Fitzcarraldo 2016 Barrel Aged Reserve
Breakside Brewery - SE Taproom

 

 

 

 

 

Muddy tap pour with very fine effervescence and grippy lacing on draughts. Aroma is sweet cherry-tobacco. Bourbon, a touch of smoke and Belgian yeast are present in the flavor along with some "cheer-root." This is a very pleasant, warming brew with a rich flavor profile and a sticky finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from a bomber into a tulip.

A: Pours a dirty dark brown with a slight reddish hue and leaves less than a finger of off-white/tan head that lingers for a while.

S: I got a little nervous here: a little tart vinegar, vinous oak, smoky malts.

T: Sugar coated raisins, vanilla beans, delicous oak, dark chocolate, caramel. All so well balanced and blended together well. Quite smooth and finishes nicely, the way it started. Even with all those sweet flavors, it's not overly sweet. Great to chew around and enjoy all the flavors.

M: Medium carbonation with a medium to full, creamy body.

O: Wonderful flavors in this one. Not sure why I'm getting vinegar in the nose because there's none in the flavor. A great slow sipper to enjoy. Was really impressed with this one.

 

Good flavor profile, very similar to higher math by dogfish head.

Clear dark copper orange, with a quickly settled head of fine creamy tan bubbles. Smell is full of bourbon from the barrel aging. The taste is sweet, prominent bourbon with the tang of the high ABV, overlaid on the beer flavors of fig and subtle dark fruit Belgian flavors. The brewery website description says this is a blend of their beers, aged over 18 months in bourbon barrels. The majority of the blend is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale, with a small portion of a Bourbon Barrel aged stout. Also, they add a dash of their smoky Amber Ale. I think I pick up that bit of stout in the flavor, and maybe that smoky dash too. The mouthfeel is very smooth, creamy, a little bit of fizz, a little burn from the high alcohol.

Overall, this is a very fine beer. If you are thinking that you like the bourbon barrel taste, this really has that right up front. Quite sweet, in the style of dark Belgian ales although it is not as dense and dark as a quad. A great beer, but between the high ABV and the sweetness, you probably won't want to drink more than one glass at a sitting.