Barrel-Aged Maize
Scratch Brewing Company

 

Scratch Barrel Aged Maize

Ale aged in whisky barrels

Curious going into this one knowing only that it’s an”ale.

Look: About a minute after opening the bottle some foam slowly rises up through the neck of the bottle, and out of the opening, with lively carbonation visible through the glass. The beer pours with a bone white head that subsides to a thin layer across the top of the liquid. The beer itself is amber, translucent and murky. Streams of bubbles flow up.

Smell: At first whiff I get some sweet and tart fruity and yeast esters. Sweet tart candy. Green apple, perhaps a a faint hint of apple cider vinegar, fresh strawberry, some vanilla and sweet wood. Dry, chardonnay and vinous. If I had to describe this beer to someone I would called it a Belgian style pale or Belgian Strong Pale Ale. Really unique and inviting aroma. A deep inhale yields some rubbery funk. Will it be sour? The aroma of this beer reminds me a lot of Orval. No indications of the 9.3% ABV.

Taste: Ok. Orval comes back to me. This beer tastes like a Belgian pale ale. It also tastes like there is Brettanomyces. Not in an overly funky way. In an Orval kind of way. Aspects of this beer really remind me, once again, of Orval. It’s a bit chalky, with some earthy and spicy yeast qualities. It goes slightly tart with bright fruity notes of green apple and and fresh peach, presumably from the yeast.

Feel. Less carbonation than expected based on the appearance. Medium bodied. Soft carbonation. Finishes rather dry and warms up the pipes as the beer approaches room temperature.

Overall: I love this beer. I had no idea what to expect. If you like Orval, Belgian Strong/Pale Ale I would recommend this beer. It’s delicious. It’s not defined by corn or whisky barrel.

 

A: Pale gold
S: Vinous, grape, sweet honey, light tartness, funk
T: Grape, earthy, sweet honey, tart cherry, hint of oak, funk
M: Medium
O: Alcohol is very well hidden. Nice