Fegley's Bourbon Barrel Aged Insidious - Allentown Brew Works

yamar68

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2011 vintage:

Big and black... thick dense khaki head that retains, laces and intimidates.

Loads of boozy bitter fudge, vanilla, some mushy dark fruits, faint cinnamon qualities, hardly any alcohol presence. Much, much more dynamic after a year in the cellar. What a pleasant surprise.

Super smooth. Milk chocolate works so well here, the barrel isn't obvious but it's apparent, chocolate cookies, finish is dryer than others of the style. Again, this beer has pulled a 180. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 02:09:28 | More by yamar68

birchstick

Missouri

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours black without much of a head on it, much like the regular version. Nose is chocolaty bourbon - nice. On the palate, this opens with milk chocolates that move to spicy bourbony vanilla flavors as expected out of the barrel aging. Ends with a combination of dark chocolates mixed with some coffee. This is a decent barrel aged RIS here. Still a rough around the edges but a solid effort here. Worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 02:59:47 | More by birchstick

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft at The Boilermaker in Philadelphia, PA.

Pours pitch black with a two finger frothy beige head that very slowly fades into a lasting cap.  Streaks of soapy lacing left behind.

Sweet yet roasted nose with a very well integrated barrel character.  Lots of spicy bourbon sweetness along with earthy oak, vanilla, toffee and coconut without overpowering the malt character.  Roasted with subtle hints of coffee, toast and dark chocolate. Really nice.

Medium bodied and fuller than expected with a nice balance of roasted malt and bourbon barrel.  Dry and roasty up front with hints of burnt toast, roasted coffee bean and dark chocolate followed by sweet, spicy bourbon notes. Hints of  earthy oak compliment the dryness of the malt profile but there is still a lot of sweetness.  Really nice whiskey/bourbon flavor with silky vanilla, marshmallow and coconut notes.  Very well balanced with barrel character excellently integrated.  Best beer I've had from this brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2012 00:45:46 | More by corby112

egrace84

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Aggressively poured from 12oz. bottle into snifter.

A:nice lil head that quickly morphs in to just an outer ring around the glass.

S: Smells of vanilla and faint bourbon, very inviting.

T: well, if this were a reg. stout and i wasn't expecting any bourbon involvement then i would have no complaints, but i get zero bourbon in the taste. Still enjoyable.

M: I enjoy the mouthfeel, theres a lil more cabonation than expected but it works for this beer.

O: wish there were more bourbon notes and the vanilla from the nose would have made it to the taste, but its def. still enjoyable. Glad to have tried it.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 03:34:43 | More by egrace84

jhartley

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed on June 15, 2012.
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Poco Grande glass. No noticeable date on bottle.

A-Dark viscous motor oil look, small thin tan head which dissipated quickly, no surprise.

S-Bourbon/whiskey/oak. Alcohol right away, tobacco, roasted malts.

T-Bourbon whiskey right away! Tastes exactly like it smells. Warms up and tastes like whiskey. Coffee-espresso tartness.

M-A little thin, not expected, thought it would be more "full" tasting. Alcohol burn in the throat.

O-A strond barrel aged stout. Definite end of night beer. I enjoyed it with some chocolate cake!

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 00:26:00 | More by jhartley

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I bought a 4-pack ($9.99) of this at Allentown Beer Works at the beginning of June. Yesterday (17JUN12) I quaffed 2 bottles while laxing out in the yard.

Using a small tulip, this bier filled the glass nicely with a dark, dense brown liquid. It poured out in an oily fashion, topped by a foamy, deep beige layer of creamy bubbles. Nice lacing stuck to the glass also. Choco and roastiness were present in the nose, with the bourbon evident but not overly strong. Low carbo made for an easy feel on the tongue, whereas the body was in the medium category.

Dark chocolate and coffee flavors were all over the palate. It was roasty but not bitter or charred at all, and tasted of mocha-like malted milk balls. The woody, oaky bourbon notes came on well, not being strong or overpowering, yet they still made their presence known easily. This one also had a suggestion of coconut, which I attribute to the barrel aging. Hopping was light, with the bourbon action lingering well. Solid! Zum Wohl!!

