the barrels turn quite alcoholic with a sharp, dry peak, blending back into a profound toffee and chocolate foundation, almost pushing too far. Finishes with raisins, tons of milk chocolate and a hot oaken dryness with a note of rock sugar.

A huge and challenging beer, very rewarding as for its profound, warming barrel presence, which at first glance seems to overpower the palate, until it gently blends into equally luscious chocolate, which gets supported by an intriguing spiciness. Nose is strange though.