Bourbon Barrel Warmer
Upland Brewing Company

Bourbon Barrel WarmerBourbon Barrel Warmer
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From:
Upland Brewing Company
 
Indiana, United States
Style:
English Barleywine
ABV:
9%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 11.54%
Reviews:
41
Ratings:
129
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 24, 2016
Added:
May 02, 2010
Wants:
  25
Gots:
  14
Aged for 6-8 months in bourbon/whiskey barrels

2009: Pappy Van Winkle barrels
2010: Buffalo Trace barrels
2011: Wild Turkey barrels
2013: Willet barrels
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DrewskiWhit:
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Rated by DrewskiWhit from Indiana

4/5  rDev +2.6%

Jan 19, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by dsauter from Indiana

Nov 24, 2016
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Reviewed by brewskis from Indiana

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled in December of 2013. Have had this for a long while after buying it at a discounted price of $3.99 for a bomber.

Pours a cloudy dark brown amber color. Lots of sediment. Finger and a half of a tan head.

Aroma is actually outstanding. Burnt carmel (creme brûlée), toffee, molasses, raisin bread, plum, vanilla, oak, smooth bourbon.

Taste follows the aroma closely. The raisin bread, toffee, and carmel pops up front. This then blends into a rich vanilla and smooth bourbon from the Willet bourbon barrels. The finish is more rich vanilla, burnt carmel, oak, and smooth bourbon. Outstandingly decadent.

Medium body. Nicely carbonated, creamy, oily, and sticky.

This was a big surprise, as I didn't expect much given the discounted price a while back. This was a very well done BA English Barleywine. The barrel presence, even after 2 1/2 years, was still very present and melded well with the base. I wouldn't be surprised if this is what Upland now calls their Barrel Chested Barleywine, as it is eerily similar.
May 15, 2016
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Reviewed by Tsar_Riga from Minnesota

3.99/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - A beautiful beer, with fine dark brown-red body. Slightly hazy but still mostly clear. Light tan head, huge lacing.

S - Vanilla, toffee, burnt sugar, molasses, wood, and booze.

T - Open with caramel, middle explodes with wood and wine notes, vanilla and a slight bitterness parries the sweetness.

M - Spiky in the opening. Sticky. Recedes quickly in the close.

O - Decent barleywine. Bright sweetness, slightly muddy close.
Sep 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by GMorgan from Illinois

Aug 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.22 by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

Apr 11, 2015
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Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts

4.24/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A - Poured into a Kate the the Great tulip a clear honey hue with a thin head that fades quickly to leave sticky lacing. Thin wisps.

S - Aromas of caramel, vanilla, bourbon, light malt sweetness.

T - Taste is similar to the nose, caramel, vanilla, oak, no booze. Smooth, caramel sauce, nice bourbon notes.

M - Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, not slick or boozy.

O - Overall this beer was really tasty, smooth. Super surprised

Serving type: bottle
Apr 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by nathanmiller from New York

Mar 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4.14 by TheWiredDJ from Ohio

Mar 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.15 by hilgart1 from Illinois

Feb 15, 2015
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Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Thanks to jmgrub for sharing this one at Oneinchaway's tasting.

Bottled 12/2014.

Pours a hazy orange-brown with a foamy beige head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, caramel toffee, vanilla, and bourbon aromas. Taste is much the same with caramel, toffee, bourbon, and wood flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of toast bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and sticky mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with lots of sticky sugar and bourbon characteristics all around.

Serving type: bottle.
Feb 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by GRG1313 from California

Feb 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by smanson56 from New Hampshire

Jan 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by NorthCoastPranqster from Georgia

Dec 05, 2014
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Reviewed by alpinebryant from Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%
2010 bottle poured into a tulip glass ,

A: Clear chestnut brown with minimal head, slight tiny hiss when opening. nearly perfectly clear. Time in the bottle has let this one settle out.

S: Aroma of sweet cherry, caramelized sugars, plum, subdued barrel and barely present bourbon, I would hesitate to know how much time passed prior to the barrel being used again, or however long it was, the bourbon is very faint.

T: This beer starts like a nice english barleywine, very faintly hopped with a very low alpha hop, abundances of caramel, vanillin, some stale carboard / oak barrel flavors in the background. This was apparently the Buffalo Trace barrel year, which is a whiskey i have not had, and makes me curious to know where the flavor notes are in the whiskey itself.

M: Relatively flat and seems basically appropriate for an english barleywine, but just a little too flat for my liking. Based on reviews from years following this batch, it seems like they may have taken care of that item as it seems the 2013s are drawing a full finger of head. Maybe worth reviewing again, but then again.... I have a lot of barleywine in the cellar and I dont know when I will be trading again for more from out of state in IN.

O: Overall, there are some good characteristics here. I have been sitting on this bottle for a few years in my cellar and it is a good barleywine, but not overly impressed with some of the flaws that are going on here. Slightly stale, slight cardboard hints, not much bourbon flavors. Other than that, it seems like the body is on par, color is nice and I would have to assume has improved with more recent batches.
Oct 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by jeremiahoden from Indiana

Oct 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by zestar from California

Sep 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Ohiovania from Ohio

Aug 29, 2014
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Reviewed by rlee1390 from Indiana

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A-Deep brown almost in glass, a clear amber when pouring.

S-Mild bourbon, good deal of coffee and caramel. Earthy notes as well.

T-Starts with caramel and toffee, some bourbon, tad bit of oak. Dark fruits (cherries and plums) as well.

M-Medium bodied, tad velvety with nice carbonation.

O-A decent BA Barleywine, and even more importantly a cheap one.
Aug 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by smartassboiler from Illinois

Jul 09, 2014
Bourbon Barrel Warmer from Upland Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 129 ratings