Sweetwater IPA Aged In Woodford Reserve Barrels - SweetWater Brewing Company

glid02

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the brewery during International IPA Day.

Pours a hazy golden-copper color with a slightly off-white head that leaves decent lacing.

Smells of light malts with huge amounts of vanilla, oak, and spicy bourbon. Also lurking in the background are bright citrus hops and hints of breadiness.

Tastes very similar to how it smells, although the barrel influence isn’t quite as pervasive. Smooth pale malts up front are joined quickly by vanilla and oak. Hints of citrus hop creep in midway through before fading out into a mildly bitter ending. Mouthfeel is good, with solid carbonation.

Overall this was probably the best balanced of the three barrel-aged versions I had (JD and Jim Beam being the other two). Certainly worth a shot if you see it around.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2011 02:54:58 | More by glid02