Cuir - The Bruery

jayhawk73

Maryland

4.53/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 Cuir- Bottle 3888

A- Big time looking beer. Dark, dark brown w/ just a suggestion of crimson highlights. Impossible to see into. Really nice carbonation, and an amazing chocolate two finger head that stays a long time. Fantastic lacing.

S- Malt, caramel, bourbon, chocolate, sweet oak. Simply fabulous nose on this beer. I'm tempted to bump it to a 5, but will leave it for now. Very complex, balanced, and improves w/ warming.

T- This is one of those big beers that the first sip I just mutter, "WOW". Super complex, tasty, and a world class sipper. At 14.5%, you definitely want to sip this. Amazingly, I don't get any alcohol in the taste. It's so complex, I don't even know how to start... Big malt/bourbon taste at first, followed by a slightly tart oak/fruit (cherry) taste. That's the stuff that's out front, but then there's caramel, chocolate, fig, and spices that are intertwined amongst the primaries. I can only imagine that this beer would be a 5 no problem if aged. Superb.

M- A total malt/smoothness vs. fruit/tartness and background hops feel. Somewhat dry finish as well. Very nice. Not super easy to drink, but this is a sipper anyway. Really good.

O- This is the reason I enjoy reviewing/trying new beers. To come across a World Class beer that I've never tried before. Highly recommended, especially if you like big beers or Old Ales. This is fantastic. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 16:45:53 | More by jayhawk73

The3rdbeer

California

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Bruery tulip at the Bruery, Poured with minimal head.

A- Dark brown hazle almost opaque, minimal head some bubbles in the beer looks to be medium carbonated.

S- Get some Darker old world fruit, a lot of spice, and malt sweetness, and some of the left over oak from the aging, the aroma is getting me ready for the taste !

T- Get that "special occasion" taste upfront, reminding me to check the ABV, 14.5% thats not a shock! wow, upfront with malt, then spice, oldworld fruits brown sugar and what people are claiming to be a faint "BBQ sauce" in the back along with that oak still from the burbon barrels.

M- Medium heavy mouth feel, this beer coats the glass when swirled, the carbonation is medium and the mouth is chewy, perfect for this special occasion warmer.

O- Bought a bottle, little short on cash but I will get another before its all gone and on Ebay for 40 bucks a bottle! What better way to celebrate than to crack this on their forth or fifth anniversary!

Will review bottle when I decide to drink!

Prost!

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2011 05:03:50 | More by The3rdbeer

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shared by Rutager

A: Slight cream head over cloudy brown liquid.

S: Caramel, yogurt and grass.

T: Caramel, yogurt, grass, pears, bananas, pine and alcohol.

M: Medium to thick viscosity and a high level of fine carbonation.

O: Sour, caramely and tasty. This beer would be fantastic aged even more.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 02:46:24 | More by DaftCaskBC

BrokenStones

New Jersey

4.48/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Outstanding...great way to start Superbowl tasting.

A - Burnt orange, a bit cloudy, very rich look.

S - Bourbon, Alcohol, Citrus...exactly what it is suposed to smell like.

T - rich, deep, bourbon, carmel, citrus, complex

M- full, coating, a little heat compliments and cuts through the full rich mouth feel.

O - A winner, not for the faint at heart. Deep, complex, a great sipper. Lots going on. Happy to have a couple standing up at 56 degrees.

Will try to find a few more.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 10:01:16 | More by BrokenStones

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-chestnut colored with a nice tan head. very pretty!

S-smells like maple, oak, and cognac. strong smelling

T-comes in with a strong taste of caramelized sugars, maple, vanilla, and some oak. its strong tasting! a burnt and good matching after-taste follows. really sweet and good!

M-very heavy and syrupy. medium carbonation with a dry finish

O-take the Sam Adams Utopias....make it more beer-like....make it more drinkable...make it a whole lot cheaper...and you have the Bruery Cuir...a fantastic beer that everyone should try...beer lover or not.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2011 18:08:28 | More by AdamBear

davey101

Connecticut

4.47/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle #16919. It was a bit of a struggle to break through the wax, and when I did it made quite a loud noise. Poured into an over sized wine glass at cellar temperature.

A - Dark reddish brown body, very clear but doesn't let a ton of light shine through. One of the better looking heads I've seen. The pour yielded an impressive 3-4 finger high dark khaki head. Very creamy and thick. Swirling creates some amazing bubbling. Huge amount of retention and lacing.