4.03/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1475

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 18:06:39 | More by Bierman9

JTSbeerislife

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On label “Ale aged in Bourbon barrels”
Purchased 2/26/12 and well stored. Undecipherable date code on bottle 4121349110115

Poured into a DFH Signature Snifter

Poured aggressively produces a nice, frothy, two finger head with a medium tan color, which slowly reduces to ¼” cap. Some light lace clings to the glass.
The color is black, opaque.

The aroma has no hops that I can detect, but there is a big, rich malt presence. Rich, roasted malt, but no noticeable wood. Cocoa and dark unsweetened chocolate with hints of caramel.

Very, very rich creamy entry on the palate of chocolate and cocoa flavored malt, very full body and a wonderful elegant carbonation. There is a medium sweetness but seems balanced with the other components of this ale.

Long finish of very rich malt, chocolate and cocoa, it coats your mouth with sticky richness. After some time the very faintest hint of “wood dryness” peaks out.

A very good tasting and rather massive ale, very enjoyable to drink, but with that being said “where’s the wood?”. Throughout this tasting I detected no wood in the nose, flavor, and very barely the finish. I can only surmise that the barrels used had been used many times before.
Still and enjoyable Stout, though there are many superior examples available.

As always I did my review before reading the other reviews and apparently my bottle came from a different batch? Mostly huge body and no wood!

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 23:00:47 | More by JTSbeerislife

wagenvolks

Texas

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a Ranger Creek tulip. Thanks to NoLeafClover44 for the trade!

Great-looking pour: body is a deep chestnut hue with a core of black molasses. The head towers on the pour and retains well, slowly retreating to a fat ring of custard-brown foam. Aroma is very nice, delivering notes of milk chocolate, bourbon barrel, vanilla, and a hint of roasted malts.

The flavor amplifies the roastiness and the chocolate is dark and verging on bitter (in a good way). Dark fruit and bourbon heat chimes in mid-sip, and finishes with a warming alcohol presence. The one major downside to this beer is the body, which is thin and a tad over-carbonated, making the end a touch harsh when the booze takes over. Still, it's a delicious attempt at a barrel-aged imperial stout and probably the best beer I've had from Allentown/Fegley's.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 02:28:13 | More by wagenvolks

B33R501

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I don't know what took so long to try this it's been on the shelf for couple weeks just kept passing it over finally grabbed the last 4 Pak today and glad I did. Delicious.

Opaque black, tan head, nicely carbonated, looks good in a tulip. Refined aroma, wood, oak, char, burnt, ash, even a little smoke, smoldering fireplace, charcoal. Honestly, thought I wasnt gong to like this after the initial smell did not impress.

However, the taste just pops. All the aroma is present in the flavor, along with beautiful notes of vanilla, caramel, and sweet bourbon. The barrel aging is spot on, the bourbon so refined, perfect. Mouthfeel and drinkability is also perfect, could drink this all day (I did).

Outstanding. Really enjoyed this one, alot beter than I thought it would be.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 12:59:17 | More by B33R501

Etan

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle sent to me by Doublesunshine into a brandy snifter.

A: Pours an opaque black with a huge chocolate head. Good retention, light lacing.

S: Smooth bourbon-laced aroma. Sweet corn liquor, tannic oak, raisin, big milk chocolate, a bit of coffee roast.

T: Big sweet cocoa, wood-laced smooth bourbon, vanilla, mild dark fruits. A bit of pleasant liquor burn and a tiny bit of roastiness. The flavors sort of peter out into the finish and leave a weak remnant of chocolate and bourbon.

M: Medium-bodied. Much too light for the style.

O: The beer nails the barrel-aging, but unfortunately the lack of a robust finish and the light mouthfeel hold it back. Still tasty.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 02:48:05 | More by Etan

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Alesmith Horny Devil snifter.

A- pours black with a 1 finger dark tan head. Small bubbles and and traces of lacing.

S- bourbon, dark chocolate, vanilla and something else maybe a slight metallic smell?

T- sweet chocolate, dark fruits, bourbon, vanilla and slightly ashy taste.

M- mediums body and carbonation. Slight tingly feel, not real thick or creamy.

O- good BA stout. Mouthfeel is holding this beer back some. Creaminess might add to the flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 03:44:33 | More by kawilliams81

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.23/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12 oz. bottle courtesy of Centennial. Served chilled from and poured directly into my Kate the Great tulip. Pretty sure this is a 2012 vintage, but I cannot confirm it anywhere on the bottle.

