Black Friday - Bethlehem Brew Works

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was such a good choice the other night. This beer poured out as a dark looking brown color from what I could tell in the low lighting of the Steelgaarden. The head was really nice too, it was this creamy looking foam that seemed to have a strong retention to it that survived most of the time I was drinking it. The smell of the beer was loaded with toffee, caramel, vanilla, bourbon and other malt aromas as well. The taste of the beer gave off similar flavors that mirrored the nose. The mouthfeel of the beer was thick and creamy feeling, with a smooth moderate carbonation to it. Overall this beer was wonderful, I really enjoyed this one and would love to have it again soon.

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2012 04:20:38 | More by Knapp85

zillo043068

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%

05-27-2012 23:58:01 | More by zillo043068

Fermenticusrex

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.8%

05-12-2012 03:51:37 | More by Fermenticusrex

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Bethlehem

Gotta say, I really liked this one, and this is probably the best beer I've had from Allentown/Bethlehem/Fegley's/whatever the @#&! they call themselves. Poured a nearly opaque, murky, dark, root beer brown, with a whitish ringlet for a head. Aroma of dark sugars, vanilla, and maybe a hint of smoked peat. Taste was a blast of toffee and vanilla, which pretty much dominated the brew--not everyone's thing, I know, but I did like it--underlying flavors of woody bourbon, bready malts, with some licorice in the finish. Nothing to speak of in the way of hops or bitterness here. Chewy mouthfeel, smooth and uncommonly drinkable, despite its higher ABV. Not complex...it's basically a sugary booze bomb, but in that sense, it's pretty good.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2012 13:18:15 | More by Rifugium

shockrocker65

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%

04-22-2012 21:51:31 | More by shockrocker65

acurtis

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +0.5%

04-01-2012 13:55:44 | More by acurtis

LilBeerDoctor

New York

2.93/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at the Bethlehem location. Pours black with a small tan head. Aroma of heavy bourbon with some sweet malt undertones and oak. Flavor of bourbon (but not as heavy as in the aroma) and super sweet malt. Well, I did not enjoy this beer (especially seeing as it was a blend of my 2 least favorite styles) but it was not too terrible.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2009 05:35:51 | More by LilBeerDoctor

Minotaur

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Bethlehem Brew Works (Bethlehem, PA)

Recently having taken up an interest in brewing Wee Heavy beers, I've been attempted to sample as many as possible.

This beer was dark and intimidating looking even for a Wee Heavy. The color was a leathery black. I received mine in a snifter and it was nearly opaque (like a peat bog?) and had a tenacious but fairly thin head and lacing.

The aroma was quite smokey with a dense syrup-prune underlay.

Wee Heavy's tend to fall into two categories from what I have tasted: those that are malty and sweet (Old Chub, Skullsplitter), and those that are on the smokey and herbal peat side of taste. This was an excellent example of the latter.

There was minimal sweetness and a smooth, peat-smoke induced bitterness. At first it seemed to be a bit mono-flavored but especially with food it separated into layers of deepening smoke and bitterness, with a touch of hop balance and malt sweetness. There are elements of licorice and an herbal taste. The flavor is very deep and has a quality of coffee without *tasting* like coffee. The alcohol is relatively high and subtly creeps up. The bourbon quality does add some flavor but makes the overall blend incredibly smooth.

It was particularly good with the pub's pulled pork sandwich.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2009 04:23:39 | More by Minotaur

psujesus

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a 12oz Scotch Ale glass on-tap at the brewpub

poured an extremely dark amber color, almost black, with a half inch light brown headsmelled strong of malts and bourbon, with hints of caramel and vanilla

an oaky/malty taste to it with hints of bourbon, other than the strong bourbon smell the alcohol was well hidden it seemed, a medium carbonated body

as my first scotch ale i enjoyed this beer very much, i think this is an easy drinking beer as i purchased a growler for later this week
i highly recommend this before it runs out

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2009 01:05:27 | More by psujesus