Rye Wyne Ale - Brau Brothers Brewing Co. LLC

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Brau Brothers 2011 Rye Wyne Ale. Ale Aged in Used Rye Whiskey Barrels. Brau Brothers Brewing Company, Lucan, Minnesota. ABV:???

Dark crimson coloring, a rich ruby, with a narrow layer of foam.

Aroma: Wine hits first. (I know this is not wine-barrel-aged, but that's what I'm getting.) A touch of sour, a twist of tannins, deep and fruity. Then the bourbon slips out from under the covers. Raisins coming through, now, and other dark fruits. Incredible. Gorgeous.

Taste: In the mouth, it's both mighty and mellow. A beautiful blend of barley-wine and bourbon. Some cocoa, plenty of dark fruit, lots of luscious malt.

I'm going to stop thinking about my drinking and read this label. "One of the few small grains still grown in southwestern Minnesota, malted rye is the base for this one of a kind ale brewed and aged in tinny Lucan, Minnesota. Following a long, slow fermentation, the beer is stored away in used rye whiskey barrels brought north from our friends at Templeton, located in the equally tiny town of Templeton, Iowa."

Love it. Boast-less and gobbledygook free. This is utterly fantastic,ale, so flavorful, so rich and robust, clearly the finest beer to come out of Lucan, Minnesota, and I hope I don't stop saying that. Brau Brothers keeps getting better and better and doing more and more. Mmmm. Just plain ol' mmm, mmm, and yum.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 08:28:25 | More by feloniousmonk

sweemzander

Illinois

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

750mL waxed and capped bottle poured into a snifter.

(A)- Pours a really deep and dark brown murky color with white froth.

(S)- Lots of dry raisin and prune meets a subtle oaky bourbon spice note.

(T)- Lots and lots of dry leathery oak with raisin and prune. Ever so slightly fig-like fruity sweetness.

(M)- A mellow carbonation level with lovely barrel characters with lots of dry yet dark fruits. It is quite sweet, but the barrel notes counterbalances that well.

(O)- Great barrel characters meet some dry yet chewy dark fruits. Definitely a nice twist for a rye ale with the obvious use of Templeton Rye barrels.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 17:05:10 | More by sweemzander

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

We cut the wax on a bottle of the 2011 vintage, pouring a heavy brew of ruddy chestnut coloring. It puts up almost no head, but a hearty swirl brings up a half finger tall head of tiny, yellowish bubbles, then showing decent retention into a starry film across the top of the liquid. Cords of lacing are left all around the glass. A thick haze cuts through the clarity, with no sediment noted. Carbonation appears to be on the active side. The aroma initially smells just like straight Jack Daniel’s, but with warmth, the grain really fills in, with biting rye grit, hugely fusel booze, lactic sourness, light bubblegum esters, and mild woody dryness. With warmth comes robust tininess, soft floral hoppiness, biting plastics, chemically medicinals, and airy vanilla sweetness. Our first impression is that beer is much sweeter than the nose might suggest, with excellently integrated whisky flavoring into the strong, malty, rye base. As we sip, the taste begins with authentic clove spiciness, smooth whiskey, juicy ale yeastiness, biting and drying rye graininess, soft and sweeter wheat, and soft buttery diacetyls. Pushing to the peak is gritty sandiness, continued clove, gravel, dried grassiness, deep syrupy black cherry and raisin somewhere on the far back, with more washing authentic whiskey booziness. Melted brown sugar and spicy woodiness blend to pull us to the finish, where the rye really picks up in bitterness, with light caramel malts, juicy and metallic yeastiness, bright toffee sweetness, molasses, and vegemite. The aftertaste breathes heavily of whisky and woody barreling, syrupy plum, further spice of clove independent from any suggestions of phenols, very dark rye graininess, mineral, basement muskiness, and residual dextrin malty sugar. The body is full, and the carbonation is medium. There is thick and sticky smack, sip, slurp, and pop, with the lips left heavy with sugars. Froth and creaminess remain decent throughout. The mouth is equally as coated, with eventual grainy, sandy, gritty dryness all the way to the tonsils. The abv is hearty but appropriate, and the beer sips easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this beer was its flavoring. Everything about this beer is just so authentic. From the spicy inclusions, to the genuine grain, to the whiskey, each component gives its unadulterated self to the final blend. While each component is uniquely bold and considerably independent, they each come together in the end, affording wonderfully simple smoothness. The first sip conjures thoughts of what a Bourbon County rye beer would be like (unfortunately we couldn’t land a bottle of the Bramble Rye, so the comparison is all but lost) due to the depth of malts, big booziness, smooth diacetyls, and sweet drinkability. This is a great beer, and the age on it has surely cut much of its initial hotness, helping to keep things sipping all day long.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 23:15:27 | More by TheBrewo

