Barrel Series Flanders
Blackberry Farm Brewery

 

Sample at Wakefest. Deep amber. Smells of some sweetness, dark fruit, oak, maybe some red wine. Tastes of some vinous acidity, cherry, and oak. Sweet in equal portions as sour. Medium body. Standard Flanders profile. It's not my favorite, but it's fine.

 

Flanders comes to the mountains of Tennessee when a sour, flemish red, oak aged, cherry ale transposes the American South to Belgium with a winey, piquant and tart palate in the manner that only Blackberry Farm Brewery can create.

Their Barrel Series Flanders ale pours with a russet brown, garnet haze and crowned with a frothy, pale sepia cap. Tartness of cherries, weathered oak and a decidedly red wine character swoons the nose before a supple sip of the ale reveals a creamy, toasty and steely caramelized sweetness.

Yet as the ale unfolds on the middle palate, a world of flavor awaits. Sweetness begins to relax and the sourness brings a savory balsamic character along with a bold cider, red berry tartness. Clean yet musty, its oak aging adds a pecan type of nuttiness that trends piquant with black pepper, a pep of cinnamon and an almond taste of amaretto. Black cherries and a plum ester that's juicy, sour and malty on the late palate.

Its bold cabernet vinous qualities help to lighten the taste and texture of the beer, but for a sour ale its body rests at a medium level. Modest bitterness weaves into the oaken nuances and the finish comes with a complex tart and jammy aftertaste.

 

 

 

A: The beer is hazy brownish red in color. It poured with a short white head that quickly died down, leaving some wispy lacing on the surface and a narrow collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light aromas of oak and cherries are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and has flavors of cherries and oaky vanilla. There are some hints of red wine in the finish.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. The oak also lends some dryness.
O: This beer seems to be a little drier compared to other beers in the style but has a nice balance of cherry and oak flavors.

Serving type: bottle