Prairie Artisan Ales Wine Barrel Noir

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

Followed up the original Noir with this offering. Very similar, but the wine barrel adds a different take. More fruity and oaky, even a touch softer. Still a touch too light bodied for an imperial, some more roasted and or chocolate malts could be beneficial as well. Still nothing wrong with this very nice offering.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Sampled from bottle and on tap at Choc. Pours opaque black-brown with a thin tab head. Good legs. Dark fruit, cocoa and vanilla (from oak) aroma. Full-bodied and smooth. If you can imagine a dark chocolate expresso-bean/prune flavor, this is it. Nice.

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

Pours black with scattered, reddish-brown head. Aroma is strong of wine and dark chocolate, a suitable combination. I wish I could be more poetic here, but the flavor is that of a good imperial stout aged in red wine barrels. Really no surprises from the style and description. I have never had a beer aged in wine barrels yet this played out exactly as I imagined. I chose to sample mine at near room temperature. I think this is the way to go; would not want an icy cold imperial stout nor would any right-minded person chill their red vino. Interesting and enjoyable overall. I don't love wine (its fine) so this won't be my all time favorite Prairie.