Melange No. 3 - The Bruery

dbc5

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

750 ml bottle poured into 10 ounce Kentucky Bourbon Stout snifter.

A: Pours a murky brown. Almost has a muddy quality on the pour. Surprisingly, getting a 1 finger cream colored head on this (didn't expect that on a beer over 15%). Head sticks around and getting some nice lacing on the glass. Really impressed by this given the alcohol content.

S: Getting smacked in the face (nose I suppose) with bourbon on the pour. Opens up a bit and picking up oak, caramel, vanilla, caramelized sugar, apples, plums, and raisins. I swear I'm picking up a light citrusy character. Not picking up roasted malts to the degree I would expect given that Black Tuesday is listed first on this blend.

T: Surprisingly, bourbon flavors are not as present in the taste as the nose suggested. Don't get me wrong, it is present, but more balanced than I thought. This isn't to say the beer lacks alcohol heat. It is certainly perceptible and contributes a nice warming sensation in the throat. Caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, RICH chocolate, oak, and bourbon. Very sweet and very complex.

M: Thick and syrupy with minimal carbonation. This almost drinks more like a liquor than a beer. Alcohol contributes an oily character.

O: The complexity and flavor here is insane. So much going on. While one should never expect a 15% plus beer to be "drinkable" this one is somewhat less drinkable than some other beers I have had in this ABV range (e.g., Bourbon County Variants, BB4D, BB Monster 29, even Black Tuesday). A really nice beer to enjoy over the course of a few hours. Extremely glad to have the opportunity to enjoy this. Would be interested in getting another to lay down for multiple years.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 02:11:35 | More by dbc5

kmatlack

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-24-2013 06:49:55 | More by kmatlack

derkfromwi

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%

05-24-2013 01:56:05 | More by derkfromwi

timc100

Illinois

4.84/5  rDev +9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

2012

A: Pours out a gorgeous murky ruby brown (yes, I think that's pretty) and leaves a surprisingly substantial head. Beige with big, barrel aged bubbles, big alcohol legs, pretty sticky. Has a much darker appearance in the glass than the pour - very dark ruby with no light getting through

S: Damn! Huge, huge boozy aroma of caramel, figs, raisins and bourbon. At first the chocolate from the BT comes through, but as it warms it turns into a big BW. The bourbon is very intense and enticing - an apple and grape skin flavor came through as well as big rich caramel and some vanilla. It is very woody as well - nice charred oak and oaky vanilla. It smells more like a liquor than a beer.

T: Huge and very, very sweet, but thankfully not cloying. Rich caramel, dark fruits, and chocolate sweetness. Very boozy, the bourbon comes through strong. It finishes sticky and sweet leaving a coating in the mouth. Really nice warming sensation on the back of the mouth and throat.

P: Usually I am put-off by big beers that don't have an incredibly viscous mouthfeel, but the medium-full mouthfeel on this works perfectly. Incredibly smooth, very soft carbonation - almost none, decently sticky, chewy, long lasting finish.

O: I'd call this a barleywine, and a great one. One of the most bourbon intense beers I've had and I loved every minute of it. A big, sweet boozy monster that is incredibly well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 16:38:23 | More by timc100

lakersfan16

Alaska

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-22-2013 04:02:20 | More by lakersfan16

CanisMajor

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-21-2013 23:15:19 | More by CanisMajor

Justinsosmart

California

5/5  rDev +12.6%

05-21-2013 22:12:23 | More by Justinsosmart

Beerandboards

New Mexico

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%

05-21-2013 19:04:07 | More by Beerandboards

PlinyBeMiney

California

4.75/5  rDev +7%

05-21-2013 07:35:01 | More by PlinyBeMiney

gonzowestwood

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-20-2013 08:40:37 | More by gonzowestwood

itsthepleats

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +7%

05-19-2013 22:09:17 | More by itsthepleats

Kreko7

California

5/5  rDev +12.6%

05-19-2013 16:18:56 | More by Kreko7

ShawnMH

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-19-2013 15:19:57 | More by ShawnMH

eyeenjoybeer

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-18-2013 18:26:45 | More by eyeenjoybeer

abeerdude

California

4.75/5  rDev +7%

05-17-2013 22:12:41 | More by abeerdude

deekyn

California

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%

05-16-2013 04:04:26 | More by deekyn

MarkFy

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +7%

05-16-2013 02:24:47 | More by MarkFy

ajzy

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +12.6%

05-16-2013 00:21:29 | More by ajzy

moonknight31

California

4.75/5  rDev +7%

05-14-2013 22:14:39 | More by moonknight31

KGMIbeer

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-12-2013 21:57:41 | More by KGMIbeer

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.09/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into a tumbler.

Appearance - Deep brown. No real head. Slightly transparent at the edge. Leggy on the swirl.

Smell - Boozy as hell. Bourbon and brown sugar. Much more brown sugar than barrel complexity, but it smells like candy. Some oak and vanilla, but mostly sugars.

Taste - Sharp alcohol, bright fruity flavor. Probably from the alcohol. Less brown sugar, more of a deep caramel flavor. Some light roast. Lots of oak in the finish. Dry, amazingly.

Mouthfeel - Heavy, boozy, rough, sharp and alcoholic. Might be the two margaritas and multiple beers I had before this, but it's pretty dry.

Overall - Delicious blunt object of a beer. Bourbon brown sugar. Great stuff, if nothing but sugar and alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 02:15:00 | More by Alieniloquium

mookihouse

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-11-2013 21:32:35 | More by mookihouse

APreacher

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-11-2013 07:03:05 | More by APreacher

jdhugeloser

California

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%

05-10-2013 20:43:49 | More by jdhugeloser

drlovemd87

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-10-2013 17:00:10 | More by drlovemd87