Time for more BA's!
So I came back from another visit to my favorite place to drink in Rotterdam, the Fenix Food Factory, and of course I could not come back empty handed. So I decided to check out the store and grab a few bottles to write some reviews. Then I came across a whole selection of new Barrel Aged beers from de Molen, and so I had to do the honorable thing and grab another 4 of them. Welcome to the first of four reviews of these amazing beers!
The New Batch:
So for my new selection I have chosen the following bad boys (from right to left):
- Sally & Swain
- Bommen & Granaten (Bombs & Granades)
- Triple Gold BA
- Verdeel & Heers (Divide & Conquer)
Today I will review the first of the four: Sally & Swain
The Stats:
Sally & Swain is a mixed grain Imperial Stout with 12% abv and aged in Bowmore Whisky barrels. The recipe uses Barley, Wheat and Oatmeal, as well as Apollo (15-21 Alpha) and Zeus (13-17% Alpha) Hops. Great beer on paper, time to try it!
The Review:
- Color and Aroma:
The beer is an intense black with caramel brown foam which forms a decent head for a beer this potent. The aroma is of caramel and cherry notes embodied by the dominating peat from the Bowmore barrel.
For Color and Aroma I give it a score of 8/10 - Flavor and Body:
Smoky with dark chocolate roast and good malt presence. Surprisingly low amount of the Bowmore in the flavour, in contrast to the very intense presence in the aroma. The body is medium for an Imperial Stout, could be a little heavier for more impact, and the carbonation is light as one would expect. Low alcoholic presence despite the high abv content, which always scores high marks with me.
For Flavor and Body I give it a score of 7/10 - Finish:
The aftertaste is dry and smooth but doesn't linger too long, with the smoky roasted aromas dissipating last. Once again no high presence of alcoholic taste. Very nice.
For the Finish I give it a score of 8/10
OVERALL SCORE: 7.7 - Highly Recommended!
Hope you have enjoyed this review and that you have an opportunity to try this great beer.
Cheers, and see you next time!