alexgash

Connecticut

4.49/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle. 2011.

Dark leather brown. Partly cloudy. Pinkie finger of dense, tight-bubbled, light beige head. Nice lacing up the glass. Woody, with aromas of toffee, bread pudding, oak, vanilla, and toasted marshmallows.

Toasted malts and vinous, woody flavors up front. Gets oaky real quick, with notes of charred wood, vanilla, and toasted marshmallows. Sweet toffee, caramel, and fruits settle in. Warming whiskey and rummy fruit notes into the finish. Some tannic, woody bitterness. Lingering marshmallow and oak. Full-bodied, with a creamy, smooth feel. Very nice!

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 02:25:19 | More by alexgash

daledeee

Iowa

4.88/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The beer expert at John's Grocery said this was the best beer he had in the store. How could I refuse? Besides that Templeton Rye barrells... This is a 2011 version and I am pretty sure this is the first release of this beer.

Pours a dark brown with hints of light going through this. I figured a high ABV and aged beer would need some head coaxing. WRONG. Great creamy head and lace.

Nose is alchohol, vanilla, bourbon.

Taste: Vanilla, lots of vanilla, bourbon, boozy, caramel, hops. The hops have been blended into the total mix. This is less hoppy than I thought. This is a barleywine to end all barleywines. I am agreeing with the Beer Guy.

Mouth feel is creamy and slightly carbonated. Once again, near perfection.

Overall, this blows away all strong barleywines, rye beers I have had. Truly exceptional beer. As the years go by, I give less 5 ratings for taste. This one deserves it.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 22:34:12 | More by daledeee

Treebs

Illinois

3.99/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Thanks to supercolter for the brew. 750 ml waxed bottle served in a Southern Tier tulip. 2011 vintage.

A: Pours a murky brown color with some ruby highlights. A whitish head forms on the pour and recedes to a thin ring. Some splotchy lace is left down the glass.

S: Plum sweetness with some raisins. Definitive rye spice with a big whiskey backing. Roasted malts with underlying barrel sweetness.

T: Rye spice with the whiskey notes is large up front. Pretty hot as well still. Notes of oak, smooth caramel and some figs. Booze soaked raisins as well.

M: Medium bodied with a slightly higher than anticipated carbonation. Whiskey finish.

O: Surprisingly still a little hot, and I would have liked a little more chewiness on the texture and a little less carbonation. Overall it was still a nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 15:13:35 | More by Treebs

BeardedBoffin

New Mexico

3.98/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This 2011 vintage bottle of brew pours a deep mahogany color with a decent cap of foam. The aroma of the beer is heavily accented with rye whiskey. The oak barrels, peat, dried earth fruit all contributes. This continues on the palate with smooth malt mixed with the oak-laced whiskey notes. The alcohol is produces a slow burn at the end.

