Barrel-Aged Lemon Cello IPA
Siren Craft Brew

This is an old bottle, so I'm curious/not sure how it's going to hold up. Let's see, I guess?

This pours a very clear light muddy gold color, with a small head, and not much lacing.

This smells like sour old lemon, light caramelly whiskey, vanilla, and some light bready malty character.

This one held up better than I would've expected it to. The color was concerning - it just looked so dull and faded. There's a nice lemony funk here, less candy-like and more just straight up barnyard lemony character. The barrel isn't super strong, a bit of whiskey - it definitely comes off like a whiskey sour cocktail a bit. There's some light oak, and a touch of faded hop character.

This is light bodied and lightly carbonated, with a nice drinkability. The acidity level is very manageable and light.

I didn't expect much out of this, so it was a pleasant surprise for sure. It wasn't a world-beater or anything, but it's still worth a pour at this point.

 

Reviewed from (long-standing) notes. Poured from an 11.2 oz. bottle into a J. Wakefield O.G. teku glass.

A: Incredibly clear bright gold with lots of visible carbonation that persists after the pour. A half-finger of white head fades fairly quickly. Quite pretty.

S: Bourbon and lemon, vanilla and citrus zest hops. Some oak, very light cracker malts, and a touch of acetone. Hints of coconut, plus mild resin and grassy hops.

T: Lemons with a bit of fresh tasting citric acid tartness. The bourbon shows up next, but while obviously present it does manage to play nicely with the other flavors rather than drowning them out. Oak tannins, vanilla, and coconut. Just a bit of sweetness from the cracker malts. Big citrus rind flavors add fruitiness and bitterness, with some resinous hop bitterness again. Maybe some lemongrass and/or coriander as well. Bourbon, vanilla, and more lemon bitterness in the hang.

M: A light bubbly body, but not overly light or watery for style. It's definitely warming, especially with the bourbon flavors, but never overly hot. Good carbonation sensation.

O: I'm not often a fan of barrel aged IPAs, but this one works for me. I think I like it better than the base even. A nice lemon/barrel/bourbon/bitterness balance for my palate.

 

 

11.2 oz. bottle

Pours foggy hazy amber orange with a creamy white foam head. Smells pretty complex, almost lambic-esque, leafy, dusty, lemony, oaky, almost lemon meringue-like with a little lactose sweetness hinting towards vanilla, with mild bourbon, some nuttiness and caramelized malt. Tastes like tart lemon juice, lemon zest, creamy vanilla-like lactose, lemon meringue pie, some nuttiness, toasty bready caramelized malts, oak, mild bourbon, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium bodied, creamy with moderate carbonation. Overall a nice bourbon barrel aged lemon cello IPA.

 

 

 

330 mL bottle. Hazy golden. Smells intense. Bourbon, oak, lemon, citrus. Tastes very lemony. Bourbon and some citrusy IPA characteristics seem to battle each other. Slightly sweet and pretty sour. Medium heavy. Strong flavor all around. I don't see how the bourbon barrel helps this beer, though.

Poured into a tulip, the appearance was a bronzed hazy copper color with a thin film of a little white head that fell off at a quick pace. Slight lace, concave and sliding with every sip. The aroma had the sweet lemon pulp up front, some tartness, damp wood, light floral and grassy hops - pretty far underneath. The flavor took the prior mentioned aromas to boot and added in the "bourbon heat" sweetness. Mild lemon sweet to sour to tart aftertaste. Super quick tart finish. The palate was between light and medium bodied with a decent sipping quality about it. Booziness was slightly felt but not burdensome. Overall, interesting DIPA to say the least. Maybe again?

 

this beer is incredible, even more dramatic than the not barrel aged version, the whiskey on here is pretty subtle, but the vanilla and oak sweetness it lends are not, and with the new zealand nelson type hop complexion and the citrus, its pretty amazing beer, completely unique, i dont know of anything like this. we have learned to be wary of barrel aged hoppy beer, but the time in the barrels here doesnt seem to have any negative effects on the freshness of the hops, in fact, maybe the opposite, as the hops seem concentrated and intensified with the oak behind them. melon and lemon for sure, subtle white wine grapes, mango, and orange as well, very fruity on the hops, and nice with the sweet and tart lemon notes already in the beer. its crazy how well the alcohol is hidden, and while this feels thick and hearty and warming, it never feels boozy. the texture is almost like limoncello too, slick but bigger, a little syrupy, and long in the finish. hop bitterness is balanced by the sweet oak and a soft bourbon note, really complex and beautiful beer. they should keep this series up, i could see this being amazing in a gin barrel, and also doing quite well with a brett pitch in a white wine barrel. really awesome base beer, the barrel aspect is appropriate, and i ended up absolutely loving this one!

 

 

Clear light golden pour with a small white head that dissipates quickly. Very boozy aroma with lots of bourbon standing out. Taste isn’t as boozy as expected all though there is a good bit of alcohol heat. Besides booze, flavors of oak and mildly tart lemon are also present.