Gnarles Barley - Brandy Barrel-Aged
Aardwolf Brewing Company

This was poured into a snifter. The appearance was a dark brown close to black color with a quickly dissipating finger’s worth of white to off white foamy head. Stringy concave lace. The aroma starts with some sweet apple, slight pear, sticky caramel, subtle toffee, sly roast, and a boost of boozy energy to it. Faint grassy hops. The flavor opens up with a sticky sweet smooth caramel toffee moodiness. Smooth sticky brandy boozy aftertaste and finish. On the palate, this one sat about a medium on the body with a nice sipping quality about it. Carbonation is pretty low. Overall, pretty sure this is an aged bottle, though I don’t see a date. Hops have faded a bit, still, this was quite a gem well worth going at again if I ever could get it again.

 

 

Thanks doesn’t cut it for moose3285. Top 1% trader, El Cat trustee, & purveyor of great beer since 2008. Who just dropped another truckload of first class beer on me. Here’s the first: 22 oz. bottle split with my wife, the first we’ve had from this brewery. Bottle dated 2015.

The pour is turgid brown brownish red that looks like it could use a good cheesecloth straining, with a head that vanishes quicker than a flash mob (is that still a thing?). The nose is caramel infused with brandy & ladled with alcohol: a rather nice pairing.

Gnarles Barkley - Brandy Barrel Aged reminds me of that horrible song. Don’t tell me the name, or it’ll get in my head like meningitis. Three big bands collide in front of the mouth - brandy, caramel, & a weird, earthiness that I can only attribute to dank-riddled hops. Oak, too. Warming alcohol starts to spread out from my abs about six ounces in. Dry, almost thin. I keep grabbing the glass trying to wipe the puzzled look off my face.

Weird beer. The hops & the brandy clash like Corwin & Eric over the throne of Amber. The base barleywine is muddled by the hops: maybe time will tone them down or smooth them over. Still a good brew.