Brandy Barrel The Crusch - Half Acre Beer Company

benpopper

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%

01-01-2012 18:11:15 | More by benpopper

emerge077

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks Roger for opening this one today!

Bottle opened with a sustained pop, the beer poured a bright orange gold with frothy foam around the edges. Clarity was bright, a swirl brought more bubbles to the surface.

Aroma of tart and sweet apples from the brandy barrel, clean and bright.

Well integrated flavors from the barrel, it's held up surprisingly well. Big sweet tart apple and pear flavor with a clean dry finish. Light to medium bodied with a balanced feel and taste. Wish I had more of this, it was a successful experiment...

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 01:45:11 | More by emerge077

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev +0.3%

12-01-2011 04:26:14 | More by spycow

davidbowers13

Illinois

4/5  rDev +0.3%

11-17-2011 13:20:25 | More by davidbowers13

cadaugherty

Illinois

4/5  rDev +0.3%

11-15-2011 17:44:25 | More by cadaugherty

GbVDave

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a corked and caged 750ml bottle into two St. Bernardus goblets. Thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist! Extra special thanks to the crew at HA for the hook up!

Name Crusch Kolsch
Process Brandy Bbl Finish
Time 5-11
Bottle 65/72

A: The cork needed just gentle prying before a strong 'pop' sent it sailing, and we're off! Pours a deep and hazy peach color with a firm dark khaki head. Retention was good with the head slowly melting down to a chunky skim and erratic collar. Some of the sediment was trapped on top and floated around 'till the last sip.

S: Assertive, but not at all intrusive, brandy aroma at first whiff. This settles down and allows the underlying aromas of peach, pear, and apricot to emerge. Also noticed were oak, spice, vanilla, and peeks of lemony noble hops.

T: Just like the smell, this had a killer brandy aroma when first poured that gradually mellowed and let the other aforementioned players emerge. Not nearly as hop forward tasting as the base beer but incredibly fruity compared to regular Crusch.

M: Not nearly as sweet as I was expecting. Actually this had a touch of not quite ripe peach tanginess that led into a finish that was quite dry and spicy. Mouthfeel was pretty smooth and full throughout (before the finish, of course). The brandy is there lurking...

O: We were thouroughly impressed with this and it seems that Half Acres' barrel aged beers are headed in the right direction. Keep up the great work, guys!

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2011 03:08:17 | More by GbVDave

vespahulb

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a luxurious plastic cup at The Empty Bottle for Half Acre's The Growlers show.

First off, the beer was ice cold, as I'm sure The Empty Bottle has their coolers accustomed to serving ice cold PBR and Schleeman's rather than fine barrel aged brews! Upon first whiff, major brandy aromas came billowing out. As the beer warmed, the nose turned towards toasty oak, brandy, cloves and all-spice.

In the mouth this beer showed a lot of finesse for a barrel aged beer. Boozy pear and dry apple flavors followed by a hefty spice kick. The alcohol is quite apparent in the finish, making it a little drier than expected. Again, as it warmed up it became somewhat sweet and bit weighty in the mouth. I actually ended up sipping this one half way through!

All in all, a decent barrel aged version of a pretty damn good beer already.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2011 00:28:36 | More by vespahulb

MasterSki

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Acre. Served in a tulip for $3.50(!) after an initial tap line mix-up (I initially got the regular version, which smelled of Citra hops instead of brandy).

A - Served with a finger of white foam that settles to a thin cap, leaving behind splotchy lace. Orange body that is hazier and lighter(!) than the base beer.

S - Brandy-soaked pears and grapes, light spirit alcohol note, light pale malt backdrop. Perhaps a bit too sweet and cloying for me, but if you dig brandy this will be a winner.

T - Very light oak influence - this couldn't have been in barrels for very long as it's mostly brandy. Some vinous notes, as well as lightly toasted grains, and a bit of alcohol.

M - Heavier body than the base beer for sure. Smooth texture and lower in carbonation as well. Fishes dry with light residual stickiness.

D - I liked the base beer a fair bit more, as I loved the unusual Citra dry hopping. This experiment was less successful for me, as the brandy seemed to overpower almost everything else. Still, it actually tasted as intended, making it an unqualified success for Half Acre's barrel-aging program. I'll round up for the home team.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 20:08:48 | More by MasterSki