Style: Barleywine (Wood-Aged)

ABV: 14.0

90/100

Aroma:	12
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	18
Mouthfeel:	4

BKS Artisan Ales Recollection (Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged)

What the brewers say

“Dark barleywine aged in Willett rye whiskey barrels.”

What our panel thought

“Spicy, fruity breadcrust nose with hints of nutmeg, fig, and toffee, with oak notes as it warms. Intriguing earthy hops telegraph restraint not sweetness. Roast and mocha border stout territory, but the strong toffee sells barleywine parentage. Not as heavy, sweet, or extreme as many, but it’s all the better for that.”

What our editors thought

“A hint of smoke joins the oak with sweet stone fruit and light spice. Boozy dark fruits evolve in the flavor before dropping into a bitter chocolate finish.”

Review printed in: Beyond Barley (April-May 2022) (View All Issues)

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REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Jackie O's Brewery Cellar Cuvee 11

“Sweet burnt caramel and toffee aroma. Rich malt intermingles with leather and cigar tobacco. Very slight bitterness helps to temper the sweetness. Akin to a dunkel, with a healthy dose of honey and caramel added. Very sweet, but enough depth to keep your attention.”

Stonecloud Brewing Co. Respect The Drip

“Medium toasty toffee. Notable coffee and light chocolate. Light cherry and black currant. Deep, rich flavor with strong chocolate, toffee, toast. Sweet on balance, especially on the finish.”

Perennial Artisan Ales Barrel-Aged Abraxas

__Aroma:__ “Smoky chile notes, with cinnamon and vanilla also strong. Hints of plum, sweet tobacco. The base stout’s slight bit of chocolate malt and roast reminds one of French-roast coffee with some maple sweetness.” __Flavor:__ “Notes of dried plums, apricots, cinnamon, chiles. The balance is spot on. The roast base helps balance the sweetness and chocolate, and the barrel brings things together with deep toffee flavor.” __Overall:__ “The barrel character is incredible, only made better by the base beer and adjuncts. Complexity is off the charts, while still maintaining a surprising level of drinkability. Beyond the flavors, the mouthfeel truly sets this apart. Rich, viscous, and full-bodied, but not cloying and just enough backbone to hold the line for the flavors. This is the standard by which all other stouts in this category should be measured.”

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