Cuir (100% Bourbon Barrel Aged) - The Bruery

thebouch01

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +4.4%

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

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%

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

baybassboy

California

4/5  rDev -12.1%

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

pperez38

California

4.25/5  rDev -6.6%

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

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev -6.6%

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

DonFrap

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -17.6%

03-03-2013 21:09:41 | More by DonFrap

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -12.1%

03-01-2013 15:37:04 | More by t0rin0

pzymali

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +4.4%

02-23-2013 17:15:44 | More by pzymali

Auror

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%

02-19-2013 04:05:12 | More by Auror

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -6.6%

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

Azrael

4.25/5  rDev -6.6%

02-09-2013 06:08:13 | More by Azrael

beergorrilla

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%

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

Zaphog

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%

01-29-2013 04:13:22 | More by Zaphog

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

4.78/5  rDev +5.1%
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 +4.4%

01-21-2013 05:48:08 | More by extra

MordorMongo

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%

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

Gobzilla

California

4.33/5  rDev -4.8%
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

dtx00

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +9.9%

12-30-2012 20:40:03 | More by dtx00

fo1ksguitar

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%

11-14-2012 19:06:47 | More by fo1ksguitar

claspada

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a murky brown color with a smallish khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer leaving some solid lacing.

Aromas begin with caramelized brown sugars, toffee, treacle and prunes/dried fruits. The barrels come in more as it warms with vanilla, toasted coconut and minimal oak. There are some minimal oxidative sherry notes that will no doubt increase with time.

The tastes follow the nose but are more bold beginning with sweet caramel maltiness, figs, dates, vanilla, toasted bread and some candy/honey/maple notes. Once again as it warms the oak comes out a little more with some emerging minimal booziness and some sweet bourbon alcohol (really minimal for such a huge beer).

The mouthfeel is medium to heavy bodied with medium to low carbonation. Finish is big and bold but surprisingly not cloying or boozy; balanced overall from the barrel 100% barrel aging to help cut the huge malt backbone.

Overall, what a treat. Definitely a sharer/shipper and one to be enjoyed over a period of time. The flavors are so bold and delicious it warrents spending time with each sip. I never had either of the previous barrel versions but I heard this is the best one to date and is really in a good place right now so I recommend opening one if you are currently sitting on one or trading for one if you have the arsenal.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 15:13:05 | More by claspada

Mister_Joshy

California

4.75/5  rDev +4.4%

11-04-2012 16:17:07 | More by Mister_Joshy

claaark13

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -6.6%

10-19-2012 02:26:06 | More by claaark13

Auracom

Illinois

4.26/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

After trying 100% BA Coton [very recently], Dan and I decided to crack this one for the hell of it. Thanks man! 7-8 oz. poured into a CBS snifter on October 11th, 2012.

A - Damn this looks so thin for what it is, even thinner than Coton. Semi clear, medium-brown with a khaki head that quickly reduces to thin film. Marginal lacing, though I give props to it for 14.5%.

S - Really very close to 100% Coton, with that predominant, unwavering, wonderful bourbon character. Oak barrel and mahogany, tannic. Touch of vanilla and coconut. Underneath I get a heavier molasses and sweet syrup note than I recall from the previous anniversary.

T - Almost exactly as I thought it would be. It's not as well balanced as 100% Coton, with a much more prominent molasses and caramel that is just a tad too sweet. The barrel is the same, the bourbon is the same, but it just doesn't have that integration. Still hard to argue with this one though.

M - Medium body, semi-dry finish. Low but sufficient carbonation.

D - Great, but not mind-blowing. I still think it's weird that base 25% Cuir was so much better than base 25% Coton, yet the 100% version flip-flop. Oh well. Would never say no to a pour of this.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 19:53:36 | More by Auracom

Sixofsigmas

California

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%

10-04-2012 22:00:37 | More by Sixofsigmas

Brew33

Ohio

3.08/5  rDev -32.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

This is a LONG time want for me. I've passed it up in the cellar for months waiting for the right day to pop it. Decided to give it a go.

First off it pours a TOWERING tan head. Wait.... It's a 14.5% Barrel aged old ale with a 4 finger head? Okay... The aroma was as expected. Bourbon forward, sugary malts, booze. Not bad at all. The flavor was pretty good. The alcohol is disguised well a la Black Tuesday. The Bruery really knows how to mask the alcohol in these high abv beers. That being said, it's WAY too sweet. The style and abv would certainly suggest ample sweetness but this is downright messy. Brown sugar, Sugar Daddy's, chewing tobacco, cooked caramel, bourbon. Incessant sweetness. Overpowering, no balance of flavors at all just in your face sweetness that really detracts from the experience. It's a shame.

The mouthfeel was pretty good considering the overzealous carbonation. Overall this beer has the drinkability of amber malt extract and the sweetness to match. The complexity is simply buried under what I believe is a mountain of sugar. Swing and a miss Bruery.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 13:49:24 | More by Brew33