Barrel-Aged Twelfth Night by Urban South Brewery is being judged according to the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines, Category 33B - Specialty Wood-Aged Beer.

Rich caramel and toffee malt emerges from beneath the large, coarse-bubbled frothy beige head. Dark malt-derived fruits of dates, figs and plums complement the malt, and a lightly floral alcohol note finishes the initial aromatics. The beer is a rich mahogany color, and mostly clear. A spicy, floral alcohol quickly coats my tongue while rich and complex caramel and toffee malt deliver a full-bodied brew.

The head dissipates after a couple of minutes to a patchy film on top. Another aroma evaluation leads to some orange fruity esters, though faint and secondary to the other dominant aromas. This beer is malt-dominant, though faint hop bitterness alongside the warming alcohol keeps the residual sugars at bay, though the beer does finish fairly sweet. Light carbonation invites you to sip this fine beverage. The barrel character is only noted late on the tongue as the alcohol dries the beer and leaves faint tannins and wood notes.

This rich beer should be enjoyed with desert, either as a standalone post-dinner contemplative beverage or perhaps with a warm, bourbon-sauced bread pudding.