Smoking Wood Rye Barrel Aged - The Bruery

mdfb79

New York

4.23/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From 10/30/12 notes. This is actually from the first batch; 750ml bottle poured into my Duvel tulip.

a - Pours a pitch black color with one finger plus of fluffy dark tan head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of chocolate, roasted malts, bourbon, smoke, vanilla, oak, light dark fruits, burnt malts, and toasted malts. Awesome nose; the smoke is there, but some awesome rye bourbon and chocolate come through more. I like this nose better than the newer Bourbon version, but only a bittle bit.

t - Taste follows the nose but a ton more smoke. Tastes of smokey malts, burnt malts, roasted malts, bourbon, alcohol, oak, light vanill, and some light chocolate. Smoke really dominates here; it tastes good, though a step down from the nose and the taste of the Bourbon version.

m - Medium to full body and moderate carbonation. Body is smooth, with a little bit of alcohol.

o - Overall a very nice smoked porter/stout again. I think I like the nose better on this one, but the taste and mouthfeel a little bit better on the Bourbon version, so the bourbon wins our for me. Still a great beer though, and glad I have a few coming to me this year.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 16:50:19 | More by mdfb79

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.8/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle opened on 9.7.12.

A - Pours a very dark brown, but not quite black, with a one inch medium brown head. Good retention.

S - Some smoke, chocolate, stale coffee.

T - Smoke up front, then coffee, chocolate, roasted malts, then a smokey finish.

D - Good carbonation with a heavy body. A sweet smoke lingers.

O - Smokey and sweet roasted, coffee and chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 05:30:14 | More by HuskyinPDX

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.28/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a solid dark brown/black color with a decent sized tan head that slowly dissipates to a cap. Wow that is smoky! True to the name it smells like a campfire. Smoky phenols and a hint of chocolate and caramel deep underneath. The flavor is much the same. I find some caramel and chocolate before the ashy burnt wood phenols take over. The smoke persists until the end when I get a solid dose of spicy rye and ethanol, but by then I'm glad to get it. Medium body with a light to moderate level of carbonation and a sweet and somewhat chalky and ashy mouthfeel. If you could somehow liquify a campfire that someone had dropped the chocolate from their smores into this would be the result. I'm glad I got to try this its different, but I'm also glad that I had a few people helping me finish the bottle too. The bourbon version in my opinion was a bit better the sweetness from the bourbon counters the smoke a bit better. The rye adds a spiciness that almost intensifies the smoke.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 00:23:20 | More by johnnnniee

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

reviewed from notes taken 6/16/12.

poured into snifter; drank side by side with Bourbon Smoking Wood.

Appearance: dark brown bodied beer with 2 fingers of tan colored head with mild lacing thats a little spotty.

Smell: Moderate smoke notes in the nose. Roasty, meaty, eathy, spicy rye smoke notes. Little bit of sweetness from the malts maybe choclate.

Taste: The smoke is bigger in the taste as well. Really smokey with a nice rye note from this beer. The smoke is very meaty especially bacon. Also is earthy. It has a nice balance between the rye and the smoke!

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation.

Overall: Enjoyed the Bourbon Smoking Wood much better than the Rye Smoken Wood. The Rye really drives the smokiness to be much bigger in the nose and the taste of the Rye version; compared to the smoke level in the Bourbon. The rye notes make the beer really tasty and unique. Thanks for bring this to your Birthday Bruery Tasting Kent!

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 02:00:34 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes from The Bruery tasting I hosted Saturday night.

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a Half Acre tulip.

A- Pours black with a 2" tan head. Amazing spiderweb lacing remains on the glass.

S- Peaty, smoke, meat, and slight chocolate.

T- Roasted malts, smoke, chocolate, and slight coffee.

M- Medium body, high carbonation. Has a slightly dry feel and finish.

O- Very good smoked porter.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 13:42:38 | More by kawilliams81

Duff27

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Half inch tan head on a dark brown body. Great head retention. cool lacing.

S- Sweet bacony whiskey liquor, just wanna smell it forever.

T- Highly meaty mayne. Give me the willies, or it may be the cold rain.

M- More carbonated than you'd expect. Medium mouthfeel.

D/O- Yum. This one was a treat. You like meaty, smokey bacon? Those are a few of my favorite things. Thanks kawilliams81!

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 03:38:28 | More by Duff27

aasher

Indiana

4.35/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer was courtesy of the immortal Rempo. Thanks Mark! You're a ridiculous individual.

