Bloodshed Red
Black Label Brewing Company

Poured from a 16 ounce undated can filled at the brewery in my presence into a snifter at 53.1 degrees F.

Appearance- Amber-brown, light brown sudsy head, low transmission translucent, below average head retention and lacing.

Aroma- Whiskey, maple syrup, raisin, plum, fig, caramel, between medium and high strength of scent.

Flavor- Maple syrup, fig, plum, raisin, caramel, whiskey, oak, very high sweetness, high sour, highly boozy at finish, high strength of flavor.

Mouthfeel- Between thin and medium body, below average carbonation, mildly creamy, moderately mouth warming, mildly mouth coating, high alcohol burn at finish, moderately bitter, very high sweetness, high sourness.

Overall- Amber-brown and low transmission translucent with below average head retention and lacing. The bouquet was a great mix of whiskey, maple syrup, raisin, plum, fig and caramel with plenty of intensity. The flavor was different than I was expecting based on the nose. The sweetness was off the charts and there was an unwelcome sourness, but the mix of maple syrup, fig, plum, raisin, caramel, whiskey, burnt oak and booziness was able to offset the sweetness and sourness enough to still allow for this beer to deliver an enjoyable flavor profile. The mouthfeel was between thin and medium body with mild creaminess and moderate mouth warming properties. The sourness again detracted from the mouthfeel, but not enough to totally discount the good attributes. Overall, the aromatics were outstanding, but a couple of attributes adversely affected the flavor and mouthfeel. The time in the barrel could account for the lower carbonation, head retention and lacing, which is understandable and excusable. This beer was complex and interesting, and I would definitely try it again fresh from the source.