Barrel-Aged Project Brew No. 5 - Sherry - Brouwerij Hof Ten Dormaal

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.05/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Unibroue tulip glass. Pours a hazy pumpkin orange with a big three finger light tan head with great retention and lots of lacing. Sweet aroma of bready and caramel malt, stone fruit, faint dark dried fruit and a hint of sherry. Flavor follows, with thick, almost syrupy stone fruit, a bit of dried fruit and grape juice, bready malt. Finishes with caramel, sherry and a hit of oak barrel. Very nice creaminess and body. As with the others in the series, a pleasant Belgian strong base with light to moderate influence from the barrel, just enough to add a bit of character. I like the base beer and have enjoyed all the barrelled ones so far. Alcohol is so well hidden that I had to pace myself.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 04:09:21 | More by LiquidAmber

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 ml caged and corked bottle. Served in a chalice, the beer pours an orange/amber color with about an inch and a half off-white head that stays around for a while. There's also a good amount of lacing. Aroma is very sweet, it smells like sherry, dark fruit, honey, bready malt and some hay. It tastes like honey, white grapes, plums, orange peel, bready malt, peppery spice and some sherry. The sherry is much stronger in the aroma compared to how it tastes. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit creamy and is well carbonated (maybe a little too much). I think it's a solid brew, but it's pricey at $16.99 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 22:58:24 | More by bluejacket74

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.03/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750mL bottle split 6 ways.

A: Clear copper with fluffy off creme head.

N: Tomato past is back again. I swear, this might be psychosomatic at this point. Leather. Pepper. Biscuit. Honey.

T: Plenty of earth, leather, some blackberry. Biscuit, honey.

M: Medium heavy. Alcohol is better on this one.

O: Decent. Really these are all lacking, but this one's come closest to having the best barrel character.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 19:32:31 | More by writerLJBerg

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a goblet. 2012 vintage, one of 3744 bottles.

3.5 A: Moderately hazed dark orange color. Two fingers of frothy beige head. Retention is about what you'd expect from a beer this big and a short ring of lacing is left.

4.0 S: While #3 was super peppery, it isn't quite as noticeable in this one though still quite apparent. The fruit profile is also a good bit different. Lots more figs, dates, and even some plum in this and lesser amounts of peach and apple. Mild hay and grassy funk. The sherry lends caramel, prune, toffee, and a vinous grapiness. While the base and the barrel are well balanced, this has more barrel character than #3. Overall, more fruity, less funky, and a bit sweeter.

4.0 T: The potent pepper returns in the taste. Lots of peppery spiciness with clove undertones and an accompanying moderate yeastiness. Again this is more fruity than #3 with figs, dates, plum leading the way and red apple underneath. Mild outdoorzy funk including forest after a rain and apple orchard. Sherry again lends caramel, vinous fruity grape, and hints of toffee. Nice balance with the barrel coming through cleanly without a tannic influence. Booze was never an issue in the nose or the taste and the only indication that this is 12% is a light warming finish.

3.5 M: Light to lighter medium body. Like #3, this has a bit too much carbonation and probably even more than #3. It's a light, spritzy carbonation, but there is just too much of it. Mild creaminess. Good enough.

3.5 D: I like this almost as much as #3, but the mouthfeel is a bit distracting. It tastes a little bit different, but is about the same quality overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 23:33:25 | More by DavoleBomb