The whiskey was stronger than expected, perhaps too strong in my opinion. On the other hand a careful made brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 02:58:19 | More by BeardedBoffin

DovaliHops

California

4.31/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2011 vintage. Pours murky, brownish-red color with a small off-white color with a hint of tan. Scent is WOW...amazing nose on this one. Smells like blackberry jam with some heavy raisin and fig aromas. Lovely oak and whiskey aromas as well. The whiskey is not "in-you-face", very subtle and tame. Tons of rye and spiciness to the aroma as well. The nose of this beer actually has a rye bread aroma. More sweet whiskey and dark fruit aromas. Taste is just as delightful as the nose. Whiskey, however, is far less tame in the flavor. It lets you know it is there from the moment it touches your lips. Not harsh, but definitely present. Dark fruits and spicy rye flavors seem to take over in the middle of the tongue. The back has a bit of booziness with oak and vanilla flavors...also subtle hop bitterness. This beer has some complexity, for sure. As the beer warms, the sweet whiskey and rye come through more. Some toffee and light citrus flavors come through as well. The citrus was not present when this beer was cold. Mouthfeel is just as this beer should be. Full bodied and ready to sip. Drinkability is fairly high for this big, rich beer. Overall, this is one of the better wheatwine/rye beers...whatever you want to call it. I think this is the only beer I have had from this brewery. I really enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 06:00:49 | More by DovaliHops

ManVersusBeer

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2011 Bottle. Cheers to Trxxpaxxs
Ruby slippers colored, slight brown hue, just verging on brown head, nice looking.
Odd nose, touch of soil, lots of wood, oak, mild milk chocolate, mild smoke.
Wow, tastes like chocolate initially, just fantastic, milky, with hints of cocoa nib and that vanilla which comes from those delicious Templeton Rye bourbon barrels. Molasses, no it’s toffee, like a Skors bar and coconut, as well. Just a touch of heat, but not hot, seems to have mellowed nicely after about a year and a half. Could have held on to this a bit longer, but I think this might be drinking perfect right now. It may have become too sweet with age, it has lost any hop character, though it also could have toned it down.
Finish is creamy with a hint of sweetness, but neither sugary nor cloying. Could be just a tad drier, but that is nit picking. Ample carbonation with that mild bit of rye spice sneaking up. Delicious. Really glad I decided to crack this.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 02:31:04 | More by ManVersusBeer

DaveAnderson

Minnesota

4.19/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

2011 bottle, capped and waxed.

The beer pours out in an oily, contiguous stream that seems to hold together even from a decent height. Unsurprisingly, the head waits until after I pour to begin building. It's very thin, and does not last long. In the glass, the beer is a murky, hazy brown.

Right away, I smell bourbon, er, rye, along with some brown sugar, chocolate, and a hint of something farmy that I can only tease out when I swirl it. Alcohol is noticeable, but not dominant. I'm not really catching a lot of hop aromas, but the age may play a role in that. If I swirl it, I get some tropical fruits, mainly pineapple. But that brinks out the funk, too, which lends it a durian note.

It tastes a lot like it smells, but with the added rye spice and fairly aggressive bitterness.

This is a really enjoyable bottle. If I had to pick nits, I would say it's a little hot, even after some cellaring. But it's the best of the Templeton Rye barrel-aged beers I have had do far.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 05:44:34 | More by DaveAnderson

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into snifter, bottled in spring 2012. Pours fairly clear red copper amber color with a nice 1 finger dense light khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of big caramel, raisin, toffee, vanilla, coconut, toast, molasses, bourbon, oak, and rye spiciness. Incredible aromas with great balance and complexity of the barrel/malt character. Taste of big caramel, raisin, apple, toast, toffee, molasses, coconut, oak, vanilla, bourbon, earth, floral, and rye spiciness. Slight bitterness with a lightly tart fruitiness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, raisin, apple, toast, toffee, coconut, molasses, oak, vanilla, bourbon, and light rye spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic balance and complexity of malty flavors; with a great balance of malt/barrel flavors; and zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a very creamy and slick mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an outstanding barrel aged rye barleywine! Huge balance and complexity of flavors; and extremely smooth to sip on. An extremely enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 05:02:54 | More by superspak

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a muddy deep amber, brown. Took a vigorous pour to create a finger or two of head. Leaves a lot of streaky lacing and a things layer of foam behind.

