Barrel Aged Old Ale (Woodford Reserve)
Swiftwater Brewing Company

Murky, dark red to russet brown with a quarter-inch, fine, beige head. After a minute, the head recedes, leaving spotty lace on a Swiftwater's Anniversary tulip glass as well as slight legs.

The aroma is initially balanced between oak and bourbon, both quite strong. Alcohol fumes caution one to take care. Dates are prominent and distantly followed by dried fig and prunes. There is a slight note of candied sugar and a touch of sourness.

Sweetness edges out the bitterness in the flavor while alcohol towers above both. The dried fruit flavors are nicely balanced with fig and dates shining against a background of bourbon and oak. The bourbon and oak are most present late in the sip, thought still more subtle than in the nose. A long, mild finish is sweet, boozy, and ultimately dry.

This beer has a medium body and satin texture with prickly carbonation. Alcohol is strong and a bit warming.

As one would expect, this is a sipping beer. I enjoyed it while reading on a bitterly cold, bright, sunny January day. This might well pair with a cigar, but take caution and hold the flame at a distance.

This beer warms very nicely, bringing out figs and plums, while the oak diminishes to reveal vanilla and "Cool Whip."

On tap at Swiftwater Brewing Company in Rochester, NY.

This one pours a slightly murky light brown, with a small head, and no lacing.

This smells kind of like rum raisin cake, even though it's a barrel aged old ale. There's also light peat, sweet fruitiness, bourbon, and toffee.

There's lots of bourbon character without it getting too hot, with sticky dark fruit, molasses, toffee, light smoke, and caramel. It's nicely smooth for the ABV.

This is medium bodied, slightly syrupy, with a decent level of drinkability for the strength.

This is a fairly deftly done take on the style - impressive stuff.