Dry Dock Double Hazelnut Brown (2014)
What the brewers say
“Aged in whiskey barrels with added hazelnut, which creates its earthy, nutty complexity and caramel-, toffee-forward aroma. English-style brown ale takes on a life of its own with whiskey barrel–aging and the added essence of hazelnuts.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Hazelnut, caramel, chocolate, and almost a maple-syrup thing. I want to pour this over ice cream or maybe concentrate it and put it on pancakes. Some really nice raisin character. Very light booze character.”
Flavor: “Lots more hazelnut, caramel, toffee, some vanilla, and oak coming through. Fairly sweet with some alcohol and oak to balance. Moderate bitterness that lingers into the finish and strips the sweetness away. Really nice plum and raisin flavor at the back of the finish. Finishes sweet with a lingering caramel note. Light chocolate in the background.”
Overall: “Hazelnut is often overdone in beer, but it works really well here. It ties into the caramel malt and barrel character nicely. The finish isn’t overly sweet, making for a drinkable beer.”