S - Loads of dark fruits. Figs, raisins, and plums. Caramel malts, molasses and rich toffee. This is a very sweet aroma followed by some savory tobacco, leather, and oak notes. Not picking up too many bourbon notes, but you can smell the alcohol.

T - More of the aroma. Dark caramelized fruits lead into some rich malty notes. This is a very delicious old ale. Its not as complex as I was expecting. In fact it seems really well balanced and tame. The high abv is hidden really well. and the bold and rich flavors never come off as cloying or extreme. The mouth feel is a bit on the light side, but the carbonation level is just right. This is a seriously amped up old ale.

O - An incredibly delicious beer. I was almost dreading opening this beer since the alcohol is so high and I was expecting something sickly sweet and rich. Turns out its fantastic. Really well balanced and well made. Cannot wait to try the future versions of this!

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 03:34:52 | More by davey101

ferrari29

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Beer poured from bottle into Stemmed wine glass

A - Beer poured with an opaque brown maple body; caramel look; color scheme matches the label; crème colored one finger head; held well; leaves behind a layer of lacing; moderate visible carbonation

S - Maple syrup; caramelized malt scents; dark fruits, figs and dates; brown sugar; sweet; subtle licorice note at the end of the sniff, combination of scents

T - Dark fruits; figs and dates; maple syrup; brown sugar, sweet; caramelized malt flavors; sour apple and pear; raisin

M - Effervescent and slightly chewy; smooth with a dark fruit aftertaste, slightly bitter - licorice; leaves a nice lingering sweet, brown sugar, taste on the lips

D - Fantastic drink; great flavor and scent profile; love this, please have this if you're an advocate of beer

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2011 21:08:56 | More by ferrari29

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours an extremely dark ruby red which appears to be a borderline chestnut brown. Clarity is good with moderate carbonation streaming from the center. One finger of off-white head dissipates quickly to a single, thick creamy topping. Good thick layer of fine lacing slides down the glass leaving a nice film.

There's the unfiltered part! The second pour is an impenetrable, murky reddish/mahogany color.

N: Concord grape, vanilla, oak, cherry, plum and I am getting some kind of tropical notes. Huge malts and extremely inviting.

T: Huge dark fruit maltiness! Figs, Concord grape, plums, vanilla and oak upfront with a slightly numbing booziness. A huge rush of grape comes in again with some molasses, cherry, candy sugar and a tiny hint of pineapple. Finishes with deep notes of dates, fig and cherry along with toffee, pineapple and charred cocoa.

M: Light-medium bodied, warming, creamy, soft and smooth with a subtle dryness.

O: Easily the best Old Ale I've ever had! Extremely rich, complex, potent and malty. Light touches of oak and vanilla are right on. 14.5%...I don't believe you! Dark fruit and malts galore!

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 23:13:49 | More by justintcoons

Immortale25

Florida

4.45/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Dogfish signature snifter. Aged at least one year.

A- Pours a very murky brown color with a 3/4 inch caramel colored head that retains well before slowly becoming a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a mostly full sheet of surface foam. Thin ring of semi-resilient lacing.

S- Oaky, boozy, semi-astringent but sweet smelling. Strong solvent-like aroma.

T- Strong, somewhat medicinal flavor of oak and brown sugar with a mild bitterness and toasty cereal grain malts. A bit of smoke and barbecue tastes commingle with the alcohol and oak. Lingering sweetness with a touch of honey and molasses. Also notes of caramel, raisin, dark fruit and vanilla. Very complex.

M- Sharp, somewhat harsh booze bite. Other than that, the body is slightly creamy and the medium carbonation is a pleasant surprise. Burns the throat a bit as it goes down.

O- Whoo boy. The only thing that could make this better is another year or so of age, but I like where the level of carbonation is at right now. Almost worth the thirty bucks I spent.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 01:50:02 | More by Immortale25

chugalug06

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours very nice with gently building head... Brew is awesome clear (without yeast) blood red with brown and orange tannins. The swirl is quite wonderful! Nice bubble retention around the rim.

S - VERY nice sour scent... Lots of Oak (vanilla). Quite a nice deep and dark fruity scent. Maybe some light chocolate too??

T - First taste was overly pear, great opening draw. High booze taste, but will nicely age out. Flavor is very abrasive and strong. Elegant, yet aggressive. Wonderful use of oak aging. This guy has some serious long term potential. Serious fruit flavors... Apple, Pear, Banana, Orange, and Vanilla

M - is for Medium bodied... Great use of light carbonation... Brew is phenomenally textured.

