King Of Prussia
Half Acre Beer Company

 

On-tap at the Half Acre taproom. Served in a snifter.

A - Tan foam settles to a thin cap, thicker collar, and plenty of glass-coating lace. Murky orange-brown body.

S - Whiskey, a touch of green apple and fusels, some sour mash tang, mild toffee and bread, oak. Gets a tad rough when it warms, and a lot of the flavors I liked from the base beer are masked by the barrel-aging.

T - The taste is better, with more malt balance and even some residual hops amid the whiskey and oak. More vanilla, toffee and dried fruits, and a bready malt backbone before giving way to a mildly astringent finish; not sure I like the combo of quinoa whiskey and hop bitterness.

M - Smooth, medium-full body, with a dry lightly tannic finish. Some mild alcohol warming, but the booze is fairly well-hidden.

D - Half Acre is definitely improving its barrel-aging, although this is still a fairly middling barrel-aged barleywine. I had no problems finishing my 13oz pour, but I wouldn't order a second. I curious how big the barrels are for this, as there's a lot of whiskey and oak character for a beer that couldn't have been aged more than 5-6 months.

13 ounce tulip glass for $6 at the brewery. Floral nose, big whiskey presence. Dark, autumn leaf red-brown in color, film layer on top, a thin dose of foam and copious lacing. Flavor is pleasant whiskey, candied, fermented fruit, grain and rye. It would be an excellent Thanksgiving beer. Palate is medium bodied, tame yet noticeable carbonation, nicely balanced in delivery. All around a great beverage, assertive and warming. Well suited to pair with a hefty, meat’n pototoes meal (aka BBPS brunch).