Sémillon Barrel Aged Alani by Reformation Brewery is being evaluated as Wild Specialty Beer (2015 BJCP Category 28C). The beer features Niagara grapes, Lactobacillus, and barrel aging in a Sémillon barrel.
It pours hazy with a peach color with hues of pink. A small, ivory head forms but doesn’t linger. The grape forward nose is reminiscent of a chardonnay grape with restrained lactic acid and oak. Light grainy malt is also present without additional complexity that esters or hops could bring.
The flavor is a pleasant, moderate amalgamation of grapes, vanilla, and lower levels of soft oak. Clean fermentation, no malt, no hops, and low bitterness allow the barrel and grapes to shine. Semi-dry finish with a lingering lactic tange provide a thirst-quenching experience.
Sémillon Barrel Aged Alani is a solid offering that has a solid amount of character at only 5.9 % ABV. Its smooth flavor with barrel-forward and grape flavors would appease both the beer as well as the wine drinker.