O - A killer brew thanks to Rob for sharing his purchase! Best around room temperature with a little bit of stirring...

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2011 02:39:59 | More by chugalug06

drabmuh

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Beer served in my Bruery tulip, bottle 03479 for what it is worth. Beer is brown and hazy with a big off white head of small bubbles, nice retention, lots of lacing and moderate to high carbonation.

Beer smells sweet, molasses, bready, yeast, brown sugar. Smells good.

Beer is very sweet, lots of booze but tolerable. Tobacco, mild, nice yeast character. Smooth alcohol sweetness, mildly dry finish. Beer is really creamy and flavorful. I am really feeling this beer. Much better than Coton was last year. I really like it.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2011 03:34:02 | More by drabmuh

RSchaeffer

New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review #12
750 mL bottle
A kind gift from my brother.

A - Pours dark brown, slight red hue from the light. About a finger of light tan head with nice retention.

S - I really enjoyed the smell of this. Picked up vanilla, oak, bourbon, and leather. Dark fruits, prunes, and brown sugar. Slight sour character.

T - Fairly complex. Faint tartness, oak, malt, dark fruits, and leather. Finish is oak, bourbon, and a touch of vanilla. I definitely pick up on the booze, but feel it's hidden fairly well.

M - I had initially imagined for this beer to be heavier than it was. Surprisingly easy to drink, slightly chewy. Coats the mouth with alcohol warmth, but not syrupy.

O - This was the first beer that I have tried from The Bruery and I was very impressed. I thank my brother (who isn't too into beer) for picking up a bottle. Definitely in the right place at the right time. Would love to try the 100% BA version.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 00:20:20 | More by RSchaeffer

Krakistophales

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a dark plum color with a bit of a tan head that recedes quickly into a halo and bubbles.

S: Candied fruit, caramel, toffee, cherries, grapes, sherry booziness

T: Fruity sweetness, mostly cherries and grapes, this one bites nicely at 14.5%. After the fruity sweetness comes a bit of a vanilla/oakish character and then recedes into a slightly dry finish, and a hint of bourbon.

O: Nice brew. It lacks a bit of complexity for me but it's still a mighty fine brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 03:03:14 | More by Krakistophales

chumba526

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appears deep, dark brown with a small off white almost tan looking head.

Smells of roasted malts, brown sugar and sweet dark fruits. I get overtone of cherries prunes and plums. There is a mild toffee like smell and overtones of coconut and vanilla.

A powerful oaky coconut and vanilla flavor hits my palate upon the first sip. Hints of dark fruit mostly raison plumbs and cherry. There is a present mix of sweet and sour flavors. There is a mild bourbon flavor that rounds off the flavor of the beer.

The carbonation is moderate and there is a somewhat thick mouthfeel to the beer.

Overall a very interesting old ale that is quite drinkable for how alcohol heavy it is. An amazing beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2011 20:57:02 | More by chumba526

Marty30

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Aces and Ales strong beer festival.

A. Kind of a deep ruby almost brown. Head is almost non existant just a cap with large bubbles. Has a thick look to it.No lacing given the ABV.

S. Sweet sugary dark fruits, Some leather with a hint of tabacco. I definately detect some alchohol.

T. Sugary dark fruits,some plum dark cherries,I also get a touch of vanilla with a hint of leather to balence it out somewhat.

M. Feel is thick and heavy coats the mouth all over. Sweet aftertaste.

Overall I loved this beer,very well made. I am going to try and get a couple bottles. Would also love to try the BA version.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2011 01:54:31 | More by Marty30

Heatwave33

Florida

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle to a Cigar City Snifter.

Color: Dark brown with a tan head.

Smell: Cherry, malts, alcohol (whiskey).

Taste: Same as the aroma. Cherries, malts and alcohol (whiskey).

Mouthfeel: Good carbonation, slightly coarse, alcohol presence.

Overall: Great body to this brew. Taste reminded me of a wine a little bit. I enjoyed it very much. Can't wait to try it aged! Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 17:33:33 | More by Heatwave33

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to BeerFMAndy for sharing this one.

