1488 Whisky Beer - Tullibardine Distillery

heygeebee

Australia

2.9/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

FromWarners. Sadly BB Aug 12.

Pours cloudy amber. Very light colour for style. Half finger head dies too soon. Spotty lace own swirl.

Moderate sweet aromas. All malt with hint of apricot. Not a lot in the whisky department.

Taste is all sweet malts. Apricots. Moderate Length of palate with residual sweetness lingering. No hop to balance. I am looking for other adjectives but this is not a complex beer.

Mouthfeel is nicely carbonated. Medium bodied.

Overall an OK beer. Let down by sweetness. Waste of high ABV given flavour.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 09:50:00 | More by heygeebee

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -2.7%

05-22-2013 04:58:59 | More by Kmat10

martinlauridsen

Denmark

3.34/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Got this bottle from my parents, yay! Perhaps served cooler than what is ideal -- but alas I have no patience.

Appearance: Nice clear golden color with a thick 4 cm head. Much more than I'd have expected from a 7% ABV ale. Head is off-white and very creamy. Starts to wear down in the first minute. Carbonation is very fine and light.

Smell: Very sweet and malty.

Taste: Caramel, and malty sweetness and a bit of sweet orange peel. Alcohol is not prominent. I don't really get the whisky vibe from it, as much as the orange I find in one of my own Belgial dubbels. Very much on the sweet side, but I like that.

Overall, it is not at all powerful and very drinkable for a 7% ABV ale. I don't feel the whisky vibe going on, as much as the caramel and orange flavor with the malty sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 17:45:07 | More by martinlauridsen

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +12.3%

11-07-2012 07:17:31 | More by schnarr84

kojevergas

California

3.18/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

7.00% ABV confirmed. Bottle acquired in Ibiza Spain and served into a Guinness pint glass. Reviewed from notes taken April 2011. Cost was 4.15 euro.

A: Pours a three finger head of a bit of cream, decent thickness, and fair retention for the highish ABV. Colour is a textbook gold.

Sm: Certainly slightly whisky-esque. But it's mainly malt and barley. Quite a pleasant, subtle aroma actually. I'm surprised.

T: Whisky and oak comprise the body - which isn't actually overbearing. Malt and barley lend it body and help flesh it out a bit. Hopping is extremely minimal. The open is brief but laced with a good bit of cream. I quite fancy the build until the finish - which is too malty. Other than that, the balance is fine.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Too wet for the flavours. Not quite complementary of the flavour profile.

Dr: While the oak and whisky are nice, the malt holds the beer back. It's horrendously expensive (at 4.15 euro in Ibiza) for the lack of quality, but all in all it's an enjoyable beer. One of the better beers available in Ibiza. I doubt I'd have it again, but it's certainly interesting.

C+

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 02:38:37 | More by kojevergas

4ster

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev +4.8%

08-18-2012 17:39:32 | More by 4ster

harpus

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev +4.8%

07-24-2012 13:25:56 | More by harpus

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev +4.8%

06-13-2012 21:02:20 | More by schopenhauerale

janubio

Spain

3.5/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330 ml. bottle. Amber colour, moderate head that fades quickly. Smell of malts, some vanilla, hints of whisky, apricots and caramel. Rather thin body, kind of sweet in the palate. Taste is just the same as smell, some whisky (not really very strong), apricots and vanilla. I expected more of this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 22:01:17 | More by janubio

ltdantheman

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev +4.8%

02-27-2012 00:11:13 | More by ltdantheman

Vandelayindustri

Alberta (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev +4.8%

11-23-2011 05:54:51 | More by Vandelayindustri

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

A: Cloudy amber with a 1/8" tan head which dissipated quickly.

S: Very nice whiskey smell and caramel.

T: Very smooth whiskey taste with a hint of caramel.

M: Lacking carbonation, left quite a bit to be desired.

O: A decent whiskey beer and is very smooth, but was lacking in appearance and mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 03:55:21 | More by DaftCaskBC

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

3.78/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on 3/2/11 in an Snifter glass.Golden color, white dense & lasting foam. Wheat aromas & subtle woody notes in nose. Felt sweet in mouth. Refreshing. Hints of whisky, wood & nut flavors in a very well balanced way. Crispy sensation. Drinkable..

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2011 04:31:04 | More by GONZALOYANNA

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

2.15/5  rDev -35.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

A golden amber colour with almost no head that quickly disappears completely. Signs of some small bubbles rising to the surface too.

A rather sweet smelling beer with the main aroma consisting of vanilla & naturally whisky. There is also a slight oak like smell too.

Not really to my liking due to the whisky flavour but it also tastes of smoked wood, again kind of oak like. There is also a slightly spicy flavour that is rounded off with a warm, whisky aftertaste.

A lot thinner than I was expecting, t's not watery but it is too close to it in my opinion. It does have nice carbonation.

