Big Sound Scotch Ale - Bourbon Barrel Aged - Cigar City Brewing

cosmicevan

New York

4.3/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

big thanks to brewbetter for lending a hand with this one! enjoyed from a ccb snifter.

a - brew poured a deep ruby purple that settled in the glass as black. at first there was a thin grey bubbly head, but that didn't last long, leaving nothing more than some scattered bubbles around the edge of the surface.

s - chocolate plums. figgy and with decadent woody booziness.

t - much like the nose, but leads with decadent woody booze soaked chocolate with some dark fruit tossed into the mix. nice caramel notes set this off into the scotch ale realm as opposed to giving a BSDA vibe.

m - boozy sting for certain. the alcohol really works with this beer. much more smooth than say a backwoods and more full bodied and chewy as well.

o - overall, a very nice barrel aged scotch ale. on the boozy side, but it works. the barrels impart nice chocolate notes along with the bourbon and the wood. there is no mistaking this as a barrel aged brew. VERY enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 03:47:26 | More by cosmicevan

szmnnl99

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

05-19-2013 19:26:23 | More by szmnnl99

Benny3000

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

05-19-2013 13:52:48 | More by Benny3000

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

05-18-2013 16:18:29 | More by onix1agr

1noa

Illinois

5/5  rDev +13.9%

05-14-2013 14:47:52 | More by 1noa

kjkinsey

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-13-2013 01:23:15 | More by kjkinsey

ThreeFishes

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

05-08-2013 13:52:18 | More by ThreeFishes

Gobzilla

California

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-06-2013 07:24:02 | More by Gobzilla

Ak555667

Illinois

4/5  rDev -8.9%

05-06-2013 00:30:51 | More by Ak555667

pmarlowe

California

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-05-2013 19:34:04 | More by pmarlowe

injuredreserve

Louisiana

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-05-2013 03:03:45 | More by injuredreserve

azdback

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

04-29-2013 06:04:32 | More by azdback

Hanzo

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

04-28-2013 19:57:57 | More by Hanzo

smartassboiler

Illinois

4/5  rDev -8.9%

04-28-2013 13:24:58 | More by smartassboiler

wyatt13

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +8.2%

04-28-2013 13:07:04 | More by wyatt13

homebrew311

Illinois

4.06/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance is cloudy brown with thin head. Smell is syrupy with notes of vanilla, maple, oak, and a touch of smokey malt. Taste is smooth and mellow with nice vanilla malts paired with sweet malts. A touch of smoke. Mouthfeel is heavy with light carbonation. Overall, nice integration of the barrel.

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2013 17:51:30 | More by homebrew311

ADTaber

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

04-27-2013 02:45:10 | More by ADTaber

beerpirates

Belgium

4.35/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

75 cl poured into a tastingglass

Very dark brown oily pour with a small slick of tan foam.
Aroma is sweet bourbon with vanilla and underlying peat, toffee, and light roasted grains.
Taste is bourbon with vanilla up front followed by light peat, darker malt with caramel, and alcohol spice.
Smooth and clean mouthfeel. Bourbon character is very nice but still allows the base beer to come through.
Really an excellent beer. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 11:50:52 | More by beerpirates

drewone

California

4/5  rDev -8.9%

04-22-2013 01:12:05 | More by drewone

Bluecane

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -31.7%

04-21-2013 06:41:08 | More by Bluecane

cjgator3

Florida

4.55/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.75

On-tap at Redlight Redlight. I am a huge fan of the regular Big Sound but the bourbon barrel aging puts it over the top. Fantastic brew! Big and malty with huge bourbon notes from the barrel aging. Overall, fantastic brew from CCB! I hope to see this beer again!

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2013 22:16:02 | More by cjgator3

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.26/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Big thank you to Msquared2 for this treat!

Appearance. Pours a deep cola-brown with a finger and a half of thick, light-beige head.

Smell. Sweet caramel candy, smooth bourbon, and old barrel wood. Nice.

Taste. Sweet caramel malts and smooth bourbon, nice barrel wood flavours, vanilla and brown sugar, and a little earthy peat.

Mouthfeel. Full body, maybe on the low side, slightly sticky. Lowish carbonation.

Overall. Probably the best I've had of the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 02:46:57 | More by Rutager

WHODEYzach

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

04-13-2013 22:37:08 | More by WHODEYzach

Arsenal0328

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

04-10-2013 19:54:59 | More by Arsenal0328

brentk56

North Carolina

4.41/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Posts a root beer brown color with a modest head that leaves a smattering of lace behind

Smell: Rich aromatics of peat, bourbon, vanilla, caramel and coconut, with underlying fig and date

Taste: Opens with peated caramel flavors, followed by the dark fruit, vanilla and coconut; by mid-palate, the Bourbon flavors open, bringing a boozy warmth to the profile; the finish is slightly harsh, though the complexity shines through

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with low to moderate carbonation; considerable warmth in the gullet

Overall: One of the best of the Cigar City brews I have tried; the barrel treatment is pronounced but not dominant and complements the other flavors in the malt profile

Thanks, donttazemebro, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 01:14:04 | More by brentk56