Marcheur Irlandais
Olde Hickory Brewery

Pours an effervescent cola color with fast falling than head. Viscous with zero head retention & lacing

S: Figs, brown sugar, red wine barrels & hints of cinnamon. Tobacco, figs & more brown sugar as this beer warms up. The best aspect of this offering

T: Follows the nose, fortified red wine with pronounced barrel dryness/tartness up front. Strong red grape presence as this beer warms through, leafy hops, molasses & leafy hop bitterness, tart oakyness as well. Finishes with a load of fortified red wine, dryness, a little tartness & leafy/woody hops

MF: Somewhat chewy, near still carbonation, some acidity too. A little more carbonation would've saved the day here

This has 3 years in the bottle, would happily try again if newer. Total sipper this one, not a huge fan of fortified wine, be it Armagnay or what ever

 

 

 

Poured at fridge temp. Pours a murky brown with little head. Definitely a reddish hint to the color. The nose is full of Armagnac. I love Armagnac, so I'm loving this. Also getting sweet candy, sight rhubarb with sugar, a semi-dank grape peel note, wet leather, and a hint of citrus.

The taste is super sweet, and definitely Armagnac heavy. The barrels have really taken over this beer! Almost a wine-beer hybrid at this point (and ABV). Some lemon, slight cough syrup (not unpleasant at all), oak, leather, sweet toffee, marmalade, and that bitter rhubarb is back. Really nice and complex. A very interesting barleywine!

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and dry. The aftertaste is Armagnac.

I love what brandy-ish barrels can bring to a barleywine, particularly when blended with something in the brown liquor family. I do enjoy them straight up as well though!

In the nose especially this is beautiful. The musty, boozy grapes dominate but hints of other fruits and a little toffee peek through as well. On the tongue this is an all-out Armagnac attack as well. Up front this is pretty sweet, with raisins and caramel leading the way. The barrels push all that aside with a big, wonderfully bruising vinous note. The grapes are huge here, almost having a tart twang at times. Overall this is quite treat and a really fun ride. Thanks again @carolinabeerguy !

Anyone else think of Artie Bucco when they think Armagnac?

Picked up a 12 oz bottle from the Appalachian Vintner in Asheville 2-21-22 for $10.99. Bottled 8-30-22; consumed 4-1-23.

Beer poured a murky brown with a pretty good head that has a touch of hang time

Nose is dark fruit forward, very nice.

Taste is figs forward, some caramel, and a touch of chocolate in the finish.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth.

Overall this is a port bomb as the port barrel really shines thru. Again, like Parallassein, Marcheur probably would have been best served aging this into bourbon barrels too to give this brew additional nuances. Fun to try!