Cuir (100% Bourbon Barrel Aged) - The Bruery

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

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

Poured from a 750 mL bottle into a snifter. Thanks to bauermj for bringing this over.

Appearance: The pour is a full caramel color with a tight off-white head.

Smell: Caramel, marshmallows, bourbon, vanilla, oak.

Taste: The taste is very smooth. Vanilla, caramel malt, and then a toasted malt leads into a strong, boozy bourbon flavor. Vanilla, spice and oak help to finish out with a bit of maple and alcohol bite.

Mouthfeel: Creamy with a medium level carbonation, and a body on the full side. Given the 14.5% ABV though, "on the full side" is pretty light. There is a grainy nature to it.

Drinkability: This is quite a good beer, but it does not quite top the list of best old ales I have had. Bourbon barrel fourth dementia is better.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 03:12:24 | More by KickInTheChalice

Hessian257

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%

06-16-2013 13:32:47 | More by Hessian257

dksl16

California

4.75/5  rDev +4.2%

06-12-2013 06:56:16 | More by dksl16

Justinsosmart

California

5/5  rDev +9.6%

06-02-2013 20:27:59 | More by Justinsosmart

kmoen

California

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%

06-01-2013 02:37:43 | More by kmoen

SkiBum22

New York

4.75/5  rDev +4.2%

05-29-2013 02:27:43 | More by SkiBum22

HaveUSeenMyCellar

California

4.75/5  rDev +4.2%

05-28-2013 00:46:05 | More by HaveUSeenMyCellar

BAsbill

California

4.75/5  rDev +4.2%

05-27-2013 23:16:39 | More by BAsbill

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%

05-19-2013 01:43:43 | More by Photekut

baybassboy

California

4/5  rDev -12.3%

05-14-2013 04:21:33 | More by baybassboy

pperez38

California

4.25/5  rDev -6.8%

05-02-2013 10:57:57 | More by pperez38

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev -6.8%

03-10-2013 02:00:50 | More by AlexFields

DonFrap

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -17.8%

03-03-2013 21:09:41 | More by DonFrap

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -12.3%

03-01-2013 15:37:04 | More by t0rin0

pzymali

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +4.2%

02-23-2013 17:15:44 | More by pzymali

Auror

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%

02-19-2013 04:05:12 | More by Auror

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -6.8%

02-19-2013 01:54:03 | More by jaasen64

Azrael

4.25/5  rDev -6.8%

02-09-2013 06:08:13 | More by Azrael

beergorrilla

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%

01-30-2013 04:45:22 | More by beergorrilla

Zaphog

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%

01-29-2013 04:13:22 | More by Zaphog

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

4.78/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle 17,0% Abv. (Though my bottle lists the Abv at 14,5%)
Served lightly chilled and split between an over sized wine glass and a snifter.
Bottle number 764

A massive thanks to futura123 for sending this bottle my way.

Appearance: Bourbon barrel-aged Cuir appears a medium brown in the glass, with a back light revealing the body to in fact be a very deep red with bright golden edges. A rough pour yields a massive beige coloured head (so much for the idea that a high Abv. and barrel aging kill head formation) that displays good retention, but doesn't leave any lacing.

Smell: Ah man, this smells amazing - the extra 75% barrel aging has worked wonders for this beer! The nose if astoundingly complex and displays the perfect balance between barrel character and the base beer. Notes include: Bourbon, soft vanilla, oak, sweet caramel, butterscotch, toffee, brown sugar, a hint of nose tingling alcohol (though that is to be expected from a 17% monster like this), a touch of maple, apples cooked in brown sugar, raisins, figs, dates and a note that is reminiscent of leather.

Taste: Holy balls, this is insane! The flavour takes all the components of the nose and just makes them more intense! The initial flavour is very sweet (just what I like), with sweet caramel, brown sugar, butterscotch, vanilla, bourbon and brown sugar all easily noted. Decadent bourbon soaked fruits (raisins, figs, dates and stewed plums) soon join the picture, along with a hint of maple, some oak and an earthy, almost leathery character. There is a little alcohol present, but rather than hinder the flavour it helps to temper the sweetness and keep the beer drinkable.

Mouthfeel: The level of carbonation (medium or just over) is a little high for my tastes, however it is sufficiently smooth that it is not really a big deal. The body is just shy of full and quite sticky.

Overall: 100% Bourbon Barrel-aged Cuir is easily one of the best old ales that I have had - the extra 75% barrel aging makes a world of difference and lifts a good beer into the world class category. I was a little hesitant to open this one on my own, however it was so good I had no problem hammering the entire bottle and would happily do so again!

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 20:54:11 | More by Thehuntmaster

extra

California

4.75/5  rDev +4.2%

01-21-2013 05:48:08 | More by extra

MordorMongo

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%

01-13-2013 21:35:45 | More by MordorMongo

thebouch01

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +4.2%

01-02-2013 21:32:22 | More by thebouch01

Gobzilla

California

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

A: poured reddish amber brown in color with pale orange highlights when held up to the light and a big bubbly head that left plenty of frothy lacing sticking to the glass.

S: plenty of caramel, brown sugar and maple sweetness were apparent upfront on the nose with bourbon barrel character present, a good amount of booze heat, subtle darl fruit, mild burnt sugar, hints of vanilla and sweet belgian yeast notes.

T: dark fruitiness was more apparent on the palate alongside caramel burnt sugar sweetness, plenty of booze, good bourbon barrel accents, sweet belgian yeast, a touch of vanilla and lots of malty goodness.

M: the brew was medium to full in body with plenty of carbonation which had a dark fruity, sweet, bourbon barrel, boozy, malty rich and sticky finish.

O: I have to admit it was a damn good beer but these anniversary brews are very similar in so many ways; to me I guess.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 10:54:55 | More by Gobzilla