Marin Point Red Wine Barrel Aged Chocolate Airporter
Marin Brewing Company

8/27/2011

Thanks to an ever generous Jason for sharing this rarity at Woodshop Classix.

A: Black with a small fleeting light brown head. A little lacing clings to the glass.

S: Coffee and roasted malt wafts from the glass with pervasive dark chocolate notes and a little oak. Vanilla is light. The beer is lightly sweet with evident plum.

T: Lots of dark chocolate with lighter coffee notes than I found in the nose. Oxidation is faint and malt is moderately roasted with accompanying grape, raisin, and plum. The beer finishes with oak, chocolate, and mild tannins.

M: Full in body with moderate carbonation. Mouthfeel is chewy and sticky.

Overall: A good beer and also rare. You can't lose with this one.

Bottle shared by Jason. I think this is the correct listing. Bottle was labeled as "Chocolate Liquer Barrel Aged Airporter". From what I can find, the red wine barrel (Syrah) was later used to age chocolate liquer...

A: The pour is almost black with a finger of tan head.

S: Starts off with lots of roasted malt and oak. There is plenty of chocolate with a mild coffee note, some vanilla, and a little bit of dark and red fruit notes to it. Mild toffee and molasses sweetness.

T: Rather similar flavors. Roasted malt, chocolate, and vanilla with plenty of oak. A somewhat vinous quality with a little bit of dark fruit, especially plums and raisins. The chocolate really picks up as the beer warms.

M: Medium bodied with a low to medium carbonation.

O: A pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting much from this one, as it sounded a little funky, but enjoyed it quite a bit.

I went to Hamilton's Tavern 2nd Saturday event (4/11/09) mainly for this beer. The board said this was a 10% "porter with chocolate aged in red wine barrels."

The beer was very dark in color with a thin head that quickly fell down to a ring.

Light notes of wine barrel and chocolate were the only things I could pick up at first but that was because the beer was too cold. As the beer warmed up I could smell some coffee, raisins, and plums. Also some vinous and oak aromas from the wine barrel which combined quite well with the dark fruits and chocolate.

The first sip had some dark chocolate upfront with a tangy wine barrel and oak tannin flavors. Lots of chocolate malts, brown sugar, and raisins covered in bitter chocolate. Slightly nutty in the finish and boozy as well. Later on I taste some chocolate brownie batter and dark berry flavors.

Low carbonation and a bit thin when cold but when it warmed up it had a softer carbonation feel on the palate.

On Tap at Hamilton's 2nd Saturday. A standout among a great list of beers.

Poured an opaque black with dark brown lacing. Aromas of chocolate mixed oddly with red wine and oak barrel character. Tasted quite a bit more balanced than I figured, and doesn't seem like nearly 10% ABV. Chocolate and sweet with an underlying red wine and oak that blends quite nicely. No apparent alcohol. Nice mouthfeel, kind of slick, and a sipper but very delicious. I thought it was an odd beer to age in a red wine barrel but it works. Glad to get a pour of this one.