Elusive: Mince Pie Barley Wine (England: Barley Wine: 8.5% ABV)
Visual: Very dark brown with caramel edges. Thin off white dash of a head after an initial bubbling.
Nose: Vinous – thick red wine notes. Suet. Cloves. Warm mine pies. Carrot and coriander. Brandy soaked raisins. Sultanas. Black pepper.
Body: Bitter red wine. Turmeric. Black pepper. Suet. Dry raisins.
Finish: Black pepper. Ovaltine. Bitter red wine. Tannins. Sultanas. Dry mince pie notes. Coriander.
Conclusion: It’s interesting trying a barrel aged version of beer first, then working back to the original. Seeing what the aging added by seeing what is no longer there, and seeing what it covered up – what was lost by the barrel aging either smoothing out or overpowering. Turns out without the barrel aging this was such a vinous bitter red wine influenced thing – it is kind of a rough note but suits perfectly the mince pie style that is the beer’s main course.
This, basically knows the assignment when it comes to being mince pie influenced. Was always a big part of the barrel aged version, but is even more obvious here. Though, without the barrel aging it does feel like someone licked all the sugar off the mince pie first, resulting in a more bitter and more dry beer take. Maybe less authentic, but actually works better as a beer than the barrel aged version.
It is more led by the savoury and spicy notes because of the lack of barrel aging and … despite spicy beers often not being my thing, I kind of prefer it this way. It is a heavy boozy yet bitter, spicy mince pie parley wine. Not as immediately rewarding but more enjoyable over the longer term.
At the original price I would probably have had one and figured that was fine. A great use of the idea but not a must have, however at the current price I can grab it for three pound a can, yes please!
Background: I had the barrel aged version of this a while back, it was fine. Not one I felt the need to return to often though. However, to clear some space, recently Independent Spirit has been selling the standard version I am doing notes on here for 3 pounds a can. Which got my attention, so I thought, sod it, lets do notes on the unaged version as well. So, yeah a mince pie themed barley wine, exactly what it says on the tin. To achieve that they add orange, lemon and what the can describes as “mixed spices”. Fine, keep your secrets can , I will not pry. Anyway, as seems to be becoming my habit with xmas beers, this was drunk nowhere near xmas. Though I notice Christmas cards are already in the supermarkets, which is an abomination and a crime against sanity. Yes I have strong opinions on this. Music wise went with Laura Jane Grace: Hole In my Head, had just got it so put it on to try it out. So very something old, something new experience between the music and the beer here.