Appearance: Dark brown to black in color with a really nice, beige creamy head. Pretty good retention. Creates a really nice lacing around the glass.

Aroma: Really big bold vanilla and caramel notes upfront. The bourbon is definitely there and blends pretty nicely. Definitely gives off some sweet chocolate in there too.

Taste: Unlike the aroma that was barrel and sugar forward, I get roasted coffee beans and some dark chocolate more in the taste. There is definitely some vanilla and bourbon tones and the sweetness is tempered pretty nicely by the coffee. Really solid.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and full bodied. Drinks really smooth.

Overall, a really nice surprise and a quality bourbon barrel stout. This definitely exceeded my expectations and is something I would purchase again. Maybe it isn't top tier, but it is damn good.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 00:37:33 | More by Gosox8787

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into Weyerbacher Cuvee glass. 2012 batch.

A - Pours a thick black liquid with a two finger almond colored head. Head settles to less than one finger, then stays constant. Leaves a great lacing.

S - Rich dark fruits including plum and cherry, black licorice, roasted malts, bitter dark chocolate, and a hint of bourbon aromas. Certainly not the most bourbon or oak forward BA stout by aroma, but the smell is complex and delicious.

T - Starts pretty sweet with maple, vanilla, and raisin. The middle is a little bit bitter with some roasted coffee beans, oak, and a little bit of char. Some bourbon and more sweetness on the finish. No alcohol burn and the aftertaste is of bourbon and burnt wood.

M - I let this one sit a while before I drank it, which probably helped the flavors and hurt the mouthfeel. It was a bit thin with very little carbonation. I wouldn't expect huge carbonation in this style, but it came off a little bit flat. Still, not bad.

O - I enjoyed this one significantly more than the regular version. The highlights are probably the complexity and strength of the aroma and the balance and diversity in the flavor. Mouthfeel wasn't great, but didn't ruin it for me. I will continue to support Fegley's as a local brewer and I appreciate the 12 oz. bottles for the BA Insidious, as opposed to the larger format of the regular version. At $13-14 for a four pack, I will probably get it again and may put a few away for later and see what some age does, although the flavor isn't aggressive, boozey, or abrasive so it probably doesn't need any age. Overall, very good.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 23:22:40 | More by NoLeafClover44

FosterJM

California

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

1205th Review on BA
Bottle to Snifter
12oz

Thanks to Cpabeer and Stormking47 for this one

App- A generally opague black pour some spotty notes of brown intermixed. A fast receding two finger khaki head formed and left a small dotted cling then was gone with a pond layer taking over.

Smell- Opens with a very black coffee note and settles to a bit of dark smooth chocolate and maybe a hint of vanilla. The whispy booze note comes up but doesnt overpower the nose. Small amounts of bourbon are present.

Taste- Started out as a good roast flavor with the coffee coming in and settled into the chocolate and a bit of cream. The bourbon really isnt there but adds more of a grainy booze note. Good pockets of flavor and hides the booze well.

Mouth- A lighter mediun body with a good creamy note to it. Medium thick carbonation and leaves some prickly booze notes, a bit of roast and chocolate.

Drink- Well a barrel aged stout in a 12oz bottle. Good
flavors with some smoothness at times and some grainular notes at times. Overall, good beer. Id like to sit on another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 03:58:24 | More by FosterJM

DarkerTheBetter

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed with my friend Ermine.

Pours a clear dark black. Froths on the pour but the head falls to a thin tan film.

Smells of sweet, sticky malt, milk chocolate, a gentle dry nip of espresso and a whiff of under-ripe strawberry and dark fruit.

Tastes of subtle toasty malts and a thin milk chocolate backed by an ambiguous yet distant fruity sweetness. Lingers in the finish with dark chocolate that leans towards the dryness of coffee and a touch of oak.

This feels extraordinarily clean, more reminiscent of an oatmeal stout.

Overall, a very nice, easy drinking RIS. Astonishingly easy drinking, to be precise. We also ascertained that this beer is an ideal candidate for bourbonization due to the thin body and already present woody flavors.

