Brau Brothers Barrel Aged Belgian Style Quad Ale

Brau Brothers Barrel Aged Belgian Style Quad Ale. Ale Aged in Used Whisky Barrels. Alc. 11.5% by Vol. Brau Brothers Brewing, Lucan, MN.

Deep violet coloring, opaque, with a dusky cream-toned head, somewhat slim, but staying.

Aroma: Whiskey comes screaming out of this one. It dominates the olfactory profile till nothing else can be discerned. Sweet, rich malt, but whiskey's all over it.

Taste it: More sweet, more malt, and some telltale Belgian yeast flavor, with that unnameable, untouchable, indefinable something. Whisky slips in underneath. Vanilla notes, caramel, some cherry and other dark fruit. Delicious malt flavor, small hop profile, if any, and all wrapped up in the kiss of the barrel.

A beautiful effect on the soul, with this brew, a mellow mollification. This is one for the long haul, to stretch out the night, to soothe the weary patches, to calm the restless bosom. Mmm. I'm tackling this solo, but it's a great nightcapper for a gathering of friends. I'm going back for more of this, to hold onto for just such an occasion.

This one is a terrifically complex and wonderful ale, deep, resonant, and full of many flavors, with the barrel's effect only part of it (if it did dominate the aroma). The single best beer out of Lucan, MN yet, but then I find myself saying that with every new release, don't I? Well done, Brau Brothers, well done.  Really good. Really, really good. Close to amazing.