Rye Smoking Wood pours a medium bodied chocolate brown with a creamy, one finger beige head. The nose is rich and creamy. It features nice milky chocolate, light roast, coffee creamers, and salty smoke. There is also some nice bacon and oak as well. The chocolate and bacon aspects work really well together, in a bacon dessert type of manner. The rye is subtle yet present. It drinks big, viscous, soft and silky. It has a really nice and creamy finish. It's impressive. The flavor is perfectly integrated. I could drink a lot of this. This is a really unique and complex smoked beer. The Bruery has succeeded once again! Despite the ratings, I much preferred this to the bourbon version.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 03:36:14 | More by aasher

TATURBO

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Very Dark nearly black but not totally opaque. Medium to strong on the carbonation during the pour with plenty of head and nice lacing

S: Smokey Vanilla.

T: Spicy. Meaty. Peat & Wood Smoke. Malty.

M: Medium Mouthfeel with a very well hidden 10% alcohol.

O: If smoked beers are to your liking than this one is really good. The Rye brings the smoke out nicely but still isn't overbearing. Had back to back with Bourbon Barrel version. This has a smoky, bacon, meaty goodness. Also paired nicely with some Ancho Chili Dark Chocolate Cake Balls from Swiss Colony. Smoke well balanced overall. I'd give it a 4.25 overall

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 15:26:36 | More by TATURBO

champ103

Texas

2.73/5  rDev -31.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours a dark black color. Not totally opaque, but close. A two finger tan head forms and gently recedes. Light lace.
S: Smoke, wood, chocolate, burnt sugars. Tons of meaty smoke in the finish.
T: Follows the nose with charred wood, chocolate, burnt sugars all intermingling with smoked meat. A bit over attenuated with the sweetness, and the smoke is over barring.
M/D: A full body and low carbonation. Sticky and syrupy. I can only take this is small doses. With the smoke, sweetness, and alcohol this is way to hard to sip and enjoy for me.

This is over barring, and not something I particularly enjoyed. Not something I would recommend.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 00:40:13 | More by champ103

mdaschaf

Washington

3.98/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from notes. Thanks to Jay for opening this one.

A: Pours a dark brown color with a small tan head on top. Nice retention with spotty lacing.

S: The barrel comes through strong on the aroma, some whiskey, vanilla, and brown sugar. There is a little bit of smoke and spice.

T: Nice and malty with a good spice undertone. The smoke was not in your face, probably from the barrel aging. Some vanilla and oak with the smoke coming in on the finish.

M: Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation. Abv well hidden with an appropriate level of smoke.

O: Beer paired great with smoked sausage. Liked the combination of barrel aging with the smoke, makes for a tasty combination.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 03:06:59 | More by mdaschaf

Phelps

Arizona

4.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle into a snifter.

Poured at 55 degrees, the beer almost looks like it’s nitrogenated. It explodes with dense, creamy bubbles, the cinnamon-colored head getting close to two inches tall. The second pour, at a colder temp, was much more manageable. In both cases, the brew below is deep black.

Fantastic aroma. Milk chocolate, oats, lots of vanilla and maple, tons of caramel. The smoke is subtle, but blends nicely with the other flavors.

Tastes like a fantastic cigar. Smoky, wet tobacco; spicy rye; sweet bourbon. Again there are hints of chocolate, toast, vanilla and toffee. The wood is tannic, making the drink like sucking a cube of rye-soaked oak. A flash of tangy prunes at the swallow. The sweet blend is so drinkable it’s scary.

Soft yet thin body. Carbonation is just a light tingle; alcohol fumes blaze through the throat.

Awesome entendre aside, Smoking Wood has a great aroma and a good flavor. I’d suggest you drink it cold if you don’t want to deal with all the froth.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 04:43:40 | More by Phelps

s1ckboy

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - black body, 3 finger brown town head

S - some whisky

T - whisky, chocolate, sweet, brown sugar, oak, very small amount of smoke.