S - Big aroma of spicy rye whiskey. Vanilla, oak, caramel, toffee, coconut, cherries, orange zest and port.

T - Vanilla and spicy rye mixed with oak and whiskey. Tobacco, cherries, butterscotch, caramel, dark fruits, coconut and raisin.

M - Medium body and slightly slick with lower carbonation. Touch of alcohol but smooth for 11%.

D - The barrel aroma/flavor is strong but it is still complex. Very tasty. I need to grab another one of these.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 23:26:08 | More by brewcrew76

MrPlayboy

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Brought a vintage 2011 bottle to a family Christmas party to share. It was a huge hit. We were smoking cigars and had just split a bottle of Bolt Cutter so my palate wasn't in perfect shape but I will do my best to review it here.

A. Beautiful dark amber with a slightly red and rosy hue. Forms a small but substantial head.

S. Gives a strong aroma of sweet caramel, vanilla, bourbon, and a slight hint of rye.

T. Sweet, boozy, and flavorful. Not harsh or overwhelming but packs a lot of caramel and bourbon flavors with a nice vanilla finish. A very refined flavor, possibly from the year of age on it.

M. Smooth. Not syrupy or thick at all but coats the palate. Slightly carbonated and easy to drink.

Overall: An awesome beer. I will be seeking this out again but my local store is now sold out.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 14:17:53 | More by MrPlayboy

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 vintage. Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a 8 oz snifter.

A- pours a dark amber with a 1 finger tan head. Huge leopard spotting and trails of lacing cover the glass.

S- sweet toffee, tobacco, brown sugar, whiskey, some spices.

T- big amber malts with toffee, whiskey, vanilla, spicy rye with some bitterness and booze at finish.

M- medium body and carbonation. Some booziness comes in the middle with slight effervescence as well.

O- very enjoyable BA Barleywine with a twist from the rye used. Nice spicy sweet going on but could beef up the body just a bit.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 03:58:09 | More by kawilliams81

trxxpaxxs

New York

3.98/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed blind, thanks to abraxel...

A: Pours a deep dark, yet translucent red with about two fingers of beige head. The foam takes a bit to settle, leaving a whole lot of lacing along the edges of the glass. This beer looks great.

S: The nose is sweet and spicy with definite barrel notes shining through. I get malt, caramel, spice, raisins, toffee, and vanilla. There is also a bit of boozy heat in the nose as well.

T: This beer starts out with a great mix of sweet and spice. It follows the nose for the most part. Vanilla and spice hit the palate up front. I then get some stone fruit notes, some raisins, and toffee. The spice returns in the finish as it mixes with the barrel elements. It's a bit hot in the finish, but I can dig it.

M: Full bodied beer. It's thick and coating, sweet and smooth, and finishes with a good bit of alcohol burn. I'd love to try this beer after it's had a year or two to mellow out.

O: This beer is really solid. I has some great flavors going on, and the barrel aging seems to be have done really well. I'd drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 14:13:58 | More by trxxpaxxs

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark brown with a red hue. A small creamy off-white head that sticks around with a complete coat of lacing down the glass.

Lots of caramel aroma up front. A few hops and a slightly spicy rye whisky character. Also brown sugar a bit as it warms.

Tastes like a big barleywine up front. Lots of caramel toffee balanced out well by a bit of oak and some earthy bitterness. Just as the brown sugar/toffee mixture starts to get sweet, out comes the whisky. Not overpowering as all, but just enough to tilt the beer to a great balance. As it warms, a bit more of the rye spiciness comes out along with some raisin and fig.

Medium bodied with an excellent creamy texture. Carbonation on the low side of medium.

