Oaked IPA (Round Barn Brewing, Baroda, MI)

Round Barn's Oaked IPA is a golden IPA with straw gold highlights and a thin white head on top. In the bottle, the oak is more concentrated than the draft sample I had at the tasting room. Here, it feels a bit out of balance, and very strong on the wood. If you like oak--this is your beer. Very light malt and some floral notes in the nose--woodiness covers both a bit. Strong bite on the front of the tongue, and the same oak fighting with it a bit. Dry finish. I liked the beer a lot more on draft, mostly because the oak played its normal supporting role.  

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 08-04-2011 17:37:33
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Cocao Stout (Round Barn Brewery, Baroda, MI)

Dark, nearly opaque, chocolate brown beer with a sizable tan head on top. Very clean cocoa, dark chocolate with light roast and floral notes in the nose. Light coffee underneath, but very little. Lactose added to the brew (according to website) makes for a very smooth mouthfeel, sweet and somewhat luscious in spite of a rather thin body otherwise. Cream and malt early, and the roast and coffee hit harder in the end. Nice, well done stout, especially for someone who's learning the style and wants something more accessible. Good stout, if a bit thin is all.

Oaked IPA (Round Barn Brewery, Baroda, MI)

Golden IPA with straw highlights and a thin white head on top. In the bottle, the oak is more concentrated than the draft sample I had at the tasting room. Here, it feels a bit out of balance, and very strong on the wood. If you like oak, this is your beer. Very light malt and some floral notes in the nose; woodiness covers both a bit. Strong bite on the front of the tongue, and the same oak fighting with it a bit. Dry finish. I liked the beer a lot more on draft, mostly because the oak played a more normal supporting role.

Kolsch Style Beer (Round Barn Brewery, Baroda, MI)

Burnished copper color surrounded with gold on the edges. White head disappeared quickly. Light spicy and apples notes in the nose on top of a solid bready malt and light corn. Lightly floral and pleasant. Mouthfeel is satisfying and fills the mouth with a clean malt and subtle hop spice. Definitely not a watery thin Kolsch that often happens in pubs that do the style. Light but not wimpy, and enjoyable. Not a fan of Kosch as a style, but perfectly happy that I have a few bottles of this one.

Bottle bought from Union Pier tasting room.

Amber Ale (Round Barn Brewery, Baroda, MI)

Here's an example of how a change in location can make a difference. Tried the draft sample of this beer at the tasting room just off I-94 and liked it a lot, including a clean and clear hop presence in the nose. In the bottle, the dark red and brownish highlighted beer has a flat nose: a bit of malt and a light spice, and wet cardboard??? Sour taste with malt and some of the hop and, seemingly, not very fresh. Got this from the tasting room, so hard to believe that it wouldn't be up to date. Maybe a bad bottle, and since I've got two more, I'll revise the review if it changes.