Once More With Feeling Double Barrel Barleywine Apple Brandy Edition
Casita Brewing Company

Picked up a 2023 edition from the Appalachian Vintner 10-26-23 for $21. Consumed 1-10-25.

Beer poured dark brown with a fizzy tan head that dissipated quickly.

Nose has a sour apple tang and a slight hint of bourbon lurking in the background.

Taste follows the nose as the large malt base gives notes of raisins and dates that quickly gets overrun by the brandy barrel which only succeeds to give this a sweet and sour combo that does not help to balance the sweet malt base.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and is pretty smooth.

Overall, a disappointing barrel aging, may have to mix in an imperial stout to reduce the sweetness.

 

Blackish brown body, light brown ring. Apple Brandy pop right away with plum, caramel malt, red grape, brown sugar followed by biting oak, barley, bourbon, black strap molasses, and a hint of char. The nose in comparison is so much simpler: apple brandy booze, some wet wood, and dark fruit with a faint barley kick. Feel is thick and malty, boozy and very warm. New age and kind of all over the place, but it works well

As a follow-up to the bourbon/apple brandy version, here’s the apple brandy version in a red-capped 500ML bottle.

Very dark & very still. The nose is booze, apple brandy, & lots of sweetness.

Once More with Feeling – Double Barrel Apple Brandy lowers the apple brandy boom. No padding. Again with the wickedly thick, hard base of malts & barley that makes this drink even bigger than the large-size ABV. Severely boozy, to the point of detracting a bit from the experience. Caramel heavy on the finish. Taking this alone & once again, probably not my best decision. But the sick day is already submitted for tomorrow.

One of those rare beers that I feel may be doing real time damage to my kidneys. Very good beer, but the bourbon/apple brandy version was a cut above.