Disclaimer: We will come clean. This review was, unfortunately, written at a time when we were not aware that mats of bubbles are symptoms of a dirty glass. Just because we are Drink Me Dirty, it does not mean it is acceptable to drink from a dirty glass. Clean and rinse your glasswares properly. As better informed drinkers, we now vow to spread the gospel of clean glassware. Read more about this topic here. #DirtyGlassMafia
Name: Anniversary Barley Wine 2017
Brewer: Sori Brewing (Estonia)
Style: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (Base Style: American Barleywine)
ABV: 11.6%
Review Year: 2019
In 2017, the Estonian craft brewery, Sori Brewing celebrated its second anniversary with a special barleywine matured in ex-Cognac barrels for almost a year. The result is this winter warmer that exhibits a complex but harmonious blend of malty-sweetness, alcohol, wood, and hops.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (33B) with the American Barleywine (22C) as the base style in the context of the 2015 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The most current version of the guidelines can be found on the BJCP website.
TASTING NOTES
The Anniversary Barley Wine 2017 pours a semi-clear dark amber beer with a thin light brown head. The nose has a nutty character complemented by aromas of licorice, malty liquor, and oak. On the palate, Sori’s anniversary barleywine is medium-bodied with a moderately low level of carbonation. The flavor profile is dominantly malty-sweet: sweet, caramel, molasses, and licorice. These are then complemented by boozy whisky-like tones and hints of citrus. The possible hop-derived characters of orange jam and spices come in late in the aftertaste and are met by the familiar caramel sweetness noted earlier.
THE VERDICT
The 2017 outturn of Sori’s Anniversary Barley Wine is a winter warmer that features complex malty-sweet characters. What is also interesting is that the hop flavors surfaced faintly and late on the finish. This may suggest that the assertive hop characters of this American Barleywine have been subdued by the maturation process as it gave way to more alcohol, wood, and malt flavors. While we are not that well-versed with the intricacies of cognacs, we can say that whatever spirit the barrel formerly housed added complexity to this beer. However, we think a fuller body would add to the charm of this beer.
