Ploughshare Plague of Locusts Oak-Aged Barleywine Ale 2015

This is a 10.2% ABV barleywine ale that was aged in American and Canadian whiskey barrels. It is named after the 1874 and 1875 locust plague that hit Nebraska. It is from the Ploughshare Brewing Company of Lincoln, Nebraska (now shuttered, sadly).

The beer pours a cloudy dark brown. There is a short and not long-lasting head of light tan. The aroma is big, rich, malty, caramel, toffee, zesty, spicy, citrusy, woody and oaky, some dark fruits, dark cherry, and vanilla. The taste follows the aromas, it is huge, rich, bright, deep, sweet, but with enough oak astringency to keep it under control. There is loads of malt, caramel, dark fruit, oak, wood. The beer drinks very smooth, with a just discernible soft carbonation. My God, this is an excellent barleywine. What a shame this brewery closed!