A beer for wine drinkers

 I make no secret of the fact that I enjoy both beer and wine, and possibly in equal measure (although perhaps writings on this site suggest a preference for the latter).  But what I'm pretty certain about is that what really intrigues me about both is the sheer variety in taste, styles, and traditions that constantly lead me to along new avenues to explore.  Imagine then my fascination at the weekend when I discovered a beer that tasted like wine!  The beer in question was Tracing Time by Duration Brewery.  

Duration is a modern farmhouse brewery in West Norfolk about 12 miles from King's Lynn.  I have had a couple of their beers before - Bet the Farm 4.5% described as a farmhouse-ale, and Another Day Done a juicy American pale with bags of tropical fruit.  But Tracing Time is in a different league.  It's a barrel-aged Belgian Strong Dark Ale at an ambitious 8.6% abv.  Or, as the label states, a 'Foeder Aged Stout'.  I recognised the word 'foeder' (which is pronounced 'food-er') as being related to the French word 'foudre', a very large wooden barrel for maturing and storing wine.  Key to the character of the Tracing Time then is that it has been aged in a heavily charred oak foeder for 16 months.  The brewer's own description reads as follows:

"Like a big Flanders Red with darker malt.  Notes of liquorice, apricot, and toasted oak.  Opening on the nose with char and liquorice.  First taste brings a silky mouthfeel followed by a tartness lifted with the char.   Flavours of stone fruits to finish dry and slightly tart with a mild alcohol warmth."

To my mind it was vinous on the nose, had a certain stone fruit tartness in the mouth, had a long aftertaste, and lingered long in the memory.  It's no surprise then to read that Flanders red ales are often described as the most wine-like of all beers. But perhaps the best description was from the barman who recommended it: "It's Malbec in a beer glass!"

The only other beer I've tasted this year with a similar profile was a limited-release raspberry and cherry sour aged in a Pedro Ximénez sherry barrel.  This was Cyclopedean Creek 10.1% abv from Wander Beyond Brewing which I judged at the time to have similarities to a decent Cabernet Sauvignon   

Now I've discovered a taste for this distinctive style of barrel-aged beers I would welcome some recommendations.  Feel free to offer a suggestion or two in the Comments below.