M - smooth carbonation, smooth finish

Very good beer. Smoke was definitely on the lighter side which was surprising but also quite nice. Barrel characteristics were equally as subtle. Very good, mellow beer. I want more.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 03:30:16 | More by s1ckboy

craytonic

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Dark mahogany-brown pour with a tan head, decent head and lacing

Smell: Smoke, whiskey, oak. A bit boozy

Taste: The smoke really dominates and detracts, followed by oak, chocolate malts, roast, vanilla and rye. Perhaps too much time in the barrels, too much smoke and too much rye

Mouthfeel: medium body, low carbonation

Overall: Very glad I only purchased one and I skipped the other variant as this beer with no regrets.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 02:32:18 | More by craytonic

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from bottle into an oversized wine glass. Poured a massively dark brown with a half finger khaki colored head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, roasted malt, smoke, wood, and alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, roasted malt, smoke, wood, alcohol, dark chocolate, and dark fruit. It had a medium feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. The name of this brew really had me concerned that this was going to be a smoke bomb. However, this one was very well balanced and the smoke merely played a subtle role in the flavor and aroma. Everything on this was very nicely put together and enjoyable. Definitely one of my favorite smoked brews I’ve had in awhile. Nice job on this one Bruery!

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 03:52:52 | More by thagr81us

Gobzilla

California

3.68/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: poured a dark brown in color with a brown ring highlight at the top and a very thin head that left pretty much no lacing sticking to the glass.

S: a mixture of smoke and chocolate roated malts were there on the first whiff but had caramel character, characoal, slight brown sugar and some woody whiskey barrel notes.

T: the woody whiskey barrel character was more apparent on the palate alongside smokey charcoal, brown sugar and chocoalte flavor but with BBQ accents.

M: the brew was medium in body with a very low amount of carbonation which had a smokey, woody, whiskey barrel, chocolatey, mild sweet, and sticky finish.

O: the brew was preety good for the style and really liked the fact it was aged in whiskey barrels since I tend not to see that very often.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 07:36:55 | More by Gobzilla

phichifiji00

California

4.13/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Black with two fingers of thick tan head that fades slowly.

Smell: smoked malt, peat, rye, vanilla, caramel, whiskey, bourbon, hint of chocolate.

Taste: smoked malt, rye, vanilla, caramel, bourbon, hint of chocolate, a bit astringent as it warms.

Mouthfeel: full bodied, silky, moderate carbonation.

Overall: A very tasty smoked beer. Well balanced, fairly complex. Good drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 05:53:04 | More by phichifiji00

largadeer

California

4.2/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle opened by sandstone. Thanks, Rog.

Opaque dark brown pour. The head is thin but lasting and sticky.

The nose has a really good balance of campfire smoke, chocolate malt, earthy rye and sweet whiskey barrel. I'm impressed by how harmonious it all is. Smoke is the dominant quality, but just barely - it's restrained enough to allow complexities of the beer to shine through.

Roasty, chocolate forward palate. Big wood smoke flavor, earthiness, oak, some heat and caramel from the barrel. Medium-full body. Really nice finish, just enough roast, barrel and smoke. A great beer, pleasantly modest in both sweetness and ABV for a barrel aged Bruery beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 06:22:34 | More by largadeer

mulder1010

Australia

4.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 ML poured into a tulip
Thanks to Mr Kennedy for opening this up

A-- Poured a dark cola color. Settled black. One finger dark brown head that slowly worked it's way to a nice, thick collar. Good head retention and good spotty lacing that stuck to the sides of the glass.

S-- ACK...Smoke!!!! lots of initial aroma of smoke. Once it settled down got smoked bacon, salted cashews, chocolate, and slight bits of oak and rye whiskey.

T-- Smoked chocolate and smoked vanilla. Smoke somewhat drops off to dark chocolate, vanilla, and light barrel notes of oak and rye.

M-- Medium bodied and low carbonation. Works well as the barrel notes are soft so the smoke meshes well with the beer. Quite smooth after working way through the smoke.

O-- Struggled with the beer at first but once it opened up it was quite good. Not something I would want a lot of but it is a good change of pace and a beer that is pretty complex. Very much a slow sipper. Took about an hour to get through the bottle being shared.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 14:26:05 | More by mulder1010

MasterSki

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by Nanoslug. Served in a Lost Abbey teku glass.

A - Finger of creamy mocha foam settles to a thin cap, thick collar, persistent lace splotches, black body. Nice retention, particularly in this glass.

S - It's smokey alright. There's some rye whiskey presence, plenty of oak and vanilla, smoked meats, hint of hickory, and a touch of alcohol. There's also a hint of salty Play-Doh.

T - Taste is quite nice, with a mix of chocolate malts, smoke, wood, vanilla, and light rye whiskey character. Finishes with dark chocolate and rye fading into a smoked wood aftertaste. Alcohol is quite well-hidden here.

