Scotch Style Ale Aged In Oak Bourbon Barrels - Sprecher Brewing Company

LittleBreeze

New York

3.93/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Tasting 3/29/08

I was looking forward to trying this one and I was not disappointed. It is a slow night sipper. Lots of malt, caramel and vanilla on the nose and taste. This beer is rather rich and bold with a bit of smoke.

Good beer experience. DMeadows, thanks for sharing this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2008 05:27:01 | More by LittleBreeze

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%

03-13-2013 06:27:53 | More by Zachtheporter

Lukas

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%

03-10-2013 17:10:07 | More by Lukas

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev +6.1%

02-20-2013 01:37:50 | More by t0rin0

atone315

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

01-17-2013 13:13:09 | More by atone315

beerbrains

Nebraska

3/5  rDev -20.4%

10-30-2012 04:21:30 | More by beerbrains

Dactrius

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

09-19-2012 02:32:41 | More by Dactrius

Vierenner

Ohio

2.53/5  rDev -32.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I think this is also called "Commando" ... that's what I drank and there are some web references indicating they are the same.

Head only forms with an agressive pour and goes away quickly. I don't like when the head behaves like a cold diet cola.

Over the top sweet ... and I like sweet beer. I don't know what else to say other than disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 00:17:01 | More by Vierenner

Will_Turner

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

06-07-2012 02:23:15 | More by Will_Turner

imperialking

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

03-15-2012 19:25:57 | More by imperialking

djaeon

California

1/5  rDev -73.5%

01-22-2012 23:04:26 | More by djaeon

tbeq00

California

5/5  rDev +32.6%

12-12-2011 18:30:35 | More by tbeq00

brandoman63

Illinois

4/5  rDev +6.1%

11-20-2011 03:48:50 | More by brandoman63

Mscarpen

Tennessee

3.43/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I am a huge fan of the Sprecher bourbon barrel beers, but this one seems to have turned on me. It was only a year old and has been held in dark, temperature controlled conditions. Anyway, this one help up OK for m a flavor standpoint but seemed to sour on the nose.

Dark amber with two fingers of head and tons of lacing. Smell was sweet bourbon and sour, with the taste comprising of butterscotch, booze, sweet dark liquor and candy. Mouthfeel was thin and lightly carbonated.

Overall, not the beer I fell in love with years ago but fairly good.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 21:52:57 | More by Mscarpen

deathcharms

California

1.98/5  rDev -47.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 1.5

Poured at a tasting for me last night. The bottle was about 3 years old.

Oh wow, this beer was a doozy. The smell at first whiff was that of a portapotty. Yuck. I then conceded that it smelled like mushrooms and dirt. For the record, I hate mushrooms. First sip could not taste the beer without getting the mushroom smell mixed in. Second sip I held my nose so that I taste it without the mushroom smell, and it was just very bland imo. And there was also no hint of any bourbon taste

I feel partially the reason that it was "skunked" or "mushroomed" was the flip top on it not being that secure of a top.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2011 02:41:38 | More by deathcharms

rye726

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 1 liter swing top bottle. Served at room temperature in a pint glass. Pours a hazy brown with a thin tan head. Nose has smokey malts, dried cherries, caramel and toffee. Decent malt profile. The barrel aging is really faint. Body is a bit thin, but a nice Scotch Ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2011 04:30:50 | More by rye726

claspada

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Aromas of sweet caramel malts and a strong but not overpowering woodiness. Some lighter toffee and herbal notes are also present. Sweetness is definitely the main aroma.

The taste is musty initially with some solid sweetness presenting itself off the bat. Some odd burnt sugar and sweet toffee still persist against my taste buds. An underlying smokiness which lingers and lingers and lingers not matter the temperature.

This beer is definitely not the most balanced offering I have had in the Scottish Wee Heavy group but it's not horrible. Also not the best offering I have had from this Brewery (the oak Aged Doppelbock was exponentially better) but this this still a dent beer. It may have taken 2 years of aging to get to this point but hey it's all I can judge on... As this warms all the alcohol bite actually drops out which is interesting. Still really really woody and if you don't like oak beers you should move on, but I appreciate and enjoy this beverage even though it took me 3 hours to finish the 750ml.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2010 00:21:23 | More by claspada

dstc

Florida

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, very deep ruby brown color with a small, airy tan head. Head falls to a very small one with thin, full lace.

Nose is big on booze. Smokey oak and fruits backed by a sweet smell but mostly alcohol.

Nice sweet malt taste with deep dark dried fruit flavor. Plenty of oak with hints of vanilla and plenty of bourbon. Very warming.

Full bodied mouthfeel with a big alcohol bite.

Not bad. Little too much on the bourbon but interesting nonetheless. Nice buzz.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2010 12:17:46 | More by dstc

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Gordon's Highland thistle goblet.

