Church Brew Oak-Aged Burly Friar Barleywine

Formerly brewed at Church Brew Works
Style: Barley Wine
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA

Serve in Snifter

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Got a growler of an oak aged barleywine right before Christmas (’10). Color is very dark brown, if not black, and opaque. I had very little head in mine, but that could be because I held unto my growler for a week or so before opening. Very aromatic, smelling of tobacco, some cherries, and lots of oak and wood. A bit of alcohol in the aroma reminds me of bourbon, although I don’t think it was aged in bourbon barrels. Picking up lots of smokiness, with more oak,tobacco and woody notes. Beneath all the oak, there’s a hint of sweet maltiness. Beer finishes with a lot of smoky flavors, reminding me of a German smoked beer. Medium to full bodied with little carbonation (but again, that could just be that my growler was a few days past it’s prime). Very nice sipping beer on a cold winter night. Pretty complex flavors hold your interest. Beer gains complexity as it warms.