Barrel Aged St. Seditious
2SP Brewing Company

 

 

750 ml bottle, bottle number 250, poured into a tulip

A- A clear deep brown with ruby red highlights and a two finger light tan head

S- Bourbon, molasses, charred oak, caramel, dark fruits, some vanilla.

T- Cherries, some plums, dark fruits, molasses, bourbon, charred oak, touch of earthy hops, hints of vanilla.

M- Smooth, full body.

O- A solid bourbon barrel aged barelywine. Very happy I was able to get a bottle. This is a sweet malt bomb, I like the vanilla version better.

This was an ugly, hazy, muddy straw color. This tasted a little over the hill to me, but it was still satisfying enough. The barrel effect was somewhat muted, I tasted light vanilla and there was some tart wood at the finish along with a fairly prominent hop tingle. This was sweet up front, lots of caramel and some raisin/date that worked well with the vanilla.

 

 

 

On tap at brewery:
Pours a light auburn, with a hint of dark red. Looks clear, and has a thin ring of beige head.

Nose is heavy on molasses or at least brown sugar, aided by a little bourbon vanilla aspect. Bourbons n covered raisin ball dessert, perhaps.

Taste is unsurprisingly on the sweet side. I could see it being a little much for some, even for a barleywine - as it seems a tad sugary. The bourbon with a light woody aspect helps to cut this with a light, tingly burn. Date more than raisin comes after this, along with a cherry pipe tobacco aspect. The beer attempts to even out with bitterness in the end, but isn't quite successful.

I enjoyed this initially, as a switch from the IPAs I've been having. But after adjusting, it just stayed a little too sweet, and that caught up to me. If this could get just a little drier, I think it would be appealing for the whole pour; as it is, about a half pour seems right.