Each year, I taste test the current FW Anniversary blend and then taste the blend from five years ago. This time around it is 27 vs 22.
This years anniversary beer, aka XXVIII or 27 was created by the team of Molly Lonborg from Alta Colina, Kevin Sass from Halter Ranch Beer Club Member Ezekial Palmer. Below are strands used in the blend:
DDBA Batch 10k – Aged in Wheated Bourbon Barrels (33%) – Imperial Special Bitter
Dividing Time – Aged in Wheated and Rye Bourbon Barrels (29%) – Munich Wine Made in Collaboration with Private Press
Bravo – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (13%) – Imperial Brown Ale
Rip This Joint – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (13%) – Imperial Stout Made in Collaboration with Side Project
Velvet Merkin – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (12%) – Milk Stout
XXII is made up of the following componemts: 44% Stickee Monkee, 22% Parabola, 22% Bravo, 7% Rum Barrel Helldorado, 5% Gin Barrel Helldorado.
Now onto the reviews…
22 – even though the rum and gin barrels are only 12% of the total, I am getting a bit of both. There is chocolate and a kick of spice here that I like the interplay between. Has a definite Belgian quad taste, sorry Central Coast Quad.
27 – seems kind of one note to me overall. It is a really good chocolate brownie. in beer form. Thick and muddy in a good way. Not much barrel notes to be found which I was sorta expecting considering the beers in the blend.
Even five years on, the 22 wins. If there has been more bourbon in 27, I might have given it the nod though.
