Love Of The Damned (Pinot Noir Barrel)
Adroit Theory Brewing Company

 

Looks fairly good but low on dramatics as this brownish maroonish mostly opaque beer offers just about a quarter inch of beige head with relic lacing. Nose is one collaborative effort from several directions which result in a sweet, slightly tangy caramel. Taste takes the caramel to the next level as it becomes a drinkable candy that unfolds a higher notation of sophistication only on exit where the Pinot Noir element set up shop and contribute their convincing arts. After the very well defined vinous exit, there is a slight dropoff as the body is lighter than expected and the aftertaste is more comparable to soda water than anything else. Oddly missing from this is the trademark Adroit Theory"ash tray" smoke element (not in a bad way) that I have found in nearly everything else they offer. Overall, this is almost exactly what I was hoping for based on description, just wanted a bit more body.

Bottle:
Beer pours a nice deep amber to rusty brown, with a fair head that doesn't do much once it settles.

Nose start with a waft of sweetness and fruity wine. Getting closer into it, the caramel to brown sugar sweetness seems to grab more of my nose. There is a light vanilla note as well that when combined with the sweetness reminds me of BBA more than wine BA. There's a little berry accent to round out the smell.

The flavor starts of with the sweetness from the nose, and everything seems in order, though it appears a tad sweeter than I recall the non-BA version of this beer. Then, about mid taste, the sweetness seems to end. Usually this is fine, but it just seems to end, without enough there to take its place. I'd be happy to see some of the wine come in here, but it just seems a muted, more bland sweetness. With warmth, a little dry red wine with some tannin notes do crop up, but they are just accenting a fairly neutral flavor.

The flavors aren't bad, but that middle taste seems just too balanced. I can get a little of the opening sweetness, and a little of the wine barrel, but not really enough of either. Maybe they just counter each other to well. Maybe the bottle's a tad old (though I am not counting on it). Nothing wrong with the beer, but I'd rather have the regular Love of the Damned versus this taste. I'll give it another try at the brewery given the chance, though.