Black Spruce Brewing Company Reginald Van Horn
What the brewers say
“Barleywine aged in 95 percent rye whiskey barrels for 12 months.”
What our panel thought
“Raisin, malt, oak, alcohol. Sweet dark caramel up front slides into a toffee-like note, with classic bourbon and fresh oak. Bitter and sweet in balance. Toffee and caramel in the middle with more leather.”
What our editors thought
“Butterscotch, pepper, lime zest, and banana-nut bread in the nose make for a quirky mix, but the flavor toasts that bread with a slab of butter, gently singeing the crust for a sweet-savory blend with just the right bitter jolt.”