Madhouse Barleywine 2013 (Cedar Ridge Bourbon Barrel Aged)

The Madhouse Brewing Company is in Newton, Iowa, although they are building a new location in Des Moines. This beer is their 9.5% ABV barleywine that is then aged in Cedar Ridge bourbon barrels from Swisher, Iowa. 

The beer pours very dark brown, ruby and garnet. There is about an inch of very light brown foam. The aroma is sweet, dark and dried fruits, tangy, lots of vanilla, caramel, molasses, oak, spices, and bourbon. The taste hits the notes from the aromas, and hits in three waves. The first is dark fruits and dried fruits, a bit of tobacco. Next is a wave of sweet tastes (without being overly sweet) like brown sugar, caramel and molasses. Finally, there is the bourbon wave, with vanilla, oak and bourbon. It is very warming without being boozy. It is fairly full-bodied, definitely a sipper. The finish has a woody dry astringency. The aftertaste is a mellow blending of all the original flavors, with the bourbon building as it warms. This is nice.