Spackle The Orb
Against The Grain Brewery

 

 

 

Served in a snifter at Local Option.

Anyone else hear a euphemism tantamount to "flog the dolphin" or "unclog the pipes"? Maybe it's just me... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear auburn-sienna topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises sweet caramel, mild buttercream, light oak, a hint of whiskey, and a thing veneer of sweet flowers. The taste brings in more of the same, with a heightened sense of whiskey, a bolder barrel character (mostly vanilla-laden wood), and a milder sweetness, which itself blends a bit into the world of nuts, but not too deeply. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda drying finish. Overall, a solid, tasty brew, one that proves that barrel-aging can be useful for "ordinary" and "boring" lagers. (Please note those are not my words, unless the beers themselves truly are boring and ordinary...)

A: Pours a light, slightly murky brown with a creamy, lingering white head. When held up to the light, this lager displays brilliant orange-gold highlights around the edges of the glass. Compared to many German dunkels, this beer is very light in appearance.

S: Aromas of charred oak, cedar, caramel, roasted nuts, and vanilla bean dominate the nose.

T: Notes of charred oak, toasted coconut, cedar, woody spices, roasted nuts, dark bread, lemon, grass, straw, heavy cream, caramel, minerals, vanilla bean, and mild molasses wash across the palate. The finish is rich and fairly sweet with a pleasant combination of toasted coconut, vanilla bean, roasted nut, and caramel flavors.

M: Medium-to-full in body, firm, and very dry. Carbonation is much crisper than one would expect of any barrel-aged beer. Alcohol presence is minimal, but I could easily see this lager sneaking up on the unsuspecting drinker.

O: This is an intriguing and likable experimental brew. I don't recall ever having a bourbon barrel-aged lager of any kind to this point in my life, so this beer definitely stands out from the crowd. I would happily recommend this beer to fans of off-beat, quirky, individualistic brews.