Big Bourbon Series 3 Sum Double IPA - Shoreline Brewery And Restaurant

Spica66

Indiana

4.7/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml, 2007 Vintage. Consumed in April, 2010. This beer is available only directly from the brewery and very few bottles are left as of this date. It sells (sold) for $20 for the 750ml Champagne bottle.

Commercial Description:
This Imperial IPA, full bodied and balanced with a huge amount of hops is then aged for a year in the barrel that contained 15 year old Elijia Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. On sale for limited time in 750ml bottles at the brewery and sealed with an green wax.

Also available in the bourbon barrel-aged (1 year in the barrel) series are (were):

Dicombobulation barleywine
Smokestack porter
Big Bella heavy scotch ale (gone)
Curse-the-Goat doppelbock (gone)
Lost Sailor stout (gone)

A: This is a very smooth pour. Still an amazing amount of carbonation left. Beautiful amber color. Wonderful legs and lacing.

S: Wow! Complex aromas of caramel malt, hops and booziness.

T: This is unlike any other DIPA I have had. Very complex intertwining of bourbon, hops, medium maltiness. You can just tell that this is no "normal" beer. The time spent in the barrel has led to a melding of the extreme hoppyness of a DIPA with the smooth, rich taste of the malt. Did I saw WOW before? Well, now I really mean it! What a great beer.

M: Incredibly smooth. There is a slight alcohol afterburn that vies with the hops for your attention. Very nice feel.

D: Incredibly smooth. This is not a sipper. I could not believe how fast Jason and I drank that whole bottle.

I do not know if Shoreline will do this again, but if they do, my cellar will be as full of this one as money will allow!

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2010 14:24:45 | More by Spica66

enelson

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

04-24-2013 23:31:18 | More by enelson

t0rin0

California

3/5  rDev -27.9%

03-29-2013 02:22:35 | More by t0rin0

yeahnatenelson

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

2008 Vintage.

Big thanks to Jay for sharing - what a fun surprise!

Appearance -- Pours a dark amber hue with a slim sudsy parchment head. Love the color.

Smell -- Caramel, soft bourbon sweetness, and faint citrusy hops. Not the things you look for in a fresh IIPA, but for one that is three years old, this is incredible.

Taste -- The hops are still kicking with citrus zest and a shadow of resinous hop bitterness. The malting is nicely developed with rich caramel malt and a dab of drupe-like fruit sweetness. The barrel adds bourbon and oaky vanillin. Very nice.

Mouthfeel -- Medium-light in body with moderate carbonation. The lighter carbonation works well for this beer, though a little more body would have been appreciated.

Overall -- This beer is definitely an exception to the rule. Is this the IIPA you will reach for to scratch that hop itch? Certainly not, but this is such a unique and well-executed expression of the style that I feel this should be tried by anyone who is passionate about the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 23:47:19 | More by yeahnatenelson

srandycarter

California

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark apricot, murky, near white head with fair retention. Lots of cling.

S - Reminds me of a Tawny or aged Port. Sweet, sugary mixed with raisins and wood.

T - Much like smell but to a lesser degree. Boozy, sweet, with wood and vanilla ending it. Oxidized raisin flavor mixes well.

M - Big flavors, medium body, good carbonation, finishes a little too woody and bitter for me.

D - Not something I would want all night, but fun!

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 04:38:34 | More by srandycarter

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

thrilled to be able to actually try this beer. i really chalk this one up on the list of things i never thought i would be able to try for sure! served chilled and poured into my white birch glass, this one was consumed on 10/09/2010.

The pour was less then stellar and honestly was not winning any points here. a rather still and lifeless dark amber color that had no head and no lacing.

but the aroma more then made up for it as a rich and healthy dose of vanilla an sweet oak notes came through the air with a tremendous force. really a stellar example of a style here. stunning vanilla notes continue onto the flavor with is about as good as i could have asked for. rich vanilla and oak underscore a muted hop presence and a subtle, yet strong toffee flavor. a touch thinner then i would have wanted if i had my choice, but still absolutely stellar flavor and overall profile.

a superb, really superb barrel aged beer and something that just set me off right. glad i had the chance to try this one!

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 14:56:49 | More by mikesgroove

glid02

Georgia

4.22/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by Grant - thanks!

Pours a muddy copper color with a half-finger cream-colored head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving thick lacing.

Smells of bourbon and vanilla, both in large amounts. Hiding underneath those two are good amounts of sticky caramel malt and hints of leafy hops.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Smooth caramel malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by large amounts of vanilla. Midway through the sip a slight bitterness kicks in as do mild amounts of leafy and pine hops. Before a mildly bitter ending a good amount of boozy bourbon flavors work their way into things and stick around on the palate.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I finished my glass quickly and could easily have a few more.

Overall this was definitely more of a barleywine than a DIPA by the time it reached my mouth. Huge bourbon flavors so if that's your thing this one's up your alley.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2010 02:19:04 | More by glid02