Barrel Tasting Last Night

Ah the smell of stale beer in the morning. Last night I had another tasting, this time with a focus on barrels. Many of the entrants were previously discussed, but there were some last minute scores. The tasting was large and there were a wide range of different styled tasters each preferring certain beers over others. There was much consensus though and despite some premium examples of the style, American Wild Ale did not go over well, even for me. Not every beer ended up being barrel aged, but they were all unique and uniquely rare in that as well. Let's get to some tasting notes shall we (in order of appearance):

1.Captain Lawrence Smoke from the Oak (wine barrel)
This beer could have been added the Wild Ale list with its distinct brett like character and sour fruit notes. But I found the flavors to be quite tame and still chocolate. Chocolate-covered sour cherries was used a couple of times, and everyone thought drinkability was excellent especially with some food.

2. Harviestoun Ola Dubha - 12 yr
Really enjoyed this smoky masterpiece with its oil coating mouth feel and distinct scotch like flavors. It was peaty and smoky with delicious earthy and salty seaside flavors, an excellent collaboration between two of Scotland's finest. Malty smokey.

3. Alaskan Smoked Porter
Speaking of smokey, this beer rules supreme. This beer was brought back to me by a friend visiting AZ. Unavailable pretty much anywhere east of the west coast, I've heard much about this standard in the style and it's many beer medals. A little too smokey for most, like "liquid smoke" or a "day-old" campfire this beer was not well liked, but unique nonetheless.

4. Russian River Consecration
Onto the big boys with the full tasting panel there, and opened up this much hyped up American Wild Ale. It took a lot to get this beer, with a huge price tag and a lot of driving it was had, but I must say I've never been a Wild Ale fan. Too sour for my likings, too cellar-like in flavor. This one had to be the one to change me over and it would be the beer to get me into sours, but nah. It was unique, very great mouthfeel and interesting flavors, but it was just too sour, puckering, too bold, too hard to drink. Many used inedible fruits to describe the flavors, others metal and chemicals. It did not go over well, a lot of people just picked the word "no" for drinkability. It was unique nonetheless, but really not enjoyed and left me even doubting my other Wild Ale choices for the evening.

5. Lost Abbey Angel's Share
Yes. Bubbles! It had a lot more carbonation than the one I had previously opened. I mean a lot more, actually leaving a lacing this time, and covering up the alcohol much better. I was so psyched about that, so happy about that. But this beer was a huge hit, candidate for best beer of the night and enjoyed by everyone. "Like opening a fresh pack of fig newtons" was agreed as the descriptor of the beer with caramel and oaky notes following that up. Everyone really liked this one saying they would love to drink it anytime despite it's incredibly thickness and smacker of an alcohol content.

6. Goose Island Juliet
This one got a beating. A thrashing, with a board-room like atmosphere ensuing. "Who greenlighted this purchase?" "It was him, no her, well the guy at the store said it was good." Yea, urine was the most common descriptor on this Wild Ale. Too sour with those same chemical descriptors as last time. It garnered some of the lowest ratings of the night and basically lead to me leaving the Avery Brabant from the tasting.

7. Three Floyds/Mikkeller Oatgoop.
Runner-up for beer of the evening. Everyone really liked this beer. It was like a crisp IPA up front with a beautiful building intensity and thickness in mouthfeel and flavor. Definitely a style of beer I had never had and would now like to have more of. Words like perfect got tossed around, delicious honey and golden grahams were also used.

A few other beers may have been had, but either notes weren't taken or the tasting panel had fallen apart otherwise or I just can't remember. But I don't think I'll be spending any more money on sour ales in the near future. They were expensive, and hearing everybody (including myself) bag on them, left well a sour taste in my mouth. Hops on the other hand, well, always well liked.