1001 Beers

Beer No: 28/1001
Page No: 66
Category: Amber

When I found this bottle over at Total Wine, it had a little tag affixed to the neck of the bottle describing the black wattle seed and how it was used in the brewing process.  I figured it was a gimmick to get people to buy the beer since it has a different type of seed roasted and then mashed in.  And while it is pretty gimmicky, it does seem to add to the beer - an almost chocolate-like finish to each sip of the beer - though you can usually get chocolate flavors by roasting just about any malt.

So in the end, I was pretty mixed on this particular beer.  I found it somewhat tasty at times, but at others, the alcohol just seemed to be a bit too much and linger in the aftertaste.  I understand why it's in the book - as I do think you should give this a shot some time in your beer drinking career - but in the end, I'd pass on this one.  I'm certainly not going to go back to find a six-pack when there are much better alternatives all around on the various shelves.

My review, cross-posted at RateBeer.com:

Barons Black Wattle Superior Wattle Seed Ale from Barons Brewing Company

Aroma: 6/10
Appearance: 3/5
Taste: 7/10
Palate: 3/5
Overall: 9/20

Rating: 2.8 / 5.0

Had from bottle from Total Wine and More. Pours a deep brownish-red with no head and slight lacing. Aromas of malt, sugar, and alcohol. Flavors seem a bit off - more malts, fruits, nuts, and sugar. As the beer warmed, oddly enough, I thought it got better. It seemed to really bring out the roasted flavors with a subtle finish with hints of chocolate and lingering alcohol. However, when all was said and done, the wattle seed seemed to be more of a gimmick than an acceptable flavor to put in beer.