Clown Shoes Crunkle Sam 2020. American Barley-wine Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels

Clown Shoes Crunkle Sam 2020. American Barley-wine Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels.

10 % ABV. Clown Shoes Beer, Boston, MA. 

Clear, amber-toned, large, beige-ish head of foam. 

In the nose: deep, complex, caramel malt, vanilla, dark fruit, tobacco, leather, bourbon, a smidgeon of smoke...so many depths, so many layers. A feast for the olfactories. 

In the mouth: Mmm, bitter. Mmm, malty. Mmmm, bourbon. Mmm, mm, mmm. This has it all. Caramel malt, toffee, deep, rich, luxurious, decadent. Malt forward, to say the least. So many rich, delicious flavors playing on the palate. Not as big as it could be, but plenty big, enough. I am enjoying this. Wow. Wo-ow.

I am always happy when a beer meets and exceeds expectations. I have faith in Clown Shoes, and this one blew that out of the water. This one delivers. Oh, wow.