Rob Price
Gutbrain Records
rob + gutbrain.com = email

2010 September 29 • Wednesday

The year isn't over yet but The Bruery's 100% Barrel Aged Coton is likely to be the best packaged beer of 2010.

It comes in a canvas sack with drawstrings and a print of the label. The bottle is sealed with wax.

It tastes as good as it looks.

It has an ABV of 17% but the alcohol flavor is hidden behind strong tastes of vanilla and molasses and other flavors the beer picked up from being aged in wood barrels that once held bourbon. It's not too sweet either.

Bottles of the 100% barrel-aged Coton were available only, I believe, to members of The Bruery's reserve society. The regular Coton is around, though. It's 14.5% ABV and only some portion of it (25%?) was aged in bourbon barrels.