Three Of Swords
Aardwolf Brewing Company

 

Thanks to Roguer for this one, from NBS BIF #10. 22oz bottle poured into 14oz teku. Poured the expected solid black that had just the thinnest cap of tan head that had no retention and minimal lacing. The beer did have a bit of an oily sheen as it poured as well.

Some blueberry scent emanated during the pour, but in the glass cinnamon was the dominant aroma. The barrel aspects were very faint in the background, just over the base beer.

On the tongue, the berry component came back stronger, with the barrel facet more notable in the middle. some cinnamon spice lingered at the back of the tongue.

The body was notably thinner than is typical for the style, was smooth, and had a semi-sweet finish.

Drinkability was surprisingly good for a beer this size, and with this much going on.

Overall, a very nice brew, very near a must-try if you get the chance.

Minimal head production, as with the rest of the series.

Blueberry, cinnamon, and vanilla are surprisingly noticeable on the nose, immediately making their presence known along with the bourbon and rye barrels. The sharp sweet character of the additives results in a more muted profile from the huge malt base than in the other three variants from this series. One can still pick up faint notes of chocolate, brown sugar, espresso, molasses, and red grapes.

Very similar on the palate. At first, there's some nice rich chocolate, nuts, and char from the malt base and pleasant barrel notes, but the blueberries quickly assert themselves and take charge for the rest of the sip, with cinnamon riding shotgun and vanilla shouting encouragement from the back seat. At first, it's a tart, sweet berry note, but by the second third and lasting through the finish, it's like having fresh blueberries in your mouth.

A bit of heat is noticeable throughout, but it's a smooth experience overall. Perhaps the thinnest of the four (but still full bodied), but also the easiest to drink.

Of the four anniversary beers, this is easily the most unique and noteworthy. Whether or not it is your personal favorite almost certainly depends on whether or not you enjoy how the blueberry comes through and dominates the experience. Overall it's a damn impressive beer, and despite not being a big fan of blueberries, I'm not going to criticize the presentation here - it's fantastic. My only possible complaint is that the barrel presence could definitely be more assertive and bold, a characteristic all four in this series have in common - and itself, not entirely a negative, as the integration of the barrels is smooth and delicious overall.