Year of New Beer: Balius, Ethereal Brewing (Lexington)

Written By: Dion on 05/17/2016

Unable to join in on today's fun in Lex for Craft Beer Week, I opted for a pretty nice consolation prize, the first bottle offering from the guys down on the Pepper Campus. This barrel aged old ale with Brettanomyces presents a juxtaposition of styles that delivers a unique drinking experience. A definite Brett funk is present on the nose, bolstered by light caramel, raisin, and a damp, earthy oak. On the tongue, the beer is dominated at first by the Brett, slightly sharp and spicy. With warmth, however, this opens up really nicely as some traditional old ale traits begin to assert themselves. Plums, dates, and toffee join a drying, slightly musty element, along with a building, but not overpowering alcohol heat. Drinks well from the start, but even better the warmer it gets.