Blue Point Bourbon Barrel-Aged Winter Ale

Cask at the brewery tasting room. Poured into plastic pint cup. Dark but translucent pour with a thick head. Smell is sweet and bready. Taste is thin however, lighter body than expected. Some of that bread-like flavors were present in the aftertaste. Overall good flavor but nothing much past that.

Cask at blue point. Pours a nice semi clear amber with a nice creamy white head. Aroma is lots of fruity esters, lightly hoppy and oaky with vanilla. Bourbon flavors are hidden throughout and are not overpowering, leaving plenty of malts and fruitiness to show through. Pretty smooth overall, but finishes a bit on the light side.

I really enjoyed this beer, on cask at the brewery tasting room. It was very smooth, the spices were well-blended, much more so than the commercially availble winter ale. The warmer temperature also complimented this one quite well. Slightly sweet, carmel and mildly malted. Very earthy. Nice...I want to go back for more soon!

Cask at the brewery - the "normal" version of this beer has improved significantly this year, and the barrel-aging just makes it even better - the bourbon is very evident, but not overpowering - instead of washing out the flavors of the beer, it simply modifies them - the roastiness and caramel presence becomes more of a bourbon-soaked vanilla flavor, and the herbal qualities of the beer become a bit more subdued, as the wood from the barrel smooths out the bite they once produced - very nice - I hope they do more of these experiments.