Red Brick Winter Brew Aged In Pappy Van Winkle Barrel
Atlanta Brewing Company

This was the 2008 version of the Red Brick Winter Brew which was a Belgian Strong Dark Ale aged on Pappy Van Winkle barrels. On-tap at the Brick Store for the 12th anniversary party.

Pours a purplish brown color with a half-finger tan head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving light lacing.

Smells of dark fruits - figs and raisins - with good amounts of sweet malts and smaller amounts of spices and bourbon. The nose is definitely more skewed toward spice and dark fruits as opposed to the spice and light fruits in the normal version.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Sweet and smooth malt flavors are joined by mild spice flavors - nutmeg among others - and vanilla and bourbon midway through the sip. There aren't as many fruit flavors as the smell led me to believe, and the bourbon flavors are pointedly restrainted compared to most barrel-aged beers.

Mouthfeel is good. It seems as though the barrel aging has added a bit of thickness to this beer.

Drinkability is good. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass and could have another.

Overall the barrel aging added a good deal of complexity and thickness to this beer, although it still has room for improvement. Worth a shot.