Drake's Apple Brandy Barrel Olde Ale

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Pours a murky brown with tan head. It looks dirty. It has a huge aroma of an old oak tree going through a wood chipper. Hidden behind the pile of wood chips is a mild fruitiness made up of dates, prunes and figs followed by a hint of alcohol. Smells yummy. The taste is full in flavor. I get a dryness to start with a mild tart tannin note followed by a smooth mixture of dates, prunes and figs. Behind the initial flavor the woodiness begins to flourish. It ends somewhat as it started. I get mild fruitiness and muted wood into the after taste as well as a faint dryness.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

sampled on 11/20/09. 6oz bottle with mitch. barrel aged series #3. pours a hazy medium brown color. thin film of a head. aroma is big oakiness, apples, brandy, malty. taste is caramel, malty, a little sweet, light apple peeking thru. body is medium. woo! thanks for sharing this mitch!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Sampled on 11/20/2009. This old ale pours a slightly hazy brown color from a 6oz bottle. Little to no head present. The aroma is wood, brandy, apples and malt. A medium bodied old ale. The malts are caramel, fruity and slightly sweet. The hops are herbal. The apple flavors are in the background with a nice malt backbone. Nice balance of wood, brandy, oak and malt. I seem to remember that these were not carbonated when they were bottled. Nice beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Suprised to see after having this at least 5-6 times that I haven’t rated it. Opened my 2nd to last nippper last night and it’s in fine form still.

The aroma is clearly sweet smelling, with an obvious apple angle to it. Wood, wet paper, caramel, brandy...but very sweet smelling. Flavor is suprsingly minerally/tart-like. Caramel, toffee, a bit of wood and apples but nothing is really overpowering. Sublime might be a nice word because it’s so easy to sip and enjoy and just let the day go bye. Not the greatest from Drakes by far, but very tasty.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

For a special edition beer, this really did not have a lot going on. It pours a murky brown color with very little head or carbonation. The nose had quite a bit of apple in it. The mouthfeel was dry and the flavor was fairly neutral.