The Grand Wazoo - Jackie O's Pub & Brewery

FosterJM

California

3.29/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

1690th Review on BA
Bottle to Woodshop Snifter
22oz

Shared at Steve's house

App- Pours out a murky looking purple/brown color with a bit of a wood stain color behind it. More like a cordial as well. The fruits add a nice color. No head but a couple of bubbles behind it. No cling or lace either.

Smell- Lots of the barrel comes out on this one with additional raspberries and some char. A bit one dimensional and not as welcoming as I would've thought for a wild ale. Thick on the nose.

Taste- This was okay. A bit of a let down for me. This seemed more akin to a more malt forward beer and like a brown ale with the fruit added. I would've like a bit more fruit and prickly flavors of the yeast to come out.

Mouth- A bit too thick for me with more of a medium dense body and a pretty creamy medium carbonation. The residual flavors are of oak and berry. Just ok.

Drink- This was a nice beer to try but wouldn't actively search it out for a wild ale trade.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 16:55:00 | More by FosterJM

Arbitrator

California

2.35/5  rDev -37.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Shared by the late chswimmer (RIP). Thanks! From notes.

A: Pours a murky, reddish chestnut body with beige head. No retention or lace.

S: Raspberries, chocolate, smoke/ash/tobacco, bourbon, vanilla, oak. It seems to be going for the Flanders style of the sour spectrum (vinegar), with a distinctly sweet note that has a tart, jammy bent to it.

T: Vinegary sourness with tart raspberries, oak, vanilla, chocolate. Mild roast. The finish has an unpleasant tobacco and ash quality to it (moreso due to the ash). Vinegar manifests itself again in the finish, along with drying raspberry skin.

M: Despite the vinegar presence, the beer doesn't burn quite as much as I would expect. Props for that.

O: This had some promise, I think; I could see Cascade trying to pull off something like this (think Bourbonic Plague). But it was trying to do way too much and wound up being a jumble of disharmonious flavors. The end result is a clashing, schizophrenic beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 03:54:03 | More by Arbitrator

billab914

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by Rhettroactive the other night. 22oz bottle poured into my Great Lakes snifter. It poured a murky, caramel brown color with just a trace amount of a head lingering around the edges of the glass.

The fresh raspberries are immediately noticeable in it. It shows a decent amount of tart, sourness but the sweet raspberries definitely cut right through it. There is a little malty, caramel sweetness peeking through. The raspberries are good, but they do overshadow the tart, sour flavors a little.

The taste shows more of the tart raspberries up front. The finish has a pretty nice sour, dryness to it. The sugary fruits and the tart sourness balance each other pretty well and the raspberries were again very good.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with carbonation being a little above average. Pretty good beer overall. The raspberries were really bright and fresh tasting and the tart, sour finish complimented very well. Pretty enjoyable beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 01:32:40 | More by billab914

womencantsail

California

2.48/5  rDev -34%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours a murky red-brown color with a small off-white head. Heavy on the wood aroma with a lot of sweet, dark fruit and raspberry. A lot of vinegar and definitely some soy sauce to it as well. The salt and soy sauce flavors are unmistakable here. Lots of vinegar and wood, maybe some caramel malt sweetness, a bit of raspberry and other dark fruit. Really just not enjoyable at all.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 18:48:28 | More by womencantsail

oline73

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a sample glass. I had this at Jackie O's during the bottle release this weekend.

Appearance: Pours a murky reddish brown with not much head at all. Not particularly attractive.

Smell: Raspberry with a sweet malt backbone. Mild caramel and some vanilla as well.

Taste: Raspberries with some vinegar sourness and sweet malt. I am picking up the bourbon along with some alcohol in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with mild carbonation and a dry finish. Just a bit grainy.

