The Bruery Geburtstagskranz

**Aroma:** “Bourbon! Burnt toast. I could just smell this all day … until I got thirsty. Great roast and nutty qualities with hints of coconut and awesome barrel character—big, boozy bourbon with loads of vanilla. Lots of oak, even with a touch of almond. Caramel malt sweetness and chocolate in excess.” **Flavor:** “Big bourbon notes with vanilla plus huge oaky tannins, chocolate, and caramel. Yeast character is subdued and clean. Hops are hiding in the wings. Tastes like Grandpa’s tobacco pipe smells—warm, comforting, and timeless. Definite bourbon and vanilla sweetness and oak character.” **Overall:** “Such a wonderful beer. The alcohol is no joke, but it’s rich, complex, and sweet. Barrel character complements and balances the base beer. The boozy quality helps to make this beer and builds in layers with the sweet vanilla, bourbon, and chocolate.”

Aroma: “Very herbal, almost medicinal up front, which is probably the guava competing with the vanilla. The tropical fruitiness emerges more as it warms.” Flavor: “Rich and rounded flavor profile that showcases the guava esters and how they play off of the richness brought by the lactose and vanilla. Some definite alcoholic heat on the back of the throat on every sip. We were surprised on the palate, as on the aroma, that the corn from the cream ale style shines through just a touch. Nice to taste the base beer in something like this.” Overall: “The creamy guava part is very nice. Nice balance of tart and sweetness, although there’s a slight astringency. Reminds us of a cocktail on a beach with a paper umbrella sticking out the top of the cup.”

**Aroma:** “Some nice roast and toast character. Bittersweet chocolate up front with some oatmeal notes, followed by a subtle coffee-roast note. Just a touch of sweetness, a little nutty, and strong vanilla. No esters or phenolics.” **Flavor:** “Sweet chocolate and almost a milk creaminess. Some mild coffee flavor and dark malt sweetness and some dark cherry and almond notes. Creamy and not overwhelmingly roasty, almost with a soft espresso note. Oak character is subtle and hard to pick out, but lends a touch of vanilla to the flavor. The roastiness lasts on the tongue. Finish is mostly balanced, with a slight sweetness lingering in the end. Tannic character is very subdued. Hops bitterness is supportive.” **Overall:** “A very delicious stout that doesn't quite deliver as a barrel-aged offering. There is not enough barrel or oak character, but it is still tasty. The multi-layered malt profile keeps this beer interesting without becoming novel. The beer had some good sweet and roast qualities but was a little thin in the body. The creaminess reminds me a little of chocolate milk.”