Cr/ak - Mansueto 2023 Barrel Aged Barley Wine 375ml Bottles

CRAK Brewery, based near Padua in northeastern Italy, has earned a reputation as one of the country’s most innovative and boundary-pushing craft brewers. Founded in 2015 by a group of passionate beer enthusiasts, the brewery’s name—CRAK, meaning “to break”—symbolizes its mission to shatter conventions and create beers that redefine Italian brewing on the global stage. With a strong emphasis on creativity, barrel aging, and bold experimentation, CRAK has quickly risen to international acclaim, winning fans across Europe and beyond.

The Mansueto 2023 Barrel Aged Barley Wine is a perfect example of this philosophy. Brewed in limited quantities and presented in elegant 375 ml bottles, it is a rich and contemplative beer designed for slow enjoyment. The base is a robust English-style Barley Wine, deep amber in color, with a full-bodied malt backbone. To elevate its complexity, the beer has been matured in a careful selection of rum, whisky, and port barrels, with subtle contributions from wine casks. This layering of barrels imparts extraordinary depth, weaving together flavors of caramelized sugar, dried fruits, oak, vanilla, and warming alcohol.

On the palate, Mansueto 2023 unfolds with notes of toffee, raisins, and dates, supported by gentle spice and a rounded sweetness that balances its strength. The barrel aging contributes both smoothness and sophistication, leaving a long, warming finish that lingers like a fine spirit. At 13% ABV, it is a beer meant for sipping—equally at home as a dessert pairing, a fireside nightcap, or the centerpiece of a special occasion.

Mansueto reflects CRAK Brewery’s commitment to craftsmanship, patience, and pushing boundaries. It is not simply a beer but a statement: a celebration of tradition enriched by innovation, made for drinkers who appreciate depth, rarity, and the artistry of barrel aging.