Fraoch Vintage Cask Collaberation No. 22 - Williams Brothers Brewing Company

oberon

North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle number#2599 of 12,000."Heather Ale matuered in single malt whisky,ex sherry casks from the Auchentoshan Distlillery" per bottle label.Poured into my Isle of Arran tumbler a somewhat dull lighter amber shade with an impressinve thick white head that settled very slowly.Aromas are nutty with alot of vanilla tinged whiskey,the complexity of the cask brings out some smokey peat that lingers.Whiskey is predominant on the palate with its smoke and vanilla tones,the peat really lingers for awhile,there is some caramel and raisin as well underneath.This is a sipping gem,yeah the whiskey is the flavor that stands out most over the actual ale but it's pretty damn good.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 21:41:39 | More by oberon

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

This poured out as a nice clear golden color with a white head on top. The lacing and retention is minimal. The smell of the beer is big with whiskey notes, really nice amount of floral notes and sweetness as well. The taste of the beer has a dominant whiskey flavor followed up with the heather. Really nice tasting beer. Could drink a lot of this one. The mouthfeel is smooth yet nicely carbonated. Overall this was really good. Definitely worth trying if you can find it cheap enough.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 00:56:54 | More by Knapp85

hoptualBrew

Florida

4.71/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

750ml bottle split three ways.

Deep golden honey appearance, crystal clear, thin white head. Good legs, no lacing.

Aroma is all oak, floral spice, booze, noted of underlying sweet toffee and bready grain.

Palate starts off sweet and smooth. Huge toffee and floral spice mid palate, followed by a berry character and finishes with oak, alcohol heat, slight peat smoke. Taste lingers for minutes and a drying mouthfeel.

This is the most unique beer I have ever had & quite a pleasant surprise! Freaking awesome stuff.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 18:15:05 | More by hoptualBrew

smakawhat

Maryland

4.75/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from the bottle into a Dogfish Head Ale glass. Bottle 4389 of 12,000.

Real crystal clear brassy and deep red bronze color, this looks like Birra Etrusca from Dogfish Head but darker. Makes a finger somewhat creamy tan head but it disappears rather normally, but always leaves a 2mm collar on the glass. Nice rising carbonation mixture of some fast and slow, but not a lot. Very nice looking.

Real impressive nose. Honey sweetness comes out with floral and earthy perfume like tones. Lots of toasty whiskey oak, and lots of butter. Smokey. Grass component brings the earth like scotch peat mixing with a nice herbal character. Real mouthwatering. Return view as it warms up are even more magnifying, with hints of cob smoked bacon. Stellar stuff.

Palate hits with a wonderful mix of flavors. Light bodied scotch whiskey, smokey with hints of honey and floral components. Great herbal mixture of citrus orange warmth like a nice herbal tea. Hints of marmalade. Super light palate with just enough carbonation to make it playful. Lots of meaty smoked bacon comes out, with lots of toasty oak. Clean finish and with a hint of wet depth and not too drying, but with woody character.

I can't get enough of this, and I am not even a Scotch fan, this stuff is just killer and wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 21:12:10 | More by smakawhat