This beer is not to my liking at all, I'm not a whisky drinker so the taste was to much for me. It seems as though it would be an enjoyable beer if you were a whisky man though.

More @ http://abarwithnoname.wordpress.com

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2011 19:58:17 | More by flyingpig

brewymcgee

British Columbia (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Golden straw, mildly cloudy with thin bubbles.

Aroma: Sweet malt on the nose, not many of the barrel aged highlights I was hoping for.

Taste: I can detect the slight "whiskey" flavours in the background but they don't seem to blend very nicely with the malt and hops giving it a slightly off taste.

Mouthfeel: Feels thin and the alcohol comes across quite hot.

Drinkability: I expected a lot more body and intense flavours in this beer and at the price a long, full, rich beer for sipping and savouring.

Somewhat disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 20:49:41 | More by brewymcgee

dqrull

Sweden

3.23/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clear light copper colour, with a moderately sized head that dies down rather quickly, not leaving much in its wake.

Smells of cookie dough malts, a hint of vanilla and apricots, maybe a hint of orange and oak as well, peppery alcohol in the back.

Starts of a bit pungent... feels a bit watery, with weak taste of fudge-like maltiness, along with a distinct hint of charred wood and smoke. A little hint of floral hops as well. Not much more.

Mouthfeel is a bit watery, with a medium body and the pungent thing really makes it a bit worse for wear... carbonatino is light and okay though.

I can really see this beer (except for the hops maybe) being a 'whisky beer', as it has some whisky qualities to it, albeit weak and unsatisfying, but if it's distilled....!

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2010 19:56:10 | More by dqrull

seanyfo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

2.48/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

2 pours from the bottle into my Chimay Chalice

A- Amber orange hue when held up to the light. 2 finger head that fades incredibly quickly to leave no trace of lacing or head. Lively Beading

S- A slight smokey tobacco hint, some caramel, slight citrussy fruit. Im really having to look for these though

T- Hint of smokey wood, some digestive biscuity malt, a hint of whisky alcohol in the background lingers long after, watery ending.

M- High carbonation, thin and spritzy

D- Suppose this beer is just a novelty really, Doesnt look appealing to me, lack of depth in character and flavour really made this one to forget. Pass!

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2010 22:10:41 | More by seanyfo

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.28/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Now known as Whisky ALE (not whisky beer).

Brown 500ml bottle, couldn't find a best before date. Poured into my huge 'Judas' glass.

Clear amber/orange coloured body, on top sat a large white foaming head.

I tried and tried to find a whisky or oak hint in the smells, but only a weak malted barley smell could I find.

The taste was fine, a typical English ale, but again no whisky or oak flavours for me, just a pleasant ale. There is a slight whisky feel as the mouth drys but not enough to get excited about. Maybe the flavours were to delicate for me but I still enjoyed the beer.

The beer is OK, not sure it is worth the cost, but glad I've experienced another whisky beer. I am sure I'll really enjoy one soon!

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 20:47:29 | More by BlackHaddock

PartyBear

United Kingdom (England)

3.43/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Clear and amber in colour, with a foamy white head that fades fast, and heavily carbonated.

Aroma: Sweet and sugary nose, with a noticeable graininess. Slightly smokey whisky aromas lurking behind.

Taste: Like the nose, there is a lot of sweetness in the taste upfront, sugar cane, and raisins. Behind the sweetness is a peaty whisky taste, with a woody oak, and grassy bitterness towards the end.

Mouthfeel: Quite thin considering the style, with a nice level of carbonation, and slightly syrupy texture.

Drinkability: An interesting beer, the whisky elements adds a different dimension to classic English Ale style. Goes down easily, and a few of these would probably not be a problem.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2009 20:27:58 | More by PartyBear

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle poured into Corsendonk chalice nov27 2009

A clear golden with a fast falling thumbs worth of head that left no lace

S smokey oak and some honey

T the whiskey comes through much more in the mouth then on the nose. makes for a pretty good taste with a fair bit of oak and spice perhaps vanilla and a little earth

M thin but decent carbonation makes up for it

D good overall but not great, depending on the price I will drink this again

reminds me of Innis and Gunn as I drink it, if you like their beers I would assume you would like this

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2009 23:53:27 | More by wordemupg

BDTyre

British Columbia (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice "English" strong ale with a good whisky kick!

Cloudy orange-amber appearance with a nice respectathbly foamy white head. Slightly skunky, sour whisky mash smell. Thankfully this doesn't carry over to the taste, which is typical ESA malt profile with a sweet, but smoky whisky hint. Hints of hops and scotch in there with caramel and smoked malt traces.

