Year of New Beer: Imperial Red Ale Aged in Sherry Casks w/ Blackberries, Country Boy Brewing (Lex)

Written By: Dion on 02/04/2016

Bottle #2 of the CBB 4th Anniversary Celebration opens up with a tart nose that features, of course, blackberries. The aroma is augmented by suggestions of cherry, sour grapes, and plum. With warmth comes the cask influence as a nutty, oaken char is intertwined with wisps of smoke. Straightforward on the tongue, the blackberries provide a slightly sharp, fruity bite initially, toned down by a deepening caramel malt and burnt sugar. The woody influence is not lost in the flavor, as a toasted oak and vanilla play in the background. Very nice. Much like its companion bottle, this is uncharted territory for Country Boy releases, and I for one love the experimentation. One or two of these will definitely go into the cellar. This bottle goes on sale in the taproom this Sunday at noon. Congratulations guys on 4 outstanding years! The future looks bright!