Cellar Series: Vanilla Pillow
Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room

 

Dark brown color close to black, foam with an irregular texture and good persistence.
Perfume of molasses, vanilla, cherries in alcohol, bourbon.
On the palate we find molasses, milk chocolate, vanilla, light roasts, raisins in alcohol and bourbon. The drink is maintained on sweet tones dried by an elegant ethyl embrace that travels between sherry and bourbon. Medium and soft body with low carbonation.

 

 

Bottle at Las Buenas Pulgas, served in a balloon glass. Black colour, small brown head with short retention and some lacing. Cognac, vanilla, sherry, chocolate, raisins, spices, caramel, cinnamon... The whole lot. Full body, creamy, dense, sticky texture, flat carbonation. Taste is similar to the aroma. Best one I've tasted this year. Rich, complex, full of flavors. Absolutely great.

Pours a deep, dark brown coloration with a tiny, fizzy head that soon fades to nothing. Smells of toasted, caramel malt, chocolate, vanilla and dark/red fruits and berries, with notes of raisin, fig, plum and cranberry, as well as hints of musty oak. Taste is an excellent balance of toasted, caramel malt and strong milk chocolate, vanilla, toffee and distinct dark and red fruits and berries, with notes of raisin, fig, plum, cranberry, redcurrant and cherry, some spicy accents, with hints of clove and cinnamon, as well as a bit of musty oak. Finishes with a medium sweetness and some chocolate, vanilla and fruits and berries lingering in the aftertaste. Full, creamy mouthfeel with a very rich body and light/medium carbonation.

This makes for a very rich and complex barrel-aged Strong Ale where the different barrels are really shining through distinctly, with the Sherry and Cognac adding some marvellous fruity and lighter spicy notes to this, while the Bourbon intensifies the vanilla presence and adds a bit of musty oak, with all of this being underlaid by rich chocolate and toffee notes. While it is just a tad too sweet and boozy for my personal taste, it never becomes cloying while the booziness is light for the ABV and adds an enjoyable, warming feeling to this in the aftertaste. Overall, this makes for a very enjoyable, rich and complex sipper that's expertly blended and balanced, while the different barrels used add a great depth of character to this.