5th Anniversary Ale
Three Taverns Craft Brewery

 

 

 

god this is complex and amazing! i have only had a handful of beers from these guys, but just about all of them have been epic! this is a blend of five different barrel aged dark beers, which is a cool idea for a fifth anniversary. one of them almost assuredly has coffee in it, as on top of the dark roast of course, i smell a ton of java rising up from this dense shiny black liquid. like fresh brewing high end pour over coffee, dark fruitiness like raisins and dried cherries come out, cocoa powder for baking, and enough bitterness to definitely balance the bourbon richness and sweetness that is so apparent here. it also definitely seems like there is a barrel or two in the mix that isnt just bourbon. i get a port wine type character to this, which probably couldnt come from anywhere else, lots and lots of oak too, really full and warm, mature, and complex. one of the interesting layers in this on top of all that is a belgian yeast strain, which is subtle but distinct in here, wrapped up in some of the sugars there are like molasses and candied plum notes with it, some black peppery character too, just a flash in time here, but a very neat wrinkle. heavy bourbon in the finish, way above the roast and the coffee, strong vanilla and the booze start to expand on the palate at the swallow, smooth and balanced though, not as hot or as muddled as it sounds like something like this should be on paper. its a unique beer to say the least, a lot more going on here than just the big stout its listed as here, some of the elements in the blend are decidedly different than what we normally expect from stout. oaty and fluffy and big feeling, better and better as it warms. these guys have done it again! i want more of this one!

750mL bottle acquired at the brewery. Released 11/2018. Served in a Three Taverns teku. Enjoyed 12/27/18.

Pours black with a fizzy, fast-fading khaki head. A narrow band lingers but fails to impart any lacing.

Smells of vinous wet wood, earthy holiday spice, chocolate, faint coffee and dark fruit.

I get a whole lot of Feest Noel in the flavor. Allspice, clove, wet wood, strong bourbon, dark fruit, chocolate, burnt toast, vague coffee, caramel and a little booze.

Fairly full feel with pillowy carbonation. Bourbon-soaked spice cake in the finish.

Happy fifth anniversary Three Taverns! Cool to see their take on Firestone Walker’s anniversary barrel aged cuvée. It’ll be interesting to see how those layers of flavor evolve over time.