Rackhouse Reserve 2020
Alesong Brewing & Blending

 

Cellared 1.5 years. Dark semi-opaque brown body with a tan cap. Nose had great complexity: various wood, caramel, and bourbon lead, but has plenty of complimentary vanilla, dark chocolate, spiced earth, raisin, and a kiss of apricot. Taste is not as balanced: huge wood and booze lead, toasted caramel, bittersweet dark chocolate, raisin and earth round out. Feel is medium bodied, boozy, woody, malty, yet finishes dry and thinner but not in a bad way. The wife loved it.

 

500ml with a bottle date of 09/2020.
Very dark brown color that appears black in the glass. A small head forms and quickly settles. Strong barrel aromas of bourbon, vanilla, oak, along with some dark fruit and roasted malt. A lot of barrel in the flavor as well. The bourbon is toned down a bit but I get a lot of vanilla and oak. Nice base beer qualities of chocolate and lightly roasted malt. Tastes sweet but not cloying. Alcohol is not too hot. A heavy medium body and nicely carbonation. I think this is the best beer I have had from my limited exposure to Alesong.

 

 

A: The beer is very dark brown in color and nearly appears to be black in color when viewed from a distance. It poured with a short light beige head that quickly died down, leaving a narrow collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of dark fruits such as figs and raisins are present in the nose along with notes of bourbon.
T: The taste follows the smell, but the bourbon flavors are more subdued.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied and smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer tastes a bit fruiter compared to other bourbon barrel aged stouts but is very easy to drink considering its strength.

Serving type: bottle

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing opaque black in the glass with a thin khaki head that dissipates to patches with light lacing. Aroma of lightly toasted dark and caramel malt, whiskey, figs, dates and cocoa with a touch of oak. Flavor follows, with dark toasted and caramel malt, whiskey, dates, dark stone fruit and light oaky vanilla. Lingering whiskey finish. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. First time to see this blended ale, it has the profile of an American strong ale with elements of stout and barleywine, probably leaning to the latter. The whiskey is quite forward, but nice quality flavor. Light, but notable barrel character of vanilla and oak. Well blended and a worthy example of the style. ABV is noticeable, but plenty of flavor to carry it. Glad I stumbled upon this bottle.

 

4.26/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Excellent dark mahogany body topped with a somewhat thin yet firm and lasting white head. Fine smell comprised of raisins and figs, toffee and roasted nuts, with a touch of caramel; faint trace of white oak. Outstanding taste; rich caramel sweetness; dried figs and dates; sublime booziness; molasses. Heavy body; rich and decadent; coats the palate with a dull, subdued sugary feel; gentle alcohol warmth.

Here we have a finely honed barrel-aged strong beer. All the pieces seem to fit together nicely and play well with each other. This is blending done right!