Old Gold
Block Three Brewing Co.

500 mL bottle picked up at the brewery around 14 months ago (and cellared ever since); served slightly chilled. This is a wine BA version of their Cheap Gold.

Pours a foggy medium golden colour, capped with nearly an inch of foamy, white, meringue-like head that proceeds to weaken and fade gradually over the next 6-7 minutes. The inner surface of the glass becomes caked with a coating of lace as it recedes, soon leaving behind a dense, creamy-looking cap and collar. Pretty complex aroma, including hints of cherry, vinous grape, apples and perry, as well as some oak tannins and just a hint of butterscotch/caramel. Suggestions of vanilla, ethanol and banana.

Strong-flavoured; oxidation has started to set in, but it's making for an interesting glass nonetheless. Big flavours of woody oak, vanilla and butterscotch toffee immediately make their presence known, with subtler flavours of overripe apple, pear, as well as hints of cherry and banana. Subtle grape tannins accompanied by gentle boozy sweetness into the yeasty, weakly spicy finish. Oak, vanilla and sherry round out the back end, with the oak/vanilla notes persisting well into the aftertaste. Medium-full body, with light carbonation that gently tickles the tongue with each sip, as well as a very smooth mouthfeel. This one slides down the gullet with more ease than a 10%er has any right to.

Final Grade: 3.92, a B+. I'm quite enjoying my bottle of Block Three's Old Gold, though I kind of wish I'd opened it earlier in the summer/spring (since it's starting to show signs of its age). The woody oak tannin and vanilla notes from the barrel really dominate this brew, while the grape flavours and fruity esters of the base beer hang just beneath the surface, adding another layer of depth to this rich-tasting strong ale. A unique BA product - if they make more, I'll probably seek it out, as I'd love to sample it fresh.