Silver Series: Taat Red Wine BA
Pühaste Brewery

Pours a deep mahogany coloration with a reddish hue and a small, wispy head. Smells of slighty toasted, caramel malt, strong red berries and lighter dark fruit, with notes of cherry, cranberry, blackberry and plum, as well as hints of tannic, musty oak. Taste is an excellent balance of slightly toasted, caramel malt, strong red/dark berry notes of cherry, cranberry and blackberry, lighter dark fruit, with accents of plum and dates, as well as some chocolate and musty and tannic oak coming through as well. Finishes with a medium sweetness and some red/dark berries and fruit, as well as musty, tannic oak lingering in the aftertaste. Full mouthfeel with a very rich body and light carbonation.

This makes for a very fruit-forward English Barleywine that is heavily dominated by notes of caramel malt and red/dark berries and fruit, lending a certain, but quite light tartness here, which serves to balance out the sweetness a little in place of very little perceiveable bitterness, while also lending a somewhat vinous character to this along with the musty and tannic oak presence. While it's a little too sweet and boozy for my personal taste, I will say that it still feels relatively mellow for the 16%(!) ABV, which is noticeable but not too hot here, while still making for a very rich and enjoyable drinking experience if you can dig that slightly tart, tannic, vinous character which is perhaps a little unusual for an English Barleywine.