Barrel Aged Trippel (Pappy Van Winkle Barrel) - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

jethrodium

California

3.63/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Bistro Barrel Aged Beer Fest. This was the one that spent 25 months in Pappy Van Winkle barrels. Pours a hazy amber with a small white head that disappears quickly and leaves some light lacing on the glass. The aroma is definitely barrel dominated. Big vanilla, some bourbon, oak, underneath is a bit of apricot, and some yeast as well as a bit of alcohol. The initial taste is sweet with some oak, vanilla, and bourbon. Then a bit of apricot and yeastiness come through. The finish is clean and crisp. Medium body. Low carbonation. This wasn't bad, but I just felt like the bourbon barrel didn't meld well with the tripel characteristics.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2011 02:37:58 | More by jethrodium

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.3/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful orange and yellow glow from this beer, looked like a phenomenal ipa, but no. Aroma was decadent, perfect PVW aroma melded with Sierra Nevada. Good stuff and feel good they were able to get a hold of a PVW barrel.

Nice meld of both bourbon and belgian yeast in this one, both not overpowering each other, even though both are quite pungent and strong on their own. Some neat tropical aspects to it, coconut is very mild, orange blossom as well. Minimal amount of toffee and vanilla come out in the mouthfeel as well, even a slight hop twinge, but no bitterness. Doesn't weigh heavy despite the ABV.

I'm always impressed with Sierra Nevada, and they've done it again. Sadly, I doubt there is going to be much of this stuff around, I mean really, how many Pappy Van Winkle barrels are out there still these days?

Drank

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2011 00:43:53 | More by Beerandraiderfan