Cuir (100% Bourbon Barrel Aged) - The Bruery

davod23

California

4.9/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Holy jumping fuckin' shitballs, this is a great beer. Poured into my Bruery snifter from the bottle while watching Drag Me to Hell (I salute you, Sam Raimi).

Deep brownish crimson, perfect clarity when held up to the light, impressive cap of tan foam that just never seems to completely go away. Nice legs when swirled. Oh, and I really like the bottle/label/wax on this too, which is just a bonus. Awesome.

Smell is outstanding. Candy aromas abound - toffee, caramel, rum raisin, perhaps a bit of generic nuttiness, booze, and a good amount of vanilla and bourbon to round it out. Awesome.

Taste... is to die for. Ye gods. This series is incredible, and seems to keep getting better. I had a bottle of the BA Coton a couple weeks ago and was floored, and I think this is better. Big bourbon, figs and raisins, toffee crunch, caramel, and a big spoonful of vanilla cream. Awesome.

Mouthfeel is absolutely perfect. Full, rich, not quite syrupy, long lasting finish. Perfect amount of carbonation. Awesome.

Overall: Did I mention this beer is awesome? Black Tuesday might want to move over, I may have a new favorite from the Bruery.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 22:52:41 | More by davod23

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