Aroma: “Malted milk balls! Big toffee and almost burnt-caramel notes. Slight vanilla character on the nose. Medium wood nose that is nutty with a heavy marshmallow sweetness accented by raisins, dates, and chocolate.”

Flavor: “Really nice caramel sweetness with some nutty character. The big booziness adds warmth and a nice body that brings vanilla, chocolate, and stone fruit to the forefront.”

Overall: “The barrel character is just superb and enhances beer while rounding and integrating all of the various flavor components. It’s a nicely balanced barley wine with thorough complexity. Time may mellow the alcohol harshness, but the sweetness will probably stick around, making it perfect for sharing.”