Oak Barrel Aged Holiday Ale (exclusively for Yankee Spirits)
The Spencer Brewery

This beer was brewed for Yankee Spirits using specially selected Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels. This bottle was number 167 out of about 1000 produced. We bought several bottles after a seminar and tasting conducted by Father Isaac who oversees brewery business at the monestary.

The beer pours a slightly cloudy brown with about an inch of off white head. It is not super attractive, but far from murky and ugly.

The smell leads with the barrel. Ample presence of oak, vanilla, bourbon and a tobacco note. Underneath this layer is the regular Holiday Ale...dark fruits, fruit cake, light spices that bloom as it warms. Nutmeg, maybe cinnamon, clove and typical Belgian yeast flavors. Minimal if any hops noted.

The flavor is intensely influenced by the barrel. For a 9% brew it is pleasantly warming and just short of being harsh on the booze notes. Nice fruitiness in the fig and date family, but some bright spices help lighten up the end of the flavor. Just a touch of clove and nutmeg, just a minute licorice flavor. Boozy but short of being "hot" well-balanced by the sweeter fruity flavors. Oaky tannins peek thru ad add to the spiciness. Nicely done.

The feel is surprisingly medium bodied, there is a phenolic sting to it, and it is quite warming on its way down. Finishes with a little sweetness and overall ends up dry.

Like this beer. It is well-made and is well representative of what Spencer is,trying to achieve. It is reminiscent of their Holiday Ale in the base flavors, but the barrel puts this one on anote level. Very good beer I suspect will age spectacularly. Glad I bought more than one bottle. If you are fortunate enough to find a bottle, I don't think there would be any disappointment parting with twenty bucks. Recommended.