Barrel Project 2023: Peated
Brouwerij Kees

Pours a pitch-black coloration with a medium, creamy head. Smells of roasted, caramel malt, chocolate, peat smoke, red fruit and cardboard. Taste is a poor balance of roasted, caramel malt, chocolate, peat smoke, red fruit, with notes of apples, cherry and redcurrant, as well as musty cardboard, band aid and brown sugar. Finishes with a medium bitterness and sweetness, as well as some medicinal band aid, cardboard and peat smoke lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

I'm really conflicted about this one. I absolutely hated it at first and while it seemed to improve a little while it warmed, it's still not for me even though I normally rather enjoy Scotch barrel-aged beers. The roasted malt, chocolate and peat smoke are nice here, but overshadowed by a certain sherry note, and hints of cardboard and medicinal band aid that hint at oxidation to me, while it also feels somewhat too sweet and boozy, although the sweetness is balanced out well enough by the roast and bitterness. I tried to, but ultimately couldn't finish it, drain-pour.