Affinity Blend #2
Phase Three Brewing Company

Had on tap. Super dark brown opaque body with a tan head. Aromas of vanilla, caramel, toasty earth and faint bourbon. Taste adds toffee and vague dark fruits, want a bit more barrel though. Feel is cooler yet thick and heavy

Appearance: Arrives tea colored with a one finger head that fades to a collar; a few shards of lacing

Smell: Caramel and some earthy tones

Taste: Caramel forward with stone fruit and some earthy bitterness building into the finish

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with low to moderate carbonation

Overall: A nice English Barleywine but not much barrel character in either the aroma or the taste

 

 

Sweet caramel and toffee bits, iced oatmeal raisin cookies, and prominent floral vanilla nose on this one! Not much barrel on the nose. Taste follows with a caramel and butterscotch malty and a floral vanilla finish...not much barrel on the palate either, unfortunately. This is pretty good, but for this to be a blend using Arabesque, you would think that the barrels would come through a bit more. Also, I think they overcooked it just a touch with the vanilla addition as it overpowered the caramel notes you want in an English Bwizzle IMO.