Upstream 20 Years Heavy

The Upstream Brewing Company is a brew pub in Omaha,Nebraska with two locations.  I have only been to the one in the Old Market downtown.  They brew a solid line-up of brews with interesting specialty brews.  This beer was brewed to mark their 20th anniversary. They took their Scotch ale and aged it in rye whiskey barrels (I am guessing Templeton Rye as Upstream often ages in their barrels). This is a big 13.3% ABV.

The beer pours a dark brown with burnt orange tints. There is a short head of creamy, light tan foam. The aroma is malty, toasted caramel, oaky, spicy, dark fruit, with vanilla. The taste follows the aromas, sweet, woody, fruity, spicy. The sweetness is balanced by the astringency of the oak. The beer drinks smooth and rich. There is sweetness, but the finish is dry, bitter enchanced by oak astringency, spicy, and warming. This is quite nice.