Finally, an excuse to use my thistle goblet! This guy pours a slightly dark garnet brown with only a bit of off-white foam on top. It's possible there's a haze, but it could just be the color. Quite a bit of bourbon and oak flow from the surface, overpowering all else. A tiny hint of spruce pricks through, but only here or there. The taste tells a slightly different tale: Though the oak and bourbon are still abundant, notes of dry raisins, warm figs, juniper, and sweet syrupy spruce tips have carved out their own collective enclave, Republika Srpska-style. It all comes together in a brewer's Dayton-esque federation, though the barrel-inspired group has a slightly disproportionate share in the government. Things are peaceful somehow. The mood is somewhat heavy (though I suppose "a wee-bit heavy" is more appropriate here), with a moderate amount of popular gaseous uprisings. Not all that strange, everything seems to have an oaky feel about it in the end. As pleasant as things may appear, visiting remains something of a risk, a luxury only to be enjoyed in moderation.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2010 02:31:14 | More by TMoney2591

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap over the weekend. Served in my pint glass the beer is a crismon rust color with slightly darker edges. The light tan head rests about two fingers high and looks rather creamy and inviting.

The arom is a mix of sweet dark fruit like plums and rasins. Along with caramel and a heavy bourbon oak barrel presence. It smells like a winner.

The flavor is very balanced. A nice sweetness comes on at first but is mellowed out by malt and bourbon. It has that nice buttery carmel tone that seems to define the style. None of the flavors seem to over power eachother. They meld together rather nicely. The little lady even commented on how smooth it was. She's not a huge fan of bourbon so that's a huge compliment.

Medium to full body with very light carbonation.

Overall a real nice beer and an easy sipper. We both managed to gulp our pints down in no time at all.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2010 14:26:29 | More by beerwolf77

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1 Liter bottle split and poured into a Sprecher snifter. 10.2% ABV, 10018 (Julian date: Jan. 18th, 2010).

A - A little bit of yeast sediment made it into my glass, otherwise it's a clear ruby amber. A dense cream head popped up right away and sank slow leaving little lace.

S - Strong oak bourbon barrel nose. Not overpowering but bold among the other aspects. Toasted, smokey malts behind with a really toffee and caramel sweetness. Rich and almost stout-like, it has a lot of bold scents going on here.

T - Lots of toasted caramel malts. Very caramelized with vanilla flavor. Tons of oaky bourbon barrel and minimal hop flavor to the finish. A fair level of smoke is noticeable too.

M - Really smooth and rich with a medium body and slightly warm finish that lingers nicely.

D - I'm not 100% that I could do the whole bottle myself but I'm also not sure it would be impossible. A good sipper but I'd leave it there. Better on tap too.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2010 01:56:12 | More by BeerFMAndy

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had a share of large bottle from Abe's Cold Beer. While it's hard to screw up a scotch ale aged in bourbon barrels, I thought the diacetyl was a bit heavy for the style (should be low to none, per BJCP). Otherwise it had smooth vanilla bourbon character with big caramel candy and toffee flavors. For the money, I'd buy something else, but it's not bad.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2010 17:04:37 | More by tempest

alpinebryant

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

9135 written on the back of the 1L swingtop bottle sealed with wax

Pours a dark slightly hazy brown with a white head. Smell of bourbon, oak , caramel and smoke.

Taste: Yep, its a wee heavy - except bumped up a few notches with some bourbon barrel aging which really takes over the flavors as bourbon tends to do. Rich caremelized sugars provide the base for this one, oak barrel really is the king of this beer though. A good wee heavy aged in bourbon barrels - I would be interested to see what their standard non bourbon barrel wee heavy tastes like to get more of the yeasts pronounced flavors. Strong carbonation and a wee heavy scotch ale medium feel body.

Drinkable for a 1L of 9.5 bourbon barrel wee heavy as I enjoy a good bourbon - some may take offense to it depending on your like of whiskey / bourbon. If you take this one out of your fridge definitely give it some time to warm up to get the full flavors of the ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2010 00:13:55 | More by alpinebryant

cudmud

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Deep brown color with a thin tan head that quickly dissipated. This brew has little to no lacing.

Smell: Plenty of malty smells and a hint of bourbon and oak.

Taste: Very malty with a hint of vanilla and earthy flavors.

Mouthfeel: Thick and chewy

Drinkability: I loved it as first, but grew tired of the sugary flavor. I'm glad I gave this on a try, but I don't think I'll try a second one.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 20:54:40 | More by cudmud

mdwalsh

Iowa

3.83/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: 1 finger head. The beer is a caramel brown and a little cloudy.

S: Fresh caramel, as in cooking caramel at home on the stove. That is exactly what this smells like. Amazing.

T: It's a little grainy, but still very caramelly.

M: Dryish, but nicely light, which I didn't expect from this beer.

D: Very drinkable, but not what I would call sessionable

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2009 01:41:30 | More by mdwalsh