Naparbier ‘Aesthetics’ WBA Weizenbock

Rating:

“Whisky Barrel aged Weizenbock is the second beer comming out of our barrel program. Full of banana, caramel, oak, clove and vanilla notes. You may not think about it but autumn is almost here and this is the perfect beer for it!”

Glassware: 500ml Stein

Appearance: Kind of a burnished copper pour with a short head which rapidly disappears. Not a skerrick of head is left so lacing isn’t a thing.

Aroma: Totally dominated by decadent caramel, toffee and sweet doughy malts. There’s a fairly strong yeasty presence too – clove, pear/apple, subtle banana bread. Something a little off-putting though…we want to say apple cider vinegar but we think it may be the whisky barrels clashing with the yeast profile. Pretty bloody average to be honest.

Flavour: Fortunately there’s a bit more harmony here. Still not 100% right though. The whisky and the yeast are a bit better isolated but they just don’t work together. The apple cider vinegar quality it creates isn’t pleasant. Good thing is the sweet caramels, toffee and doughy malt save it from being a total disaster.

Mouthfeel: Sticky and gelatinous. Medium body, spritzy Co2. 9.1% ABV is reasonably well behaved.

Overall: Not the best way to kick off proceedings with this Spanish brewery. Poorly thought through and average execution. Would have been better off without the barrel ageing. No likey.