Nice on the tongue, natural carbonation. Actually a nice sipper - probably could put a few of these away with a nice meal.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2009 03:54:46 | More by BDTyre

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

3.3/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Coming in a 500ml dark brown bottle, with a "very whisky"-like beer label.; this ale is in fact brewed by the head brewer of "Bridge of Allan" at the Tullibardine distillery, then the beer is oak-aged in Tullibardine's casks. I guess this is why it comes so expensive... BB 22/09/2009, served cool - not the suggested "best drunk cold"(??!!) - in Hapkin's tulip-shaped bowl sniffer.

A: pours a dark (reddish) amber hue with 100% clarity, sporadic vertical streams of light fizziness and a fast-dissipating off-white foamy head. Looking quite... filtered.
S: contrary to my expectation, the nose doesn't give assertive hints of oakiness as in a Highland malt whisky; rather, the aroma is intensely overripe-fruity and semi-syrupy malty actually not unlike a proper English Barley wine (a bit like Fuller's Golden Pride) - mild toffee, jammy plum preserve, sweet marmalade, sultanas, a touch of almond-nuts or the like... All these are fine, but where is the "Tullibardine" signature? As the beer label gives precious little about what kind of casks are used to mature this ale, for how long, and what ingredients are included in making the ale base, there's no telling what one could expect apart from the image of a lightly peaty yet also highly honey-ish note of a highland single malt, which the aroma here has certainly failed to reflect. That said, a faint whiff of lightly almondy/nutty sweet oakiness hides behind as a remote reminder of (any) whisky cask (at all), while a good swirl also rings a bell of clean honey-ish malts and an indispensable alcoholic feel - but only just.
T: like a barley wine or even a well-aged bock bier, the foretaste comes with lots of preserved fruits (fat pale prunes, white cherries, licorice-flavoured prunes, and tangerine-flavoured candy), with barley-candy-ish & biscuity malts lagging behind; then, quietly and seamlessly, a well-aged semi-dry sherry-like aftertaste of non-sweet raisiny fruits hand in hand with herbally-sweet oakiness takes over the theme, before a bit more sour elements of residual fruitiness lingers amidst the sweet-woody finish. All's fine for a smooth, super-lightly hopped strong ale - but where are the "whisky bits"? Comparing my notes with some other earlier reviews, what is missing here is certainly any smoky/peaty element - I wonder why? (Is it that I'm "overly" used to peaty whiskies that I drink so often??... don't think so.)
M&D: I can now imagine why the label recommends a cold serving for this ale, as the lack of complexity and certainly underperformance of whisky-cask ageing can be camouflaged as clean and even "integrated", which I don't find to be the case at around 12 centigrade anyway. In fact, the nearly non-existence of alc. might be a plus for the drinkability, as is the medium-minus body, a lightly carbonated texture, and an approachable flavour profile. But considering that this is self-acclaimed as a premium whisky ale aged in a famous distillery's casks, the lack of these "lengendary" elements in the overall mixture is less than satisfying, to say the least. To be bold, I have to say I simply can't see the value for money (around 4 quid for a filtered and possibly pasteurised bottle!) that could be justified by excessive self-serving advertising!

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2009 21:00:49 | More by wl0307

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Couldn't turn down an offer of one of these recently at a friend's house, Innis & Gunn being a shared drinking experience for us in the past. Thanks, Chris!

This beer pours a medium amber colour, with a thin white head. The smell is vanilla, caramel, and oak barrels - it sure does smell like I&G, the first to our market for this conceit. The taste is more vanilla, boozy wood, resin, caramel malt, and an acrid fruitiness. The mouthfeel is strange, in that it starts with very tiny bubbles, like good sparkling wine, that fade away to a moderate, rougher carbonation. The body is a little thin, and the finish is off dry, with a sweet woodiness. An interesting, if not entirely original idea, but the retail cost would limit any further imbibing.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2009 01:28:45 | More by biboergosum

lackenhauser

Maryland

3.43/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pale straw color. Nice aroma-quite malty and beer like with almost no real whisky smell I was suprised. Almost a mild buttery smell. Sharp bite to it. Mild whiskey flavor. Somewhat metalic tasting. Very grainy. Ok enough mouthfeel. Overall an ok beer. Hard to find the whisky qualities in here. Comes across as a strong Euro lager if you ask me. Thanks to my nephew in law Tam for sending this thru customs with a label stating "beer". Hard to believe it made it!

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2008 21:00:10 | More by lackenhauser

Voonder

Alberta (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours copper in colour, clear with thin fuzzy head. No lacing. Smell - sweet, malty, whiskey is there as well. Alcohol slightly shows up. Taste is pretty sweet but in pleasant way, whiskey and toffee aromas with some frutiness perhaps. it is balanced and smooth brew, alcohol is hidden well, has pretty interesting character. It's somewhat dribkable, two of those probably would be my best, but I'll stick with just one for now. Have to mention the price - almost 8 dollars for 0.33l bottle - I think it's pretty pricey.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2008 05:59:13 | More by Voonder