Bargā Kundze
Alus Darbnīca Labietis

Initially pours clear, getting cloudier with subsequent pour and a deep golden amber coloration with a medium, fluffy head. Smells of doughy malt and a strong pink peppercorn aroma, as well as orange marmalade, lighter apricot and hints of oak. Taste is a great balance of doughy malt and fruity and spicy notes of orange marmalade, lemon rind, apricot, green apple, pink peppecorn and clove, as well as hints of honey, dill and oak. Finishes rather sweet, with a light tartness and some pink peppercorn, orange marmalade and dill lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

While this is just a tad too sweet and boozy for my personal taste, the Tokaji barrel aging certainly comes through quite noticeably here, with notes of citrus, apricot, honey and dill, while the pink peppercorns stand out as well with their fruity, floral pepperiness. In fact these barrel and pepper notes are so intense that not much of the base beer manages to shine through here, except perhaps for hints of green apple and clove. There's still a good overall balance to this though, despite the sweetness, which is offset nicely enough by the spicy and tart accents. Overall, this makes for an unusual, but rather interesting brew with an intense flavor profile and good overall balance.

Takaji Barrel Aged Spiced Saison