Perennial Artisan Ales Barrel Aged Abraxas

__Aroma:__ “Smoky chile notes, with cinnamon and vanilla also strong. Hints of plum, sweet tobacco. The base stout’s slight bit of chocolate malt and roast reminds one of French-roast coffee with some maple sweetness.” __Flavor:__ “Notes of dried plums, apricots, cinnamon, chiles. The balance is spot on. The roast base helps balance the sweetness and chocolate, and the barrel brings things together with deep toffee flavor.” __Overall:__ “The barrel character is incredible, only made better by the base beer and adjuncts. Complexity is off the charts, while still maintaining a surprising level of drinkability. Beyond the flavors, the mouthfeel truly sets this apart. Rich, viscous, and full-bodied, but not cloying and just enough backbone to hold the line for the flavors. This is the standard by which all other stouts in this category should be measured.”

“Roasted malt aroma with rich notes of tobacco, leather, herbal liqueur. Velvety malt profile of burnt bread, honey, coconut, spice, vanilla. Colheita madeira, cedar shavings, sage come to mind.”

Prominent cocoa nibs along with the rye whiskey create a delightful aroma. The spice and chilies present themselves beautifully on the palate, complemented with a very silky mouthfeel. The adjuncts dance together seamlessly and gracefully fade away, with a nice bitter, dark chocolate lingering with sweet sugar stickiness alongside the dry rye whiskey. The alcohol is nearly undetectable. Very well balanced, cohesive beer.