Ballast Point Syrah/Brandy/ Bourbon Barrel Aged Three Sheets Barleywine

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
San Diego, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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Swing-top fill from Pinocchio’s a few weeks ago. Opens with a pop, pours dark brown with a smooth beige coating. Nose is brandy, caramel and raisin. Medium to full body with a tingle. Taste is caramel, apple, wood and grass. Barrels add subtle notes increasing complexity but none dominate. Really nice blending.

Draught at TND: Complex aroma of Bourbon, coconut, Brandy, vanilla, slight dark ripe fruit, slight port, slight funk, and slight diacetyl. Poured deep brown/ruby/very deep amber in color, with a small, creamy, dense, rocky, tan/beige head that diminished but lasted throughout. Very hazy. Very sparkling. Complex flavor is medium to heavily sweet. Tastes of Bourbon, oak, light coconut, light vanilla, hops, slight port, light dark ripe fruit, and a hint of alcohol. Medium body. Dry texture. Soft to average carbonation. Medium sweet, dry, malt, Bourbon, coconut, vanilla, dark ripe fruit, slight oak finish is dry. A little booze in the flavor, but 10%ABV is very well hidden throughout. Not much Syrah. Mostly Bourbon.

Taster at the Old Grove brewery: Dark brown color with a halo of tan foam. Fruity wine like aroma. Flavor is complex with dark fruit, a touch of red wine, a hint of sour cherry and a bitter sweet citrus/raisin finish with some light alcohol heat in the throat. Full body is rich with modest carbonation.