Quad - Whiskey Barrel Aged
Powderhaus Brewing Company

neat bottle, a couple years old now i think, this differs from the one with the cherries on the label, that was done in rum barrels. i thought that one was a little more evolved overall, but this is solid too, a nice one from back when these guys were more about good beer than right wing politics. rich reddish color to this, short off white head, airy and patient, good shine, sort of a maple tone, not perfectly clear but not messy either. the nose is awesome, great candy sugar profile, raisin and molasses, fig and date, hints of clove, dried apricot, and brandy too, really nice, a vanilla note from the whiskey but more oak than spirit, but with some booziness to it, the yeast seems a little subtle but very well integrated. the flavor is cool too, more familiar as a quad, big concentrated malt richness, a note of wet pipe tobacco, mulling spices from the yeast, fresh vanilla, and light cocoa powder, not overly sweet either which is nice, id take a little extra alcohol here over a little too much residual sugar, and they got that right. solid oak profile too, seems old and mature, and the little bit of oxidation from me keeping the bottle around awhile is not at all unflattering. not quite carbonated to belgian standards, but not still either. overall a tasty wintery brew thats rather authentic, well made, makes me miss the old powderhaus...