IX Anniversary Blend
Wolf's Ridge Brewing

Wolf's Ridge has a great and consistent line of stouts. For their ninth year anniversary they blended a few of these with a BA tripeland BA barleywine. The star of the show is the Maple barrel Dire Wolf, shining through with complex sweetness. The cuvee blend has an unexpected fluffy carb, probably from the tripel.

 

Another year, another anniversary beer. 12 oz can poured into a snifter. It's deep and dark with a thin khaki head that quickly fades into a ring. This smells heavy. It's got all the barrels mixed in with malt and chocolate, but it's also got a sort of desserty, fruity tone to it. Taste? Ah, now THAT'S a beer. It's so flavorful, full of malt and chocolate and all sorts of other good things. There is a cherry, stone fruit situation going on below what is very well-described as leather, even tobacco. It's got a nice, spicy little warming kick going down, so you know it means business. Smooth but full with mild carbonation.

This might be my new favorite from them. Happy stout day.

From the 12 oz can in a snifter. This monster pours a dark
obsidian with a nice head of light brown foam that settles to a
thin ring, thin wafting layer, and sport some nice lacing. Nose of
bourbon, oak, rye whiskey, dark bakers chocolate, vanilla, brulee,
maple, brandy nuances, and layered dark fruits. Flavors pack it in
with dark bakers cocoa, spicy rye whiskey, oak, mellow bourbon,
vanilla, brulee, char, dark cherry, cranberry nuances, leather, tobacco,
blackberry, blueberry, maple, strawberry, and warming alcohol esters.
Nice mouth feel; full body, smooth, rich, complex, light carbonation,
and finishing medium dry and warming.

Overall---Beyond inviting, exceptional in almost every manner.
This is one fantastical BBA blended stouts.

Just flat out a stunner!

Cheers