Scotch Whisky Barrel Poterie (8th Anniversary Ale) by The Bruery is a 14.8% ABV Old Ale aged in Scotch Whisky Barrels.
Label:
This sturdy beer marks our eighth year, and we are grateful for the outpouring of community. Together may our supporters, our brewery and this beer grow in complexity and refinement over the years.
Our eighth anniversary ale, loosely brewed in the English-style Old Ale tradition using our house Belgian yeast strain. This edition was 100% aged in oak barrels that previously held Scotch Whisky, imparting a subtle smoky complexity. Poterie (Pottery) will age gracefully for decades when cellared properly.
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Poterie is French for “pottery”, the traditional eight-year anniversary gift. Our eighth anniversary ale, Poterie, follows in the footsteps of our anniversary releases before it, which are loosely based on an English-style old ale and fermented with our house yeast strain. This edition was 100% aged in oak barrels that previously held Scotch, imparting a subtle smoky complexity to complement the robust flavors of toffee, caramel, dark fruit, vanilla and oak. Poterie will age gracefully for decades when cellared properly.
==Introduction==
An Anniversary beer this early in the year? What? And a variant no less. Poterie was originally released in January to Hoarders society members. Since they had some extras, it looks like they let Reserve society members have a crack at it. So since that was the case, I was able to bring it to the site. With limited releases of this variant, it would most likely need to be traded unless you buy it from an online site. Why this was released before the regular anniversary, I am not sure. However, it is what it is and I can’t wait to try this new spirit variant. Cheers!
Aromas:
Bananas, Clove spice, raspberry Chambord, maple syrup, graham crackers, brown sugar, Cadbury chocolate cream eggs, Dulce de leche caramel, raspberry Chambord, dark fruit raisins, plums, blueberries, smoked peat, piloncillo sugar cone, flan, marshmallows, fruit cake, pecan pie and sweet condensed milk.
Flavors:
Cadbury chocolate cream eggs, super rich dark fruit raisins, plums, blueberries, smoked peat, toasted coconut, bourbon, scotch whisky, rum notes, oak, chocolate truffle ice cream, Belgian candi sugars, burnt sugar, rich butterscotch, waffle cone, raspberry Chambord, maple syrup, graham crackers, brown sugars, bananas, plantains, molasses, chocolate mousee, capirotada raisin bread pudding, rye bread, port wine, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate cherry cordials, mocha hints, pecan pie, fruit cake, flan, marshmallows, toasted coconut, piloncillo sugar cone, burnt cane sugar, clove spice, nutmeg, hazelnut nectar, blueberry cheesecake and cookie dough ice cream.
Aftertaste:
Finishes with straight up darkfruits, caramels, smoked peat, blueberries, raspberries, vanilla, Scotch whisky hints, bourbon, fruit cake, marshmallow, coconut, and nutty aftertaste. Some alcohol in the aftertaste but not detracting from the rich flavors. Dark crimson brown medium to full body, silky, smooth and creamy mouthfeel and sipping drinkability.
Overall:
Supreme of Supremes!! I don’t know what it is about this brew that I like so much. The solera method they used over the years has seems to have created more complex flavors. It’s that or the fact that this is Scotch Whisky Barrel aged. Which I would assume it can only be the bourbon. I won’t know until I compare this to the regular bourbon anniversary one that comes out nearing May 2016. Either way, I am glad they decided to release this to Reserve Society members so I could bring it to the site and give you some information on it. Definitely highly recommended.
Anime Corner:
Samus Aran from Nintendo’s Metroid series was used in this review as I wanted to pair with the colors of the label. The blues and oranges seem to stand out very well. Also, since I have done a trend on these using characters in body suits, I figured it was perfect. The Poterie aspect in the name works well too as in one of the artworks, her armor is like the color of pottery so her being inside the suit is like the beer being inside a ceramic vase. Definitely creative that is for sure. The complexity and flavors just mimic her character as well as she is both strong and her story is very deep.
Sources:
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