Ruddy amber brown with a tiny wisp of beige head. Smells of candied fruits, butter toffee, leather and a touch of hops. Flavors are a mirror of the nose. Super smooth honey drizzled dark fruits, leather, tobacco, caramel and a mild hop bite. To find any trace of the insanely high ABV is impossible. Masterful job of brewing here. Thick and creamy body. I usually am not a fan of old ales but this one was really good.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 18:02:34 | More by beerwolf77

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: Waxed and capped 750 mL bottle poured into a couple of Sierra Nevada tulips and shared with a friend. Picked up a couple bottles over the border in Massachusetts for $22 a piece. Served at just below cellar temperature.

Appearance: Dark caramel brown in color with a one finger beige head. Decent retention.

Aroma: The ABV is really well blended in the beer and does not come off as too heavy at all. Caramel and molasses notes come off and lend a nice sweetness. Dark fruits, a hint of cocoa powder, and hazelnut notes all blend nicely.

Taste: Nice rounded sweetness of caramel and molasses upfront with hints of bourbon and vanilla. Lots of dark fruit, hazelnut, and a touch of cocoa powder. On the verge, but stays away from being cloyingly sweet. A really nice, complex and surprisingly balanced sipper.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with a nice hint of carbonation. Really nice.

Overall, a really nice and balanced old ale. Plenty of complexity with bourbon and vanilla undertones. The price tag is a bit over the top, but this was definitely a welcome treat and nicely balanced at this age for the ABV. I am laying the other bottle down to see how this evolves.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 03:36:44 | More by Gosox8787

ngeunit1

California

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a super cloudy brown color with a touch of red mixed in with a finger of frothy brownish head. The head fades down fairly quick leaving behind some light lace.

S - Aroma is sweet dark fruit with lots of raisin and plum, Bourbon with some oak and vanilla, rich sweet caramel, and some booze.

T - Starts off with some sweet raisin and plum with some Bourbon and oak warming things up. Through the middle, some strong vanilla notes come through with some booze, dark caramel sweetness, and some fig and earthiness. The finish is a mix of strong Bourbon notes, sweet dark fruits, and a good amount of booze.

M - Full bodied with mild carbonation. Feels smooth with a big warming and sweet finish.

D - Very drinkable. Really big and bold with lots of sweetness, but it avoids being cloying. The Bourbon element is also very nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 03:42:14 | More by ngeunit1

Dope

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a murky rusty brownish amber. Good sized fizzy tan head which fades slowly. Spotty lacing.

S: Big boozy raisins with loads of caramel backing it up. Strong brown sugar. Some other dark fruits such as cherry and plums maybe? I get a bit of cocoa in there too. Stinging alcohol. Just a touch of oak. Very nice, almost smells like a spiced rum in a way.

T: Up front is sweet and fruity with the raisins, plums, cherries, maybe even grape skin? Caramel, brown sugar and a bit of toffee in the middle. A little bit of bitter cocoa in the finish with a touch of oak and vanilla. Really nice lingering fruitiness between sips.

M: Big and heavy for sure. Not syrupy or cloying though. Drying on the back end with hints of oak.

O: Excellent old ale. I've actually had Fruet prior to having this, and I would say that Fruet is definitely a bit better, especially with the 100% barrel aging. Wish I had 100% BA Cuir to compare but this will have to do. Regardless, they made a sweet 14.5% beer without making it too sweet. Surprisingly balanced and complex. I enjoyed it a lot.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 05:46:34 | More by Dope

smakawhat

Maryland

4.4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured on tap at Pizza Paradiso Dupont DC into a medium snifter, 10oz pour.. it's happy hour time!

A foamy tan head that is off yellow, with lots of stickyness. Cloudy body of dark somewhat murky brown is present. It's a real nice color and the head has incredible staying power.

First smell is table wine, then a big sense of caramel malts and sweetness. Concord like grape then cherry comes over with incredible fruit punch along with this malty backbone. Quite different.

Taste is at first a chocolate milk bent but more emphasis on a dry powdered malt almost Abuleta breakfast like. Grape sensation comes through with a dense body, almost... just a hint of citrus grapefruit wanting to peak out. Finish has a quinine tonic water sense but without the wetness, and ever so slight.

Overall very impressive, but kind of an odd mish mash of things. I think the brew is a little polarizing, I think people are either going to love this or hate it. It's high abv is incredibly masked and is still super drinkable, without a big boozy alcohol bomb in your stomach. For me this brew is great but also stupidly dangerous and sometimes, that's not a bad thing.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2011 23:29:33 | More by smakawhat

GDBEERMAN

Colorado

4.4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle into tulip.

A: A deep brown body pours a finger head of light tan. Carbonation is low and lacing is light and spotty.

