Aroma: “Dark caramel sweetness with just a subtle hint of vanilla and toffee. Leather, stone fruits, and oak. Light alcohol. Cherry esters with little bit of apricot and hops aroma.”

Flavor: “Smooth malt, offering a pleasant blend of caramel and cocoa, maybe a hint of roast. Some vanilla and coconut and subtle oak character. Alcohol is unequivocally present, with some warming peppery notes, but easy drinking. Bitterness is pleasant and balances the rich malts nicely. Finishes dry with a slight touch of barrel tannins.”

Overall: “A very nice blend of barleywine and barrel character. The base beer is well crafted. Lots of malt complexity, excellent balance, and nice warming character make it a perfect sipper to replace your cognac or brandy nightcap. Will only improve with a little age.”