4 Year Anniversary - Whisky Barrel-Aged and Port-Finished
Aardwolf Brewing Company

22oz bomber at home with Lisa. Bought at the source.

Good. Weird candy/bubblegum in the nose, maybe the Port? Flavor is more of what you'd expect - malty, sweet caramel, and some sweet red wine (similar to aroma but more subdued). Decent but low carb, medium-full body, slightly chewy feel. Really good, really interesting, not great. I like it.

A deep mahogany color on the pour with ruby highlights when held toward the light. Clouded clarity and a fast almost non-existent head of white bubbles. The nose is nice with sweet malts and oak tones. A rather dry start to the drinking with a sweet flow and clean finish. I'm finding the port to be rather forward and a bit more of the dominating flavor here. Port wine is a bit unique but I think it comes off rather well and different. The barrel offers nice dry oak tones and a subtle whiskey build. Additional notes of sweet malt, caramel, vanilla, and a nod to dark candied fruits-lots of raisin, dates, plum, and prunes. The mouth feel is crazy drinkable, and not boozy at all, but man does the abv hit on the backend. I'm really starting to feel it after gulping down half the bottle. Dangerously dry, smooth, and easy.

Overall, not the best barley wine I've ever had but definitely one of the more unique ones. Always hard to rank those. I'm not a big wine guy but I've also found the stronger port/ice wines to be more of fancy. That's probably why I enjoyed it so much.

22 ounce bottle, no date seen on bottle. I can only assume it’s from their 4 year anniversary (duh!). Poured into tulip.

Brown with ruby highlights, muddled looking. Small head of mixed bubbles. Leaves nice ring around interior of glass. Just the lightest wisps of lace.
Nose is berry, red licorice, twizzlers all day long. I don’t have a ton of experience with port or port barrel but the few ive had express a berry note.
Fig, caramel sweetness, red berry, orange liqueur, citrus hops, earthiness, raisins, slight rye spice, red wine like. Not much whiskey as I can tell.
Mellow, smooth body, maybe slightly under carbonated.
Really enjoyable, unique beer.

Pours a dark, nutty brown in the glass. Good head retention.

Surprising hop presence despite the aging; this is clearly an American Barleywine, with grainy caramel malt and a bitter bop profile that leans toward pine, grass, and earth. Slightly sour - in a red grape kind of way - from the port barrel treatment. Moderate sweetness comes primarily from the two barrel treatment. Whisky makes little other impression overall.

A strong brew; a big slow sipper. Quite good, however.