The Bruery Chronology 12 Wee Heavy

Aroma: “Honey-glazed crystal malt, chocolate, lots of caramel, some soy sauce, dried cherry and fig, cardboard oxidation, stewed plums, and bourbon. Enticing and inviting.” Flavor: “Chocolate, soy sauce, stewed plums, bourbon, full-bodied sweetness, with some hints of cherry add sweet complexity in the flavor. Very malt forward, and the oak complements the flavors. A strong warming through the finish, which adds to this beer.” Overall: “A sweet version of a wee heavy with assertive bourbon notes and appropriate malt depth. Good caramel, a bit of chocolate with some toast, and slight dark fruits followed with some oak in the back. It’s sweet yet not cloying, and the oxidation notes really complement the beer, adding richness.”

Aroma: “Some dark fruits of plums, grapes, and prunes. Malt notes come through with chocolate, toast, a bit of roast. A little caramel and vanilla, too.” Flavor: “The flavor of this beer dances between roast character with some malt sweetness and fruit sweetness. The roast is a bit of coffee, leather, and chocolate. Fruits are plum and prune with some sweet grapes coming through, grappa-like. Stout character gets a bit lost in the mix.” Overall: “The complexity of this beer is its strong suit—an interesting blend of sweetness and maltiness in a very unique context—but I am not sure the grapes added to this stout. It’s begging for a silkier body, and the grapes seem to thin it out (almost to dark barleywine territory). The flavors work—this beer has legs.”

**Aroma:** “Acetic acid and lactic acid, with vinegar notes and a bit of funk. Not much malt character to overcome the tartness/acidity. Nice funky earthy character—a little woodsy. Some roast and toasty notes add some body to the nose. Brett and lactic, acetic, cherry, raspberry, and herbal.” **Flavor:** “Lots of tartness and acidity, both lactic and acetic, with just a bit of Brett-like funk and notes of white bread. Not much caramel or chocolate malt flavor or character. Stout roast character is washed away by the obvious mixed bug sour. Tannic wood character is beautifully balanced with the cherry fruit flavors.” **Overall:** “The sour profile overwhelms the stout base characteristics, making it hard to perceive roasted malt and chocolate notes. Tasty beer—if you like a tart, lactic, lemony beer, this is very enjoyable. Is it a stout? No. It’s a dark and sour and barrel-aged beer, and delightful.”