Sand Creek Noir Black Belgian Barleywine

Brewed by Sand Creek Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Black River Falls, Wisconsin USA

Serve in Snifter

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12oz. Bottle. Didn’t know what to expect as I haven’t had a beer quite in this style. Smells sweet, a little nutty, and mild piney hops. Looks deep brown with a tight bubbled tan head with leaves clumpy lacing on the glass. Tastes slightly nutty, decent initial hopping adds a dryness on the back of the palate, overall sweet in character with notes of caramel and candied sugar. Good beer, glad I found it.

This is an unusually ’tight ’ "black" beer compared to lusher, maltier BIPA’s. The hops kick in with a tree-bark bite, but then it gets interesting with a lasting sour bite at the back of the mouth. This beer will kind of have you sitting bolt upright in your chair and your eyes may bulge a bit, but when you pay a premium for exotic numbers like this one, it is an essential aspect of the experience.

This is a very interesting beer. I didn’t know what to think but I soon found myself looking for more.