On the face of it, this could be a beer that is right up my alley, but there’s quite a bit riding on the influence of the chardonnay barrel here. I do like that influence if the final result is grape must, vinous character, and clean edges, but not so much if it gets too oaky. It can go either way, let’s hope this favors my preference.

Pour is nice, with a lovely clarity on a mid-golden body. Head is high, but slips away quickly with only a little lace a light film and collar. Retention is OK considering the ABV.

Nose has some really nice clean, white wine lines, and a nice clean alcohol edge too.

Initial tastes are fruity, and at the very beginning of the beer as the oak kicks in. That’s not a great sign for me, but as the beer drinks the alcohol and fruit build more and push that oak element backwards. I’m glad it does. I mean the oak is there, but it seems to get constantly tempered.

It’s dry in the finish, but relatively sweet and fruity leading up to that. I think it’s the alcohol that’s creating the drying element, and it fits nicely with the other elements of the beer.

This comes together rather neatly and nicely. High ABV, but it never shouts. Everything is well integrated and balanced. A lovely beer, reminiscent of the best of Boulevard, and not too much oak despite the positioning of the beer.