The Rare Barrel Blurred with Pinot Noir Grapes
What the brewers say
Mixed-fermentation beer aged in oak barrels with pinot noir grapes.
What our panel thought
Floral, dry Bordeaux nose mingles with light oak, licorice, and a waft of cellar-funk—restrained, overall. Flavor is decidedly vinous, with light jammy sweetness drying into an oaky finish. Alcoholic warmth doesn’t fit well, hindering drinkability. Grape-forward.
What our editors thought
Spicy blackberry and cranberry nose with earthy blueberry sweetness. The sip rides an exacting line between sweet and dry, holding that tenuous tannin-fruit balance. It truly works, bending technique in the service of flavor—a hybrid greater than the sum of its parts.