Inner Space - Tequila Barrel-Aged
Barreled Souls Brewing Company

Pours dark chestnut brown — near black — with two fingers of somewhat fizzy, dark mocha head that settle into a thick, uneven crown.

Bitter bakers chocolate, leather, strong umami, smoke and wood in the nose. Quite dry smelling.

Very smokey taste with leather, wood, umami, crush dried leaves and just a hint of tequila that I probably wouldn’t peg blind, but definitely has some presence. There’s a touch of marshmallow sweetness, tempering an initial impression is of dry malt depth. Comes across very much as an RIS.

The feel comes across as thin on first sip but expands when it sits in the mouth, aided perhaps by some slow-building carbonation.

I don’t usually love smoke in a beer, but its incorporation here is very artfully done. Complex and well balanced.