All-Star Special - Apple Brandy Barrel-Aged
Aardwolf Brewing Company

This pours nearly black, more of a cola color with a tan head that dissipates pretty quickly, which isn’t a surprise. There’s also some carbonation bubbles on the side of the glass, which are usually present in big stouts in my experience.

The nose is magnificent, with a heaping helping of the apple brandy barrel, accompanied by the maple and vanilla, and the slightest hint of chocolate.

The maple and vanilla are forward on the taste, and there’s a hint of chocolate - and then the barrel takes the wheel and pegs the accelerator, with a fruity flavor and an almost cognac quality that coasts into a boozy, warming finish. Wow.

The mouthfeel is fairly substantial, is the slightest smidge watery. When I saw “Apple Brandy Barrel Aged” on the label, with all the other flavors, I was curious how the breweries would pull this off.

Exceptionally well indeed, IMHO.

 

Good looking beer for the style; little head retention, but good retention and a pleasant, dark brown body.

Nose features apple brandy prominently, maple secondarily, all atop a fairly restrained malt base.

Brandy is less prominent on the palate, while the maple and chocolate become more prominent - indicating a relatively brief stay in the barrel, perhaps, wholly appropriate to ensure the flavor additives are drawn out. Still plenty of barrel character on the back end, too, so it's not simply slapped onto the label for effect; this beer really does deliver on its premise. Vanilla perhaps fades into the rest of the flavors. The stout base is smooth, creamy, and inoffensive; no real char or bitterness, never assertive, but a nice foundation for the rest of the flavors to work their magic.