Overall: This beer is very well balances. The sweet and sour work well. I would have liked more of the caramel and vanilla that I smelled to be in the taste.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 03:32:53 | More by oline73

aasher

Indiana

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours the dirtiest mop waters of browns in color with a slight white lacing around the glass. It smells of sweet, jammy, raspberries and has an Oregon pinot tint. It has a really nice nose. The flavor is very solid as well. You get a lot of jam, a lot. Raspberries galore. The raspberries are very dominant yet give a little light to slight funk. I like it. It drinks medium bodied and finishes kind of quickly. Overall I really like this beer, but this beer doesn't live up to the label and description.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 05:12:52 | More by aasher

decadance

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Brew3crew for this random bottle.

A - A very murky red-brown body. Not much to speak of with regards to a head. Not very appetizing.

S - Lots of muddled fruits and berries. Nothing really to distinguish between the different smells. There is some wood here as well. Nothing however indicates a tart or sourness on the nose.

T - Lots of raspberry here. A bit of oak. The flavor if quite sweet on the beginning, but it finishes a bit medicinal. This is almost a tastier, more tart version of cough syrup.

M - Warms because of the alcohol. A bit syrupy.

O - I can't shake the cough syrup feel. It is so medicinal, and it only increases as it warms. I am privileged to try this, but can't say I would seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 01:53:46 | More by decadance

craytonic

District of Columbia

3.68/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

APpearance: purple-raspberry pour with some reddish edges. Very small head that quickly disappears. A bit murky.

Smell: Lots of sweet berries, mostly raspberries with a touch of blackberry, perhaps some french oak.

Taste: Again, the berry taste dominate, touches of oak and vanilla. Slightly sour. Perhaps a bit sweet

Mouthfeel: Low carbonation, medium-light body

Overall: perhaps a bit sweet, it could certainly be more sour and could use a touch a funk. Its a sour light I suppose, but with an enormous (but not noticeable) ABV.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 02:33:03 | More by craytonic

pmlondrigan

New York

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Deep, deep tawny brown with red highlights. Off white head with just a tad of stick-y-ness. The aroma is just jam packed with jammy raspberries...that is the prominent aroma. There is also a good bit of caramel malt, black cherry, and some barrel presence. Yum, murky deep raspberry fruit and basement, vinous, slightly sour but doesn't crest the tart threshold. Really robust, a tad of toffee and barleywine quality; a nice tasting complex beer. Thick, chewy, not thin, very fruity and slightly astringent and sour on the finish. Overall I'd really like another bottle of this and will probably seek it out; frankly it is just unique.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 05:09:10 | More by pmlondrigan

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a Jackie O's snifter on 7/2/11

Shared by MbpBugeye

Bottled 2011, 158/210

What an ugly beer. Murky, dark plum color. Brown hues. Bubbly head thins quickly to nothing more than a tight collar. No lace.

Dense, dark raspberry. Smells murky, too. Funky, dank oak. Hints of cocoa and dark grains. Stray tellings of booze as it warms; not particularly bourbony though. Smells nice. Has a well-seated raspberry flavor; a bit sweet, a bit tart. Not too biting; not sour, either. Works well with hints of chocolate. Some toasty dark grains. Again, not much in the way of bourbon but some barrel must is had on the finish. Medium-full body that is stringy at times. lower carbonation works out alright. Not overly hot, though it has a numbing effect.

I find it has may similarities with some of the previously releases beers. I also find that this one works the best of the lot.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 00:49:36 | More by Ryan011235

Sean9689

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Thanks to Mike for sharing. Poured into Darkness snifter.

A - Pours dark brown, off-white head, thin collar, whisps.

S - A wonderful big tartness, fruity berries, oak, fruit purée.

T - Tart, fruity sweetness, astringent, overly oaked. This one starts off good but the finish is too much oak and a high amount of astringent notes.

M - Body is light, good carbonation, dry oaky finish.

O - The nose is nice but the oaky astringency is a little to much for me. I'm going to pass on this one, but the attempt was good.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 15:21:11 | More by Sean9689

MasterSki

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle generously shared by Mike (AgentZero). Bottle #107 of 210. Served in a Jester King tulip.

A - Quick-dissolving tan foam settles to a thin ring of bottles, spotty lace, and stray patches of bubbles on the surface. Dark brown body with some reddish highlights.

S - Intense oak, raspberries, solvent alcohol, more oak, light bourbon, some funk, and light acetobacter.