S: A nice vanilla and plum aroma, with a good level of spice. a bit of a low intensity aroma for the style. Low but subtle bourbon influences.

T/M: Rich, sweet malty notes, that reflect plums and dark chocolate. Spice on the palate with a long lingering finish. Low hop bitterness. Vanilla shown from the bourbon oak, with bourbon in the background. Bourbon is blended perfectly not too much to over power, but not to light, that goes unnoticed.

O: Overall, this is a solid beer, and with age, it can only get better. I really enjoyed the bourbon influence, as some brews turn one denominational. This beer is a nice offering for the series.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2011 02:56:37 | More by GDBEERMAN

Arenbeer

Connecticut

4.4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle into a tulip glass thanks to finewinemike

Bottle number 09806

A- Pours a deep dark reddish brown with 1 finger worth of khaki head that sticks around leaving a rim of big bubbles sticking to the glass. Tons of carbonation streaming up from the bottom of the glass, small head retention but some really nice sexy legs on the side of the glass.

S- Slightly roasted malts with lots of dark fruits like rum soaked raisins, figs, and dates. Also getting notes of molasses, vinous grapes, cherries, fresh leather, toffee, and slight wood notes. Definitely a big boozy note in there.

T- Sweet sweet toffee and caramel up front that is quickly taken away by a strong array of raisins, plums, and cherries. Lots of candied sugar, molasses, brown sugar to help with the sweetness, also big notes of wood, musty oak, and leather. Believe it or not the alcohol is there but very well blended and hidden.

M- Full bodied with moderate carbonation and a nice sweet mouth coating finish.

SkÅL!

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 21:11:10 | More by Arenbeer

haazer

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

My first waxed beer offering. Not quite sure why that's done, we know it's a special beer n all but c'mon. Bottle # 5,344.

A- Pour into the pint glass warrants a towering tan, mocha and foamy head. Has a cream appearance. Brew is a dark copper color, with black cherry and brown highlights. For the amount of booze the head lasts surprisingly long and leaves tiny streaks of lacing on the glass.

S- Strong fruity aromas filled the air when I poured this. Further examination leads me to plum, raisin, and dates. The aroma in this is layered very well. Under the fruit is a subtle toffee and vanilla, then a faint peat layer. I cannot detect booze either, let's see if it's in the flavor.

T- The sweet plums and the raisin begin the flavor. The barrel then provides a decent wood, then subtle vanilla flavor. But then a heavy flavor I can only describe as a mixture of caramel, toffee, and molasses. Just delicious. There was a strong heat at first, but the booze really is not tasted. It seemlessly mellows out. Fairly sweet brew overall but not quite cloying.

M- Definition of a sipper. The mouthfeel itself though is medium to full. Warming body effects for sure but not overly. Carbonation is somewhat light. Somewhat syrupy too.

O- This beer feels like it would stand the test of time and only get better. I loved it now as is, but would love to get another bottle and sit on it for at least 2 years. I feel as though the 25% barrel age added just enough to make this exceptional. I may have spoiled my first impression of The Breury with this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 01:39:38 | More by haazer

maximum12

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Didn't really expect bottles of this brew to show up in Wisconsin just across the river, but they did. Would have picked up two except for the stiff price tag - ouch. 750ML bottles poured into two snifters. I gulped the remants. Good remants. One point.

What is with California breweries & their need to wax everything within an inch of its life? Go to New Glarus & see how this is done properly! Pour is ruddy, reddish brown, perhaps the darkest red one can get without using the black crayon. Suprisingly persistent head. The smell escapes it bonds immediately to find the nose: brown sugar, oak, vanilla. Good.

I have discovered that Cuir is not to be gulped, lest the alcohol rip your trachea out like a protective mama grizzly bear (I'm not looking at you, Sarah). Alcohol is stinging. Aside from the liver-shivering characteristics, there's a big dose of oak, one of the woodier beers I've had. Huge dose of vanilla, coated with figgy, prunish, raisin kind of tastes. The bourbon begins to cut into this bouillabaise as the beer warms. Almost a honey-like finish. Gargantuan body, this is a sipper that demands a pipe, wood fire, & a silk robe. Heavy & brutal. Yet strangely drinkable. I keep coming back to the glass to try to ferret out one more neat trick this beer wears on its sleeve.

Well, hell. This beer rocks my boat. Excellent. Complex, layered, tasty as all get-out. Best of the anniversary beers to date. Even at this price, I might have to go back & buy another one.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 03:29:39 | More by maximum12