8.5

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

One of several highly acclaimed variants on Baladin’s classic ‘macro-oxidized’, undercarbonated barleywine with the unpronounceable name – this time aged on Islay (peated) whisky barrels. Comes from a 50 cl bottle from 2015 (according to the label) with cork and wax, packed in a fancy wooden case with informative leaflet inside – I guess this elaborate packing helps to justify the price tag… Shared with my girlfriend on a snowy and icy winter night, which seemed the perfect occasion for this kind of beer. Some loose, large, yellowish-ochre bubbles form during pouring, but these vanish in instants, rendering this beer effectively ‘headless’ (as intended); very deep and warm bronze-brown robe with copper-red glow. Intense nose, blending peat with sweetness: smoked peat or indeed Islay whisky, pipe tobacco, lots of vanilla-scenting oak wood, old tawny port, ‘boerenjongens’, candied cherry, walnut liqueur, bonfire, caramel sauce, leather, clove, shoe polish, ‘sirop de Liège’, almond and – warming up – barbecue sausages or even faint smoked bacon. Very sweet onset, candied cherry, pear syrup, liquor-steeped raisins, brown sugary stickiness even, no carbonation; full, vinous mouthfeel, the sugars adding ‘fullness’ and stickiness to a caramelly and brown-bready malt core showing excessive, but in this case highly elegant maderisation, as intended, resulting in a strong association with fortified wines (old port, madera or marsala). The oak wood counters this a bit, but provides its typical vanilla-ish scent more than drying tannins; balance primarily comes from the smoky peated aspect, which strongly returns retronasally, even shifting from the old peat to a whiff of smoked bacon (as in Rauchmalz) eventually. Hop bitterness remains low, while this whisky booziness provides lots of welcoming warmth, a feeling highly enhanced by the smoky aspect – this is indeed the ideal beer to be enjoyed on a winter night next to the fireplace. Old port, candied fruit and brown sugar sweetness remains the dominant factor till the very end, though, imparting drinkability a bit, but then a beer intended to be sipped slowly does not necessarily need a high degree of drinkability, perhaps. In any case a wonderful combo of meaty and spicy smokiness with strong, liqueurish sweetness – a lovely marriage of flavours indeed (reinforcing my idea that smokiness is better combined with sweetness than with e.g. sourness). Wonderful brew, in all, even after six years of ageing (or perhaps due to the ageing)… Salute, Teo Musso!

8.5

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9

Clear light brown colour with no head or carbonation. Aroma and flavour have elements of dark chocolate and sherry. Later the richness and sweetness of port and all the way through a pleasant background, peaty note.

8.3

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8.5 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

Dark brown with no head. Aroma of big peat upfront, peaty scotch, oak, butterscotch, caramel and toffee. Notes of overripe dark fruit and sweet dried fruits coming later. Flavour is heavy sweet. Full bodied with alcohol warmth in the finish and very soft carbonation.

6.4

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Bottle shared with the ,L Tasting Crew. Poured a clear light brown colour with little life. The aroma is big smoky bacon, light alcohol. The flavour is moderate sweet, with a super smooth, rich, oily, sugary, sweet red berry fruit palate. Full bodied with soft carbonation.

7.5

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

at Rona’s Beer venue, 2013 versie Ruikt wat old ale achtig, caramel, wat turf, vanille, dunne alcoholische textuur, enorme suikerbom met wat turf, too sugary

7

Ruikt wat old ale achtig, caramel, wat turf, vanille, dunne alcoholische textuur, enorme suikerbom met wat turf, too sugary

8

These beers are still tricky for me. I find them mostly oversweet and boozy. As a beer, not my thing, but as a replacement for dessert wine.. yes! Peat is there, but very light, mellow taste, very smooth.