What Our Panel Thought
Aroma: “Vanilla, stewed apple, a bit musty, wet oak barrel, and a touch of smoke. Evident roast character with molasses and vanilla. The underlying beer is full of dark chocolate, dark fruit, plum, and raisin.”
Flavor: “Lots of syrupy dark chocolate, spicy alcohol, and vanilla with a hint of coffee. Dark fruit is akin to a chocolate- covered cherry. Those notes yield to a nice plum and grape flavor with some almond and licorice in the middle.”
Overall: “A rich and exquisite beer that toes the line between barleywine and strong porter, with notes reminiscent of barleywines aged in third-use barrels (after stouts). Darker malt character and dark-fruit esters with bourbon and vanilla flavors that linger into the aftertaste. Powerfully engaging.”
What the Brewers Say
“Anabasis is our barleywine that was brewed with American malts and hops, but fermented with a strong English ale strain to provide rich toffees, fruity hops, with a strong leathery caramel backbone. Bourbon, vanilla, and gentle oxidation showcase the 24 months of bourbon-barrel aging.”
