Or Won't It?
Blue Stallion Brewing Co.

Belgian quadruple-styled ales can often exhibit a strong tie to darker wines. But with the guidance of Blue Stallion Brewing Company, the Kentucky bred brewers hope to give the style a bourbon spin by aging their version of the style in Willett bourbon barrels extra long.

Tawny bronze and carrying a fine mesh haze, Or Won't It forms a loose and fragile froth that falls still quickly after the pour. Resembling sherry wine, the nose soon tingles with the piquant and savory spice of fortified wines, whisky, sorghum and spice cake. Sweeter once on the tongue, the attention turns to a thin molasses, brown sugar and toffee laden maltiness as the grains carry heavy first impressions.

Once the ale unfolds on the middle palate, the spice of whisky thins out the malt sweetness and highlights the beer's fruit and spice medley that starts with raisin, date, fig, prune and red grape; and then trends peppery with allspice, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and ginger in a nearly Christmas spice proportion. Moderate bitterness and a surprising level of tartness shifts the taste to a strong wine taste late on the tongue.

Full but thinning because of the building tartness and the whisky spice, the beer just can't shake those sherry, brandy and cognac taste even while absorbing the whisky and charred oak of the barrels. A long linger of sherry and madeira carry a peppercorn and ether spice with a prickle on the tongue, perfectly suited for more robust Thanksgiving dinner items.