T - Lots of raspberry sweetness, with notes of oaky vanilla, bourbon, lactic acidity, and a slightly medicinal finish. Less overt oak and alcohol here.

M - Medium-full body, lower carbonation, gritty and tannic finish, and some obvious alcohol warmth.

D - It's too tannic, boozy, and medicinal for large quantities, but I enjoyed it for what it was - a bourbon barrel-aged raspberry beer with some mild funk and sourness.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2011 21:06:47 | More by MasterSki

AgentZero

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Brown, cola colored beer with not much of a head, not much left on the side.

S - Smells reminds me a bit of a baby Veritas 009, although not as good. Some harsh oak, raspberry that's fairly rich and not very sweet.

T - A lot of raspberry, almost tastes like there's some raspberry bits floating around in this. This seems to have spent too much time in the barrel, oak is pretty harsh. There is something of a vinous quality to this, and a bit of cocoa.

M - Low carbonation, medium bodied, slightly gritty.

O - Not a great beer, it's raspberry but not sweet, chocolate but not overly sweet, but has way too much oak going on. I liked it a bit mroe at first, but it got rough as I kept going.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 20:44:42 | More by AgentZero

nrbw23

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a very odd looking purpleish brown color with just a few bubbles for a head. There was no lacing at all in my glass. Pretty odd looking brew for sure.

A- Raspberries are every where here. A bit of vanilla, wood and booze. Some very light funkiness, but nothing like I expected.

T- This beer is pretty sweet as opposed to being sour, which surprised me quite a bit. Raspberries led the way here, a bit of vanilla, wood and maybe even a leathery taste. A bit of heat from the alcohol is here.

M- Carbaonation was pretty low and medium in body.

O- For being really sweet I didn't have a hard time drinking this one. I'm not sure if I could handle a whole bottle of this but spliting it would be ideal. Thanks again Seth.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 19:57:24 | More by nrbw23

schwaeh

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bomber shared with inebriatedjoker.

A: Pours a very muddy brown with some hints at an underlying purple. No head. Light carb.

S: Tart raspberries, big vanilla oakiness, and some bourbon hanging around in there.

T: The tartness begins mid-drink but doesn't really peak past that. Along with the smell the raspberry, oak, and bourbon all play major roles. Fairly sweet beer but it gets offset by the bourbon somewhat. The 11.5% is hidden fairly well but does start to wear on you after a glass of this. The more you drink the more the tartness starts showing itself along with a strange aftertaste.

M: Tastes thick and muddy rolling over the tongue. A little less raspberry puree and a little more carb would do wonders for this part.

O: There is a lot of creativity and pleasant flavors in this beer but it has some roughness around the edges. I enjoyed this more on tap when it had 8 months less barrel influence and better carbonation.

On a side note it's my fiancee's favorite due to the fruit and sweetness, so it might be a good choice to share with the lady folk.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 20:30:50 | More by schwaeh

InebriatedJoker

Ohio

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks schwaeh for sharing a this bottle with me - bottle 51/210.

A: Poured a translucent dark brown with little to no head ,thin lacing,little carbonation.

S: Vanilla ,Raspberry,Bourbon,Oak ,Booze.

T: Sour /Tart fruit with vanilla hints, bourbon , prominant raspberry,Oak chips.

O:This beer was my first JackieO's and I found it to be very tart/sour ,loved the fizzy feel it leaves on the tounge as is goes down,it showed decent balance and flavors were well blended,I found it very enjoyable. Thanks again Steve.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 14:31:13 | More by InebriatedJoker

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

reddish brown color with a good head of light tan on top. Nice retention as well with sticky webbing up and down the sides of the glass.

lots of fruit at first, raspberries, touches of sour apple tartness, rich with a mild sweetness that starts to billow up, light woody notes and a hint of grapes now as well hint at a barrel in its past a nice sour bite right out in front, really impressive here. Vinegar and tart cherries,raspberries seamlessly woven in with a nice woody, earthy note. vanilla and light brown sugar underneath as well, Hints of a mild sweetness come through mid palate, again rich, complex. Dry finish, puckering with the last drops of sour well on their way off the palate by the time this voyage ends.