M - Body is a tad light for 10%, but it's on the medium-full side of things. Lower carbonation, smooth texture, and a sticky lip-smacking finish. Not much barrel presence here.

D - Quite easy to drink considering the style and ABV, but definitely a sipper and not a beer I'd open regularly. Still it bodes well for the 2012 Bruery lineup. A nice beer that has plenty of elements working in harmony together.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 04:31:38 | More by MasterSki

litheum94

California

4.28/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle. No dates.

Pours a very dark black, almost tar black. Frothy, brown head that settles to a thin cover and leaves some nice lacing.

Smoked wood, caramel and chocolate. Some cherries and chicory.

Nice mouth if dried smoke, with some cherry wood. Chatted oak staves and dark fruits. Some salted caramel sweetness. Very dry, with a lingering smoke essence.

Wonderful smoked beer. Very nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 04:59:31 | More by litheum94

GregSVT

Texas

4.23/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml capped bottle into a tulip - 2011 Vintage

A: Pours pretty dark brown with a big dark khaki head that fades to a layering and leaves some lacing on the glass.

S: My first whiff was that of vanilla and milk chocolate but after that it was mainly smoked malt and hints of vanilla and chocolate. The smoke and barrel aromas really meld together pretty well.

T: The taste is leaps and bounds above the aromas with big flavors of vanilla, buttery whiskey, chocolate malt, smoke, a touch of molasses, and some rye spice on the finish. Everything blends together here perfectly.

M: The feel is creamy and bodied.

O: This is one of the most interesting beers I've had in a while. The smoke integrates with the barrel flavors to really give this beer a unique flavor profile. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 03:14:53 | More by GregSVT

auroracrisis

Kentucky

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml into a Bruery tulip

Black with a spotty mocha head, a little bit of crimson highlight to the brew once you hold it up to the light.

Spicy oak and roast on the nose with a little bit of bakers chocolate. Moves further into the smoke with a touch of alcohol as well.

Upfront with molasses, oak, and smoke. After a little bit on the tongue you get some of the spice and a little more smoke. Pretty balanced between all the flavors.

Medium bodied and sticky, with a little dryness at the end.

Good wood and smoke flavors and not overbearing at all. One of the better smoke beers I've had.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 08:39:40 | More by auroracrisis

oline73

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap at Lord Hobo during the pre EBF throwdown.

Appearance: Pours a dark brown with some red coming through at the edges. There is a layer of tan head that goes away completely.

Smell: This is a really smokey smelling beer with some dark fruit and sweet roasted malt joining the party as well. Reminds me a bit of BBQ sauce.

Taste: A lot like the smell. Roasty and sweet with a strong smoke presence. There is a lot of wood in the flavor as well. The roast and sweetness have a chocolate like characteristic to them. The finish is smokey and a bit warm from the alcohol.

Mouthfeel: The body is thick with fluffy carbonation and a finish that is a bit dry.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2012 22:14:51 | More by oline73

HopHead84

California

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2/5/2012

A: The body is black with two fingers of frothy tan foam. Great retention and very much lacing. The head eventually settles to a thin layer of foam.

S: The beer possesses a tasteful level of beechwood smoke, and while it's certainly the most prominent thing about the beer it doesn't dominate or beat down the other characteristics. Beneath the layers of smoke I find caramel, chocolate, oak, vanilla, and rye whiskey. Earth blends with roasted grains.

T: A delicious blend of chocolate and caramel with an insistent beechwood smoke presence. Vanilla is a little stronger in the flavor than in the aroma. There's a light spiciness, as well as earth and oak. Whiskey is well integrated. There's a touch of booze in the smoked chocolate caramel oaky finish.

M: Full body with upper medium carbonation. The mouthfeel is silky, smooth, and sticky. Alcohol warms the palate.

Overall: This is excellent. There's a lot going on here and I wish I'd bought more than bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 00:38:08 | More by HopHead84

DarthKostrizer

California

4.22/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap @ Bruery Provisions

Look: Black and opaque with a 1/4 inch tan head and ok retention some spotty lacing

Smell: Smoked oak chips with a touch of alcohol and coffee

Taste: Lots of smoke on the palate reminds you of smoked meats and BBQ. Some chocolate and coffee notes make up the back end

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body and mildly carbonated and a bit sticky

Overall: A really good smoked beer. I didnt get much of the barrel character from this one which is a bit of a let down but anytime this is offered up to me I would not turn it down

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2012 19:57:41 | More by DarthKostrizer