The second beer in the Bières de bois Series—a collaborative barrel-aging project between Avant-Garde and Matera—NARANJ is an orange stout aged for four months in a new oak foeder made with wood from the Vosges forest.
The nose is woody and slightly vanilla with scents of orange. Lightly roasted and chocolatey aromas gently complete the bouquet.
The color is deep black with slightly brownish tints.
My eyes and my nose already announce a delight. Chocolate-raspberry or chocolate-orange combinations are timeless classics!
From the first sip, I notice that the multiple flavors of the beer are subtly balanced! The orange appears especially in the finish and leaves us with both a slight acidity and a sweeter side (orange zest coated in chocolate). The taste of chocolate is indeed present, between the bitterness of dark chocolate and the velvety character of milk chocolate. We also have a perception of roasted cereals and coffee which enhances the tasting experience, always with finesse.
This stout was aged for four months in a foeder and it is possible to perceive delicate woody notes. As for the texture, it is creamy and very airy and suits this beer perfectly.
Somewhere between a digestif and dessert, it is perfectly suited for this time of year. How good and so light! Wow!