Easy sipper here Flavors are bold, but not overwhelming

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 01:20:47 | More by mikesgroove

Spider889

Ohio

2.88/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

On tap at the One Funky Afternoon release. This was the release I had been most apprehensive about after Brad mentioned the "textural surprises" that might be found.

Arrived in a tulip glass with a short bubbly head. The beer was a brownish/purple color. Factor in the murkiness, akin to tepid silt water, and this was not very appetizing.

The smell is much more promising. Brown sugar and grainy oak with heavy char on it is strong. Sour fruit is also pretty big in the aroma - almost like a framboise.

Some of the reviews mention that this isn't very sour, but I have to say that I found it nearly tongue-curling at times. However, this may not have been 100% attributable to the sour bugs in the beer, but other flavors/adjuncts. To me the flavor was just unpleasant. My notes state that there was too much bacteria running rampant, and that is exactly how it tasted. Super musty and almost sickly. The beer also has a lot of lingering sweetness that contends with the acidity for real estate on your palate.

There's a lot of heavy malting going on. But it is difficult to distinguish their base values. I would guess chocolate and caramel malts primarily. There's a distracting taste of dry little bits that tickle the back of the throat. Not entirely sure if this is the fruit, the bacteria, or just the sour acidity itself. Either way I did not care for it.

The mouthfeel is extremely dry. I mean dry for a sour, and dry for Jackie O's territory. There's a bit of grittiness there, and my notes read that it's like chewing on an old piece of wood. The alcohol is quite high, and coupled with acidic sourness, it feels fairly prominent. So far I seem to not care for high abv sours nearly as much as more moderately attenuated ones.

Overall this beer had promise in theory, and it does stem from the very first Jackie O's experimentation with sours. That said, I felt that after three batches this ought to have shown more balance and restraint. Instead it was an ambitious balls-to-the-wall attempt that didn't quite succeed imo.

Of further note, mbpbugeye's brother opened a bottle of this recently, and I was just as displeased as I was with this on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2011 04:47:13 | More by Spider889

Verecund

North Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

2011 vintage. #58/210. Opened on May 29, 2011.

Pours a murky (and very mud-like) auburn that's more brown than red. Some patchy tan lacing, but no real head, and Grand Wazoo looks surprisingly thin. She's not a pretty one, for what it's worth.

Cordial. Booze-infused raspberry puree, strong cocoa powder, and some cherry pit. A nice blend of sweet [raspberry and chocolate] and a touch of sour. Maybe my favorite part of the beer.

The raspberry and cocoa powder are in full force, but there's also a strong dose of tannic oak, some spice from the barrel-aging, and a touch of bourbon. As the nose suggested, this is very dessert-like, and the chocolate covered raspberry flavor dominates. Somewhat tart, but not altogether sour. Very sweet, though it dries out on the finish. Though it isn't too evident from the flavor profile at first, brett is clearly doing its job here and shows as the beer warms.

Low carbonation. Medium to medium-light bodied, though it's sticky/syrupy.

Decent as a dessert beer and certainly unlike anything I've had (the closest thing is KRE), but only half a success for me qua American wild. The brett comes on too strong as the beer warms and before that point the raspberry sweetness is a bit much and one-note. The nose is really solid and I think with some tinkering this could be a real winner.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 01:48:34 | More by Verecund

treyrab

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle graciously opened by cooljosh last night during a small gathering. I was able to try the 2008 vintage (first vintage made), as well as the 2011 vintage both on tap at the release party. This review is from the bottle.

A: Pours a deep brown with some cherry (raspberry) hues. Kind of thin looking, with not much head. I didn't expect much being @ 11.5ABV. But only a few bubbles appeared and then, quickly disappeared. Some nice carbonation streaming up the glass though. A swirl yields some tan bubbles.

S: Very, very interesting and sublime. Tons of in-your-face Brett blended with sweet ripe raspberry puree and chocolate. Definitely smell sour as well (i.e. Pediococcus), and the cherry pie flavour from the bacteria really battles for the raspberry in the beer. Tons of chocolate, and slight hints of coffee to go with the sour fruit characteristics. Really interesting.

