Barona Vila Morena
Barona Brewing Company

 

A spirited pour from the beer’s 33cl bottle into a Gulden Draak “dragon egg” glass reveals a libation of very deep, not quite transparent brown with faint amber highlights. The generous, almost pillowy head is the color of unbleached linen. Good lacing from the foam, which admirably perseveres. The beer’s aroma is somewhat disappointingly mild, but nonetheless complements its flavor. Said taste is surprisingly hop-bitter, despite a label blurb emphasizing malty sweetness. In fact, the sweetness is a subtle, just-right balance to the very satisfying and refreshing bitterness. The mouthfeel is exceptionally smooth. It is tempting, despite its 9% rating, to gulp this one down in anticipation of another! Quite nice.