Amaro Barrel-Aged Barleywine by pFriem Family Brewers was evaluated as a BJCP Category 33B Specialty Wood-Aged Beer with the BJCP Category 22C American Barleywine as the base style. A specialty wood beer should exhibit a complementary marriage of flavors coming from the barrel (and the previous contents of the barrel) along with the base style. This offering meets that description quite well, with solid complementary impact from both the base brew as well as from the barrel used in the aging. 

Here’s a different spin on barrel aging! pFriem has been experimenting with different barrel types for aging a number of their recent brews, instead of just the tried-and-true bourbon barrel, and this one, Amaro Barrel-Aged Barleywine, really pushes the envelope in a new and delicious way.

Raisin, plum, prune, caramel and a slightly sour citrus character comes through quite well in the aroma, along with a base malty backbone. There is a lot going on, with the citrus and herbal character that comes through being assumed to have arisen from the Amaro barrel. There is just a touch of wood in the background as well. Overall very inviting!  The beer is an amber-brown color with ruby highlights, has great clarity and a substantial, off-white, small-bubbled head with good retention. 

There is a solid malty backbone with raisin and plum character that follows through from the aroma. A complex herbal character is present behind the malt, which adds an interesting dimension to the overall taste and flavor. The hop bitterness seems quite high, but this might be augmented by some of the Amaro character. An aged malty sweetness intensifies in the middle, but it does not become cloying due to the apparently high bittering levels. The finish retains all of the flavor complexity through the duration before the next delicious sip. The overall flavor profile is quite smooth throughout the drink. The body is medium-full, and the carbonation is moderate. 

Amaro Barrel-Aged Barleywine as an amazing full-flavored treat that is another great option for cellaring, though, again, it is delicious as-is. A definite sipper for after dinner or as a winter warmer.