T: Similar to the smell, but not as developed yet. Tons of sour raspberry and sweet chocolate. Reminds me of a chocolate covered raspberry and sour patch kids. Sour, but not overly done. Still some nice porter characteristics in here.

M: Very, very slick. Oily slick. Sticky. Almost as if the raspberry puree was not completely fermented out (or transferred out). Not thick, just oily.

O: A very solid beer by Jackie O's. A nice fruit and porter sour that really gets the best of both worlds.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2011 14:33:39 | More by treyrab

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the One Funky Afternoon Release Party

A-muddy brown with thinner tan colored head.

S-the nose is very raspberry foward, fleshy raspberries, light tartness, hints of dark malt and a decent spicy brett presence in the back with some citrus hops.

T-strong tart fleshy raspberry and muddle brett, citrus and leather with notes of chocolate malt and some dry oak.

M-creamy lush body, medium weight and not heavy, faint driness with assertive crisp finish.

D-the fleshy raspberries are decent and oak plays a good role. lots going on and somewhat unintergrated flavors falling off slighlty in the back. small flaws and decent beer otherwise.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2011 15:14:32 | More by cpetrone84

sisuspeed

New Hampshire

3.7/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Dave for opening this!

Pours a plum-brown (cloudy) with almost no head. Almost no lacing.

Flanders style nose with cherries and raspberry. Lots of sour raspberry. Good, but kind of one-dimensional.

Raspberry, creamy vanilla, chocolate and oak barrel on the tongue. This is a pretty cool flavor profile. Tastes kind of like a soured dessert. Lots of juicy, sour, raspberry. Touch of bourbon lingering in the background.

Mouthfeel is fairly smooth with prickly carbonation. Fruit acidity throughout. The body is a bit thick, which feels odd with the sourness.

Overall, a pretty tasty beer. Very dessert like. An interesting flavor profile, but not executed as well as some of their other beers. Worth trying if you see it, but a bit odd.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 22:24:46 | More by sisuspeed

nhindian

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a Jackie O's snifter. Shared with wdeck9.

A - Tried to pour this carefully to avoid the raspberry puree. It's still deep red and almost purple. Not much head here either, almost a half finger. This one, unlike the Brown Recluse, doesn't have a ring around the edge. Not much lacing here either.

S - This is an intriguing smell to say the least. The raspberries are obviously the dominating smell, with little else to compensate. As it warms, the alcohol really comes through. Regardless, it smells pretty good.

T - At first, the taste of the raspberries is a bit much, really sweet to match the sourness. The raspberry comes through strongly, but doesn't taste artificial at all. I'm not getting much bourbon at all, unfortunately, but it hides the alcohol greatly. Much better than Recluse in my opinion.

M - Mouthfeel is moderately heavy-bodied with good carbonation. Not incredibly sour, but leaves a good feel in the mouth.

D - Drinkability is moderately high, very tasty and not sour enough to kill your mouth. The taste is great and the flavors just pop enough to keep me coming back for more.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 02:45:31 | More by nhindian

Thorpe429

Illinois

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the One Funky Afternoon Release. Served in a tulip.

Pour yields a moderate brown beer with a thin off-white head and a bit of lacing. The nose has plenty of musty, earthy raspberry and oak character, which increases in tartness as it warms up. The flavor has a good amount of raspberry and a bit of malt. Light sourness to accompany the earthy raspberry. A light bit of earthy funk. Finish is nicely acidic and quite dry. A nice, highly drinkable wild ale.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2011 12:39:51 | More by Thorpe429

Tripphop

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A dark mess of a pour, hazy muck looking liquid with minimal carbonation. Smells of tart berries and a slight mellow funk. Chocolate malt kinda lurks under the fruit overtones. Taste is far better than expected. Very rich and full mouthfeel with a tart raspberry and chocolate dominance. The sour is well integrated in this one. Very uniqe beer and one that I look forward to cellaring.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2011 01:03:05 | More by Tripphop