Délicieux, un petit goût d'avant goût de Noël. Du grand art.

Mahtavasti makeita makuja, suklaata, toffeeta piparkakkua ja vaikka mitä, ei yhtään paskempi veto tämä

Bourbon Barrel Aged Gingerbread sounds intriguing. This is 2019 vintage. Brewed by Moody Tongue Brewing Company in Chicago. My first encounter with this brewery. The beer pours opaque, matte black. The carbonation is rather timid and releases a velvety, cappuccino-colored head that barely reaches half a finger's height. Soon the layer dissolves to the sides and forms a pretty lace ring. Relatively hefty Bourbon portrays surprisingly soft nuances. Christmassy gingerbread, a small dollop of maple syrup and a caramelly hint further cushion the kick in the butts. I can also depict remote vanilla in the shadows. Bourbon is colossal 🤎🥃🤎 It's arrogant and unapologetic, yet simultaneously caresses the tastebuds gently. Soaked oak barrel can't be missed either. Gingerbread becomes somewhat subdued in the middle of this Bourbon triumph but is, however, detectable. Maple syrup dilutes to the alcoholic superpunch. Vanilla is really delicate in the background. I'm trying to imagine if the vanilla originates from the maltbase or the Bourbon barrels, and my conclusion points to the latter. Moreover, a whisper of dark chocolate wishes to be counted as one of the elements. The body is medium-full, perhaps even slightly less. The beer ends with copious fruity Bourbon, lots of oakwood, a transient hint of vanilla and rapidly declining maple syrup. The finish is, if possible, even more intense than the actual taste and also a tad raw. The aftertaste is mesmerized by live fire and sinks deep in memories for a short time. The mouthfeel is somewhat full, intense, generously barrel aged and a tad oaky but still astonishingly soft. It's boldly alcoholic and, hence, warming all the way down. Not sure if this benefited from aging as this is actually not sharp, neither raw, just strongly alcoholic. It doesn't disturb me though. Slow sipper for sure, no need to rush. Just wishing it would be -20°C outdoors, this would be a lovely soul melter for a crisp wintry evening.