Admittedly BA barleywines are probably my favorite style, but this one stands above most. Very complex and I love beers like this that change as they warm up, but are always delicious. The rye adds a good subtle component without overpowering the beer. Will definitely be seeking this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 21:44:00 | More by jmarsh123

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2011 Vintage poured in to oversized CBS snifter.

A - Dark brown with a faint amber glow around the edges. Half a finger of tan coloured head that reduced to a thin layer.

S - A big oak aroma up front is complimented by sweet caramel, toffee and brown sugar notes from the base beer.

T - Oak is dominant without drowning out the base beer. A big overall sweetness full of caramel, toffee, brown sugar and spice compliment the barrel qualities and a touch of funk is present as well. Other flavours develop as I continue to drink - raisin, maple and fig.

M - Medium body. Creamy and smooth. Light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 01:39:47 | More by TheSevenDuffs

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.18/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass from a 750ml bottle.
2011

Pours a nice hazy and muddy dark amber color with some light caramel hues. There is a huge 1.5 inch light tan head that is very dense. There are some more chunky bubbles intermingled but mostly it is very creamy dense bubbles. Nice sticky head with great retention that leaves some great lacing as the head recedes.

Starts of with rye whiskey barrel sweetness and booze. Nice vanilla hints start things off with some molasses. Some nice raisin notes and caramel mix in with some rye spice and some nice boozy heat. The rye spice notes and dark fruit aromas work very well together.

Flavor similar to the nose starts off with some barrel notes. Great sweetness with some caramel and molasses that isn't too intense or too sweet. There is some nice rye spice notes mixed in with the sweetness of the barrel notes. There is also some woody notes and definitely some slight heat. Not too bad though. As the beer warms the malt rye spice notes continue to play very well with the barrel notes. The brew is nice and complex with great flavor profiles that seem to change after every sip. Mouthfeel is nice, silky with good carbonation.

Overall this beer is very good. There are some great barrel notes and nice grainy rye spice that blend very well with the barrel sweetness and a nice hot finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 01:08:15 | More by JoEBoBpr

GregSVT

Texas

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml red waxed bottle into a snifter - 2011 Vintage

A: Pours a hazy dark blood red with a big light tan head that fades to a ring and leaves a ton of lacing on the glass.

S: Upon the first whiff you can definitely tell this is a rye beer. Plenty of dark fruits, plumbs, dark cherries, and raisins. A few swirls reveal the barrel character with nice notes of vanilla and whiskey.

T: The taste is very similar to the nose with a big blast of rye malt and dark fruits along with some vanilla and whiskey. Very complex beer that keeps changing with each sip. On one sip I get dark red fruits like plumbs, red apples, and dark cherries and on another sip I get barrel and malt.

M: The feel is creamy and on the thicker side of medium.

O: I like this one but I think I prefer Rye on Rye just a little bit more. Still a tasty beverage and one I would recommend.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 02:58:23 | More by GregSVT

thagr81us

South Carolina

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

Big thanks goes out to MBrausen who sent me this one for the sole purpose of ticking it! Shared during BRoss242’s send-off party before he moves! Will miss you man! Vintage 2011! Served from bottle into a Mikkeller taster flute. Poured brown with a half finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, rye, spice, wood, sweet alcohol, and vanilla. The flavor was of sweet malt, rye, spice, vanilla, wood, sweet alcohol, and dark fruit. It had a medium feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a good brew. All of the right flavors were going on here with a nice mix of rye with the base style which gave it a nice spiciness. The barrel added a nice touch to this one as well and kept it interesting after each sip. The vanilla added a nice touch and helped to cover up the sweet alcohol aspect going on here. Definitely worth your time.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 10:59:36 | More by thagr81us

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a snifter. 2011 vintage.

4.0 A: Clear deep amber brown color. Two fingers of frothy beige head. Retention is very good given the ABV and a good bit of lacing is left.

