Zmrok: Starka

Another “Zmrok” – another oak-chip-aged goodness. This time we decided to add vanilla oak wood chips, but first we soaked those chips in starka – traditional Belarusian rye spirit drink, aged in oak barrels. This allowed to maximize the smell of vanilla extracted from the wood, while not overdoing it with other tones. The beer in the glass changes its profile over time: first, the roasted and coffee smell of dark malt comes up front, and when the beer heats up – vanilla and chocolate, tones of dark fruits and nuts start to dominate. The aftertaste is a light hop bitterness and that fluffy and warm feel you get from a beer with ABV that high.