Wiley Roots Brewing Co Vanilla Homonym
What the brewers say
“Aged in bourbon barrels, conditioned on Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans.”
What our panel thought
“Strong oak stars in the fudgy, boozy aroma with moderate vanilla notes. Black as midnight, with no head at all. Coats the glass and stays there. Thick, rich body with dark-malt chocolate and light-roast flavors. Cocoa, fudge, Hershey’s Syrup. Sweet, to be sure, but the bitterness balances. Vanilla enhances the oak character without overpowering. Warming with a sneaky touch of alcohol heat balanced by strong but not cloying sweetness, that’s in turn balanced by firm bitterness.”
What our editors thought
“Subtle roasted-nut and marshmallow-vanilla tones in the nose avoid common clichés and suggest polished restraint more than overt embrace of the ouevre. The roasted-nut tones heighten in the sip as almond coffee meets a pump of vanilla syrup while the softer bourbon character heightens the saturation without stealing focus. Exudes confidence in its underplayed elements, but all come together to spectacular effect.”
