MadTree Brewing Barrel-Aged Axis Mundi

**Aroma:** “A prominent roastiness, with even a touch char and black licorice. A light sweet chocolate rounds it out, but the roast dominates. Nice sweet malt roast. Chocolate. Some vanilla. Toast.” **Flavor:** “Moderately sweet cherry chocolate with a touch of roast and some vanilla underneath. A nice chocolaty flavor, but it has a hard time rising over the roast. Some barrel character, but overall the roast dominates.” **Overall:** “Fairly true to style in all respects. The heat on the finish is a bit detracting. Other than that, pretty easy drinking. A singularly roast-forward stout with just a touch of barrel character. The chocolate was nice, but the booze was pretty hot throughout this beer.”

**Aroma:** “The big oak and coffee notes play off each other well, with the chocolate and roast to support underneath. Dark cherry esters, oaky vanilla, oak char, whiskey vanilla, and tobacco, with a hint of maple.” **Flavor:** “The chewy woody oak is a bit overpowering. Low to medium vanilla presences reminds me of French oak, and it blends with the peach and cherry notes coming from the coffee and the beer. Some sweet cherry, sherry, dates, and marzipan. Very thin-bodied, more like an old ale than an imperial stout. Great caramel and toast malt character, and the roast and chocolate notes help to blend the flavors. Some fusel alcohols and whiskey, with tobacco and vanilla, as well as a mild hops flavor and bitterness.” **Overall:** “There’s a lightness to this beer that was unexpected, likely from the lighter stone fruit esters, but the body and vanilla help as well. The barrel character isn’t overdone and adds a nice complexity without drowning out or muddling the coffee stout underneath. However, the boozy-whiskey with the overpowering char from the barrel lose the beer element. It’s a nice beer, but it’s thin and tastes out of its style.”

**Aroma:** “Light licorice, caramel, dark cherry, toasty, and coconut, moderate earthiness, big fenugreek/maple syrup. Light oak with medium chocolate and light coffee. As it warms, less coconut and more alcohol. Molasses and honey with some mild cocoa. Somewhat peppery roast and toast notes are well blended.” **Flavor:** “Moderate roast, medium body, medium coffee, strong chocolate, touch of cherry, light plum, and a touch of maple syrup. A medium nutty note and more honey. Fairly dry flavor with slight dried fruit notes. Moderate alcohol and roast going into the aftertaste. Light oak notes toward then end as it warms.” **Overall:** “Fun stout with hints of breakfast, light fruit, a touch of maple syrup, chocolate, and a bit of coffee. Some of the dark fruits come out nicely as well. Barrel character is a bit muted but it's very drinkable.”