4.5 S: Awesome nose on this. Rye whiskey is the most prominent aroma and offers a spicy earthiness, leather, melon, apple, oak, and plenty of vanilla. Booze is well hidden. The base follows suite with the rye as well as lots of caramel, toffee, plum, raisin, and dates.

4.0 T: The base comes out more in the taste. Raisin leads the force, followed by tobacco, and leather. Plum, dates, caramel, and spicy earthy rye next. The whiskey is surprisingly complementary here, but it works really well. Oak, melon, apple, and vanilla follow. Again the booze is well hidden. Quite tasty.

4.0 M: Heavier medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Good creaminess. The only thing I don't like is that it's a bit too chewy and causes some amylase clumping in the back of my mouth.

4.5 D: The taste was borderline 4.5, so a bonus here. Really tasty beer. I wish more breweries would make rye wines or imperial ryes or whatever you want to call them.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 01:05:52 | More by DavoleBomb

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The pour is a clear copper color with a small tan head. Light citrus and pine hops on the nose, definitely a lot of rye, bread, and toffee. There's a hint of toast, some whiskey, and a nice bit of vanilla. The flavor is a bit more pine forward than expected and somewhat bitter. Sweet caramel and toffee malts, vanilla, and whiskey to balance that out. Quite a bit of rye malt, light citrus flavor to it as well.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 01:09:45 | More by womencantsail

Buebie

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Letting it sit in the fridge for weeks I finally said fuck it. Grilling some gourmet burgs tonight, pairs well with the additions or roasted peppers and bacon. Ground beef from Angus Meats.

Hard pour into an over sized snifter. Big frothy 3 inch tan head. Slow to settle but on its way down leaves thick clumpy bubbles and lace along the walls.
A solid cap of retention.
color is a burnt red, that is pretty dark and cloudy.

Aroma of charred barrels, fermented cherries, rye whiskey, oats, maple brown sugar and loads of malt and a little chocolate.

Taste is also exceptional, 11% abv is nowhere to be found.
Sweet, but not overwhelming. Malt delight, oranges, tart fruit, maple, toasted wood, smooth and low key booze, rye spice. Man this is a full flavored brew.
Mouthfeel is super slick, bordering greasy but not in a bad way.
carbonation is present but put back in its place by a thicker body.

For me the aroma and lace show were the best part of this brew. Taste is great but aroma and taste didnt seem to match up.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 23:15:05 | More by Buebie

drpimento

Wisconsin

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

Poured at a good temperature with a fine, thick, foamy, cream-colored head that slowly settled and lots of glass coating lace. Color is a dark, clear brown amber. Aroma is very mild, hop, whiskey, malt. Flavor's like nose, sweet and carbonic tang up front with bitter right behind along with the rye whiskey flavors, malt. Body is great, ditto carbonation. Finish is very long, like flavor, and boozy.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 01:48:40 | More by drpimento

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.48/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 750 ml bottle into a Surly Darkness Chalice.

Appearance: Pours a very dark brownish amber with a hint of ruby red. Moderate bubbles and about two fingers of off white head that fade into a thin patchy layer. Leaves a decent amount of lacing around the glass.

Smell: Big scent of the whiskey barrel with a good amount of vanilla and oak. Rye spices and bready malts with hints of caramel and toffee. Pretty noticeable hints of moderately tart cherries and some banana. Hints of dark grapes and orange. Also a little orange and slight hint of hops.

Taste: A pretty complex and good taste. Big taste of the whiskey barrel up front along with vanilla and oak chips. Big taste of the rye spices throughout. Bready caramel malts with some toffee. Some moderately tart cherries give a taste somewhat like a sour ale. Complex hints of fruits with some hints of banana, dark grapes, fig, and orange. Light presence of earthy hops in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Body is on the heavier side of medium. Carbonation is moderate. Creamy, slick, and slightly tart. The 11% is actually hidden fairly well.

Overall: A really good barrel aged ale. Big whiskey taste with a good complex mix of rye spice and fruits.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 05:44:11 | More by MattyG85