Vinisimilar: Charbono
Alvarado Street Brewery

Bottle dated 2/17/21. Blend 01.

Opened for New Year’s Eve, 2021.

I read a description of this beer as being wine-like in smell, with more beer-like characteristics on the palate. I assume this means carbonation, as this drinks like a slightly fizzy, slightly funky red wine—at first.

Pours a richly hued purple grape/beet red, with thin foaming. Looks amazing in the glass.

On the nose I can see where the wine-like comparison is most apt. I get a lot of tannins, oaky wood notes, a rich jammy character, touch of a tobacco leaf and worn leather. On the sip there’s a more woody presence, with a muted hint of grape jam, some of that tobacco and leather, and a long, drying finish, slight tartness which is finely attenuated from the effervescence. It’s grown on me, but still a mixed bag. Seems appropriate for the occasion, however.