Still Not Sure
Central State Brewing

 

The aroma affirmatively states red wine barrel. Not an overpowering nose, but I’m getting tart cherry, red wine, grape juice, oak/wood, butter (in a good way), fig, dark bread. Musty. Semi dry. The beer smells tart and acidic, but these characteristics do not translate to the palate. It’s a bit tannic and there is some lemon rind bitterness. The flavor includes a hint of butter, plum, and there’s a lot of wood. Tart cherry, and some sweeter dark fruit notes that are jammy in nature without being overly sweet.

There’s nothing over the top about this beer. It is a perfect drinking beer. This is the type of beer I’d want at a steak house in place of wine, taking me wire to wire from a shellfish platter, to a ribeye, through a Creme brûlée.

 

Another of Central State's 2017 barrel-aged saison experiments. This one is gentle, subtle, and reserved, not looking to hit anyone in the face on their way through the snifter. Dark plum in tint, with goodly stonefruit and tannic notes. Well balanced, with a touch of brett funk. Very pleasant but unremarkable.