Arcadia Barrel Aged Cereal Killer

Name:                 ArcadiaBarrel Aged Cereal Killer

Style:                   English Barleywine

Twist:                  Aged in bourbon barrels for about two years (22 months)
Strength:             12%, 70 IBU

I have had the regular Cereal Killer, both 2010 and 2009 vintages.  Those are 70IBU and 10% alcohol.  Served in an Old Guardian goblet, poured from a 12oz wax-sealed bottle.

After briefly struggling with the wax (which resulted in some silent bubbling/gurgling when I finally opened it), out comes a rather flat brown beer.  Not more than a few bubbles, but I didn’t expect any.  It’s a barleywine, and nearly two years old.  The color is less red than the standard, more brown.  Consistency looks juicy.

The regular Cereal Killer, when aged, has extremely strong notes of leathery raisins.  It is actually one of the most raisinated barleywines I can think of, not much in the way of caramel or toffee.  Increasing in strength by 20% from the barrel---from 10% alcohol to 12% alcohol---it shouldn’t be surprising that bourbon is now at the forefront.  The aroma is very much in the burnt sugar vein of bourbon, especially smelled out of the bottle.  Raisins are still lurking underneath, along with something that reminds me of cola.  Cherry cola to be exact.

Raisins become noticeable when I finally start tasting it.  It is a similar leathery dark raisin profile as the base beer, with less oxidation.  Bourbon flavors are chiefly burnt brown sugar, spice (alcohol heat), and tannic; that last bit is unfortunate, but not in any way a fatal distraction.  As I get towards the bottom of the bottle, there is some toffee that comes out.  Just a hint, not nearly enough.  And there is that suggestion of cherry cola again, which is odd and a bit unpleasant.  The finish is mostly sticky cherry and alcohol warmth.

Mouthfeel gets fuller as it warms up.  Not overly thick, but the lack of carbonation means this beer is a bit too eager to coat the mouth.

Apart from some booze on the finish (which is not overpowering, it just doesn’t mesh well with the cherry cola), the bourbon here does not completely decimate the base beer like I feared it would.  Burnt sugar and wood tannins mix fairly well with the base beer’s raisin-centered flavor profile.  As usual, I look for vanilla/coconut flavors and as usual I am disappointed when there aren’t any.  Overall, a very serviceable barrel-aged barleywine that may or may not improve with age, but right now not special enough to warrant an $8 per-bottle price tag.  The equivalent of about $16 for a large format bottle, and I can get other cheaper non-barreled barleywines that I like better.