spirits ethereal and liquid

The collabs are worldwide in the world of craft beer!  It makes sense, there are a lot of creative minds but not everybody has the right environment for actually producing their creation.  This is Old Timer Dastardly Oak, brewed and canned at Sahale for Timer's Beverage Center.  A photo of Timer's shows a Spanish flag among the national designations, but it might be for wine and cava rather than craft beer.  A shame for craft enthusiasts of Wisconsin, but we aren't getting much of their beers over here either.  Just means more incentive to travel, I guess.

The photo doesn't do the can justice; it's quite the deathly image

It has the sweetish appley aroma of many barleywines, and the stained kind of brown color.  There's also a touch of wood wafting out, like a fresh coffin perhaps.  It feels like a syrupy apple juice, although not quite as sweet at first, but a hit of pancake topping jumps out at the end.  Although it seems pretty light at first, the sweetness adds some weight and also a little friction to the drink.  The apple never quite goes away even if it fades in the flavor.  It's a strange contrast of the thin and zippy beer itself and the heavy layers of taste.  One of the easier barleywines I've had, I'd say, less grabby and more concerned with blended tastes than hammering with alcohol.  A good evening drink, to relax after a stressful day, or even a day of doing nothing to not disturb a vaccine taking hold.

the feels

I was gifted a small variety of Sahale beers, so we get another one today.  All you black beer lovers would be well advised to visit if you can, the stout varieties have always been impressive.  We actually had this one over Christmas, a kind of preview, and were impressed with its presence and grace.  The description is complicated - double bourbon maple syrup barrel-aged Imperial stout - but it is itself simply delightful.  I give you Maple Warm Fuzzies.

It has the rich woody bourbony smell that most barrel aged stouts possess, as well as the sleek near-black color.  Not a whole lot of head, but I'm not especially picky about that.  The maple really comes out in the flavor, giving the beer a heavy breakfast leaning, makes you suddenly crave pancakes.  Unlike some barrel aged or pastry stouts, it doesn't feel syrupy at all, despite the maple taste.  It's a rather clean drinking beer, smooth and low on aftertaste.  After the initial shock of the maple sweetness you start to notice the wood of the barrel coming out, but it's a complementary flavor more than a distraction.  In a previous tasting I thought it ended up tasting like an ice cream topping, and I don't think that's far off this time either.  

Yeah, if I had any more I'd keep them for myself

 

back to normal

Just finished Beermas, with practically no time to rest!  Fortunately, I was gifted some interesting brews to start the new year with, not exactly exclusive, but hard to come by where I am.  We start off with an amber ale, Sahale Ale Works' 1896.

Visually, there's some similarity to my normal evening Voll Damm, with an orangey light brown color, although perhaps with a slightly darker beige to the head.  It also has a similar aroma, deep and toasty, but not smoky or with the slightest hint of burning.  It feels like there's a little fruit, some fall apple, just trying to claw it's way out, but that might just be on my head.  Flavorwise, I also feel like it belongs with Voll Damm, having a little more sweet than bitter, and a little more fullness to it than a typical blond ale.  It's one of those that isn't actually heavy, but you definitely feel like you're consuming something.  It's no watery vapor that goes down your throat without you even noticing.  That said, it's not hard at all to drink.  It develops a certain complexity as time goes on, bringing out some sour notes as well.  It tickles the back of the tongue a little and gives you a champagne kind of rub, but doesn't overwhelm or overstay its welcome.