Almanac Barrel Noir

Almanac Beer Company
Brewed at Hermitage Brewing Co.
Style: American Strong Ale
San Francisco, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Aroma coco, chocolate, rosey or leafy smell, dark stout color, strong alcohol taste , good aftertaste, light head. Good ale.

A vigorous pour into my New Belgium globe glass produces a two finger thick, lightly brown stained, dark tan colored head. The beer is a dark, concentrated brown, almost black color, but when held up to the light shows a clear, deeply concentrated amber, almost burnt plum color. The aroma smells of toasted coconut, rich vanillin, lightly spicy oak, malt accentuating toasted wood notes, lots of fruity plum and raisin notes, ample toasted, slightly roasted malt, and a browned whole grain character. The barrel character is definitely the dominant note in the nose, but it is done fairly well and doesn’t run roughshod through the nose. The aroma is a nice (I like that the barrel notes are so smooth), but all in all is a bit simplistic in its barrel focus.

Lightly sweet up front, quite effervescent through the finish, and the beer finishes with phenolic clove notes, warming, spicy higher alcohols, and a lingering roasted grain note. Barrel influenced flavors of toasted sweetened coconut, lots of vanillin, and some spicy, though smooth, bourbon / oak flavors all play a big role here. The body is quite light for a beer of this strength, almost thin, but not quite and it makes this dangerously drinkable; the beer is probably a bit more carbonated than I would like, but this is easily remedied. The vanillin accentuates fruit notes of prunes and rum soaked raisins. The roasted malt brings out a burnt bitterness towards the finish, but also hints at coffee liquor, smoothly burnt / toasted whole grain bread, and some definite burnt fruit notes.

I was expecting a Barrel Aged, heavily roasted, Imperial Stout, and this really isn’t quite that. The addition of the Belgian Ale, which I didn’t know of beforehand, definitely brings another dimension to this beer; a spiciness, and rich fruitiness is added to the tamed Imperial Stout roastiness, and Barrel notes, but in the end it is the barrel that dominates this beer, and the other notes merely play a supporting role. Not bad, but I prefer the base beer to play the leading role in my barrel aged brews.

375 ml bottle thanks to raiders707. Dark brown pour with light carbonation. Bourbon in aroma and taste. Oak. Some chocolate. Some dried fruit. This should warm nicely.

Courtesy of northernbrews

Bottle: The aroma consists of chocolate, caramel, light roasted malt, and just a touch of vanilla. It pours a dark brown with just a hint of orange highlights and a small beige head that quickly fades to a thin ring. There is some very fine dotted lacing left on the sides of the glass. The flavor starts with chocolate and caramel. There’s a touch of fruit in the background. The finish has moderate-heavy roasted malt, faint black licorice, and a hint of vanilla. It’s medium bodied with mild carbonation.

375ml bottle poured a black color with aromas of choclate, fudge, some roast, bourbon, oak, and light dark fruit. Flavors are the same as the aromas, light bourbony goodness on the back end, a solid beer overall.

375 ml bottle picked up while visiting friends in California. Big aroma of chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, dark fruit, cherry, and roasted notes. Pours nearly black, with foamy brown/tan head, some retention and lacing. Taste follows the noise, but also a healthy dose of licorice and some caramel -- in retrospect, caramel aroma clings to the bottle after the beer has been poured into my tulip. A hint of metal toward the end of the first few sips. Sweet up front, but with a nice roasty bitterness following through. Alcohol in the finish, but by no means harsh -- the bourbon really features prominently. Dark fruit lingers nicely too, along with the bourbon and roast notes. Nice flavor interplay going on. Texture is viscous, somewhat chalky. Surpisingly lively carbonation given its full body. Overall: Rich, chocolaty bourbon. Pretty intense -- wish I was sharing even just this 375 ml, but the night is young and I’ve got nowhere to be but right here, sipping this slowly and enjoying a quiet night.

Thanks, Chris. Fairly heavy barrel character and a good bit of heat in the background. Some roast and moderate chocolate.

Black pour with a thin ring of tan head. Aroma is powerful barrel and booze, with smoke. Not really pleasant aroma, reminds me of burning on the farm. Taste is lots f bourbon barrel, smokey And caramel. Too boozy for my liking, I feel like 6 months from now this will drink nicely.

Pours an inky black color. Initial aroma coconut and chocolate. The bourbon notes fold in in the initial taste but that is followed by a woody, old barrel taste that is nice at first but is a bit much on the end.

Pours dark brown, 1 finger coffee head, nice lacing. Smokey, caramel, cheap chocolate and burnt oak on the nose. Sort of a brownie taste, bourbon is very strong and overpowering, not smooth, a very boozy strong ale and very smokey.