What Our Panel Thought
Aroma: “Barrel is up front along with some harsh alcohol. Underlying milk chocolate and sticky toffee, raisins, coffee, dates, vanilla, caramel, and toast. There’s a fun wheat sweetness, that is almost grassy and smoky.”
Flavor: “Quite sweet with more caramel and toffee malt character coming through in the flavor. The wood shines through on the finish with some tannins. Alcohol is present at the middle and back giving it a very warming effect with a hint of pineapple.”
Overall: “A whiskey-forward wheat wine. Good whiskey oak characteristics supporting the somewhat boozy wheat base. There’s a touch of smoky character that enhances the barrel character throughout.”
What the Brewers Say
“When a bourbon ages in a barrel, a portion of the bourbon evaporates—this is called the ‘Angel’s share.’ Another portion of the bourbon gets absorbed into the new oak barrel—this is called the ‘Devil’s cut.’ Therefore, the Heart of Gold beer aging in the barrel starts to absorb back some of the Devil’s Cut and hence the name ‘Devil’s Heart of Gold.’”
