Melvin Brewing Eureka (House of Flying Barrels) Zim Sen

What the brewers say

“Baltic porter lagered in Weller bourbon barrels for 14 months.”

What our panel thought

“Love the nose—chocolate, booze, dried cherries. The thin body with layers of toffee, coconut, vanilla, and dark fruit struggles to stand up to the cacophony. Fruits linger into a fairly sweet finish, amplified by the barrel spirit notes. Rich, complex, and interesting, but at the expense of cohesion.”

What our editors thought

“Smooth marshmallow, dried cranberries, and woody ethanol on the nose with a nutty warmth. The sip is thinner than expected, as sharper tannic notes bolster the dark malt bitterness.”