Peanut Butter Fragments
Barbarian Brewing

extremely weird beer here, the first thing i have had from barbarian in come time. unfortunately it was canned in july of last year, meaning its been in our friends fridge awhile, not sure how built to last this sort of thing is, especially in what appears to be a crowler type format, but it doesnt smell or taste old at all, just weird. actually smells like butterfinger candy bars, slightly greasy, very sweet, with that candied peanut butter thing, and obvious chocolate and vanilla. i am surprised its pale, definitely seems more stout-esque than blonde, looking pretty still in my glass, slightly orange tinted, rather viscous, and not particularly bubbly or heady by now, maybe more lively when it was fresher. i didnt know what to expect here, stout or sour, but its neither. fuller bodied blonde type beer that may be oat and wheat based, simple in flavor and frankly nothing more than a support vehicle for all this added stuff. definitely a butterfinger candy bar flavor, a little malted milk ball too, with a rich honey sweetness thats over the top, i know its an ice cream ale or whatever they are calling it, but the lactose is completely unnecessary in a beer already brewed with candy. vanilla through it as well, a natural chocolate property, maybe some nibs, got that low end earthy bitterness where darker malt usually goes in a stout. this could use more of that though, some coffee bitterness to balance and add roast too, its lacking a little on the low end. that said, if i close my eyes and think of butterfinger, thats exactly what this tastes like, so if that was the goal, well done. i cant believe i drank the whole can though, it was a major hangover waiting to happen and it delivered on that front, an absurd level of residual sugar here. its also slick and oily feeling, almost fatty to me, really weird, maybe they used actual peanut butter instead of the powdered stuff a lot more brewers use for this sort of thing. close to totally still in terms of carbonation too, really flat. in any event, this is tasty but a total novelty, and likely dropped off a bit since it was first brewed. a neat experience but not one i am eager to have again soon...

Hazy bronze/gold pour at the brewery, minimal head and lacing; lots of peanut butter character; smooth, salt peanuts and biscuity malt; creamy, sweet peanut butter, lactose, cream, vanilla, ghostly kiss of milk chocolate with a smooth, clean finish. Gimmicky for sure, but fun if you like peanut butter!

16oz crowler from brewery. Orange golden pour, sparse head. Aroma is peanut butter with a hint of orange. Taste is more peanut butter notes with a tangy backend. Some of the lacto evident in sweetness and creamy feel. Does not seem like a stout at all.