Year of New Beer: Madison County, West 6th Brewing (Lexington)

Written By: Dion on 01/12/2019

One week stands between us beer nerds and the Big Beers 2019 event at West 6th. Biggest of all will be this beast, a 15% Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Barleywine. The latest in the county series opens with a nose of caramel, raisins, and plenty of alcohol. As the temperature rises, brown sugar, hints of oak, and cured tobacco all begin to develop. The tongue is greeted first by a warm alcohol that dissolves into sweeter notes of caramel and cooked apples. Dessert bread malts and toasted crust add depth to the mid-palate. Earthy hops and a spiced citrus lend a building bitterness that dries out slightly, with a persistent, but not at all unpleasant, alcohol burn. This is a really nice beer to share as is, and I believe it will only improve with a little time in the cellar. I love that West 6th continues to push the envelope with a variety of styles. Even better when they're always good! Extremely limited bottle run on this one, so getting to the corner of 6th and Jefferson early next Saturday will be a must!