Hallerbos Belgian Strong Ale Aged with Amburana Chips

Hallerbos Belgian Strong Ale Aged with Amburana Chips by Ghost Hawk Brewing Co. is a Wood-Aged Belgian Dark Strong Ale and is being evaluated as a Wood-Aged Beer (category 33A in the 2021 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Wood-aged beers should have a harmonious balance between the wood and the base style. Belgian Dark Strong Ales (category 26D in the 2021 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines) are deceptively strong dark beers that have a harmony of rich malt, fruity esters and peppery phenolics. Hallerbos was aged on Amburana wood chips and measures in at 9.0% ABV.

Hallerbos pours amber in color with brown hues. The beer has good clarity and a huge off-white head. The aroma is moderate wood and yeast-derived spices reminiscent of gingerbread with toasty malt and light spicy phenolics. The flavor displays similar gingerbread flavors and adds in notes of graham crackers along with a light toasted malt and hints of spicy phenolics. The beer finishes moderately bitter with lingering flavors of gingerbread and graham crackers.

Hallerbos is a very interesting beer. The Amburana wood adds a very interesting baking spice character to the beer. The base style could have a more complex malt and yeast profile, though. The flavor profile of this beer is interesting enough to seek out.