Port Barrel Aged Grand Cru 2017
Barrel of Monks Brewing

this is definitely one of the best beers i have had from these guys, a big belgian strong ale aged in port barrels, huge but really good. it has a ligth brown to amber chestnut color to it, a thick and rising beige head, and a ton of carbonation for something of this size. the nose is a little spicy from the belgian yeast to me, pepper and clove notes, and a little tangy funk too, some interesting tannins from the barrel and maybe a slightly wild element, intentional or not, then just tons of rich port, plum and cherry notes there, a really complex and beautiful mix here. the flavor is great as well, really driven by the port barrel, raspberry and currant to it as well as plum and prune here, raisin too, nice on top of the vanilla in the oak and the layered malts, bready like bran, toffee, hearth baked, sweet for sure, caramel and dates and sherry, still a little tang to it thats hard to explain as well. oddly high carbonation for the style but i really like that element, really alcoholic too, especially as it warms up, this is a slow sipper and something that seems a little more late fall or winter than it does summer, but the flavors here are really mature and well developed, and overall i think they did a great job with this. interesting and fancy, great use of the barrel, plenty appropriate for their anniversary. i bet this will do really well in the cellar over time too!