Serving type: growler

03-08-2012 01:48:23 | More by DarkerTheBetter

57md

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is a dark chocolate brown with more than a finger of head which lingered well enough to leave some nice lacing. Rich bourbon nose. Bourbon flavor blends well with the roasted malt of the stout. Not overdone like some barrel-aged stouts. Subtle alcohol warmth in the finish.

When it comes to imperial stouts, I usually prefer the standard version to the barrel-aged one. This is one of the best barrel-aged beers that I have ever had the pleasure of drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2012 03:48:54 | More by 57md

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.73/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz, 2012 batch. Purchased at Pinocchio's in Media, PA at their PtY event on 2/29/12. Poured this into a Pinocchios snifter.

A: Pours a deep, dark brown (almost opaque) color. Initially I got almost a finger of tight bubbled head. But it faded quickly. Definitely see some alcohol feet and there are some lacing trails. Lots of carbonation too, as I can see bubbles on the bottom.

S: I get lots of vanilla, toffee and dark chocolate on the nose. Not getting any char or coffee right away.

T: This might be a tad over carbonated. It kinda takes away from the body and flavor of the beer. It makes it almost thin. I get a little coffee bitterness in the front of the mouth, but nothing overpowering. Then in the middle of the mouth you get those vanilla and dark chocolate notes. But again, the mouth feel is too thin. On the finish, sweet chocolate flavors and some toffee are what I get.

M: Full but thinner than expected. Knocking down a half point due to this.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 21:09:38 | More by inlimbo77

TheFightfan1

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a cigar city snifter. Pours an opague black color with a flimzy lighter brown heading. A tiny film of heading stuck around until the last sip. Very little lacing.

Smell has the slight mocha thing going on. A nice oak and vanilla aroma with very little bourbon notes.

The same goes for the taste nice coffee and chocolate notes, a touch of sweeter toffee, with very little bourbon flavor. Kind of a funky earthy-wood finishing.

Full bodied,decent carbonation. Good balance siding on a bit of the chewy side.

Nothing spectacular here maybe a bit more of bourbon bite would do the trick. Just seemed a little light in that department.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 18:14:33 | More by TheFightfan1

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle
Served in a tulip glass

A: Deep black body with a foamy, creamy and frothy medium brown colored head. Great sticky lacing on the sides along with a thick bubbly retention ring. Very nice looking beer.

S: Toffee, dark chocolate, lots of oak, vanilla and sweet bourbon on the back. It's interesting as it doesn't really smell much like there's a bourbon presence or that it spent any time in bourbon barrels.

T: Big bourbon served neat up-front, dark chocolate, sweet vanilla, toffee and hints of caramel towards the back end. Certainly is surprising how much bourbon is here on the taste judging by the aroma. It does taste a little hot but it's not going overboard - enough to let you know the bourbon is there.

M: A little thin and quite bubbly, but it does have a smooth characteristic to it. Not creamy and full-bodied but it's not horrible.

I started off with a single bottle instead of a 4-pack because I didn't know how this would turn out but it's a pleasant surprise. Enough bourbon to warrant the time in the barrels, and great balance. One to try for sure.

EDIT: This got a very astringent note when it warmed up, knocking down "overall" half a point accordingly.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 00:40:10 | More by ShanePB

TheSupremeAJ

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Single bottle, 55F from a 4 pack, purchased form the bar at ABW. Served in a St. bernardus chalice.

A- Very nice thick black color with two fingers of tan head
S- Sweet and pleasant- very few imperfections
T- Rich chocolate, heavy bourbon, roasted dark coffee. Definately bitter sweet.
M- Luxiorious and creamy, a little thinner than I prefer.
O- A very solid brew from brew works- a little overwhelming on so many strong "flavors" and it detracts from the malt/roast profile of the stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 04:30:38 | More by TheSupremeAJ

scottyg354

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Tar Black, Minimal head and lacing. Heavy Pour.

S: Bourbon and Coffee. Very faint smokiness and chocolate notes.

T: Bourbon all the way through. Some strong coffee notes. This is pretty boozy for its ABV.

M: Almost no carbonation. It's bottled conditions so maybe I got a bad one, but this was seriously almost flat. Semi-Thick consistency. Goes down smooth.

O: Was a tasty brew. The lack of carbonation definetely affected the Apperance and Mouthfeel scores.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 02:51:34 | More by scottyg354