Kuhnhenn Bourbon Barrel Fourth Dementia - Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

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BA SCORE
100
world-class
-
847 Ratings

rAvg: 4.58
pDev: 8.52%
Reviews: 322
Hads: 525

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

Michigan, United States

Style | ABV
Old Ale | 13.50% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (287), on-tap (34), cask (1).

Notes:
This is our 4th Dementia Olde Ale that has been bourbon barrel aged. This ale has an intense sweet caramel malt flavor and aroma that develops into a toffee/toasted marsh mellow like character.

View: Beers (98) | Reviews (112) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by 7ways:

7ways

Georgia

3.73/5 rDev -18.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

It hopefully goes without saying, but just in case, DO NOT DRINK THIS BEER COLD. I found optimal serving temperature to be between 61 and 66 degrees.

Deep dark brown with a swirl of an almost-head and zero lace.

Very dense, expressive aromas of black cherry on the vine (along with the soil), burnt fruit, brandy, and mainly super sweet malt. Rather phenolic and estery for a BA beer. No bourbon really, more of a big smokey and brandy/rum alcohol presence. It burns my nose and I like it.

It's hard to define anything but caramel/toffee/blah blah blah because it's so incredibly sweet and rich. Golden raisins come to mind. If it weren't just more than slightly tannic feeling, the -bal aging might be lost on me. The vanilla/oak/bourbon profile I look for is lost in the shuffle. But like many -bal aged beers, it is rather hot, and in this case almost like a semi-sweet caramel liqueur. Thankfully the heat dissipates quickly, allowing a very flavorful and pleasant finish.

This beer is very dense, with minimal but definitely sufficient carbonation. The alcohol "burn" is more akin to the feeling of smoke on the rear of the palate. It sounds off-putting, but it is much better than the alternative.

We are spoiled. There are so many beers available now that defy convention by apparently tasting and feeling "smooth" despite surpassing 12% abv. Taking that in context makes it difficult to severely judge BB4D. Despite it's faults, I do very much appreciate this beer. This is an elaborate, tortuous monster that may become something amazing with time.

And for the record, I think the barrel aging process really hurt this beer and was downright unnecessary. I gave the non-BA version an A+.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 05:05:01 | More by 7ways

More User Reviews:

GimmeGumballHead

Illinois

4.75/5 rDev +3.7%

05-25-2013 03:55:24 | More by GimmeGumballHead

Roger85

Illinois

5/5 rDev +9.2%

05-25-2013 03:22:37 | More by Roger85

Valleyview06

Pennsylvania

4.75/5 rDev +3.7%

05-24-2013 22:49:49 | More by Valleyview06

1424IpA

California

4/5 rDev -12.7%

05-24-2013 03:01:12 | More by 1424IpA

ltltony

Michigan

5/5 rDev +9.2%

05-23-2013 15:47:32 | More by ltltony

TheRuss9585

Vermont

4.75/5 rDev +3.7%

05-23-2013 14:34:36 | More by TheRuss9585

jsnoek

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5 rDev -7.2%

05-23-2013 02:52:52 | More by jsnoek

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.5/5 rDev -1.7%

05-23-2013 02:17:48 | More by mikeincharleston

JoeStepOner

Michigan

4.75/5 rDev +3.7%

05-22-2013 22:50:11 | More by JoeStepOner

gamanley

Connecticut

4.75/5 rDev +3.7%

05-22-2013 02:50:53 | More by gamanley

ackeeper

Illinois

5/5 rDev +9.2%

05-21-2013 00:58:44 | More by ackeeper

mhksuccess

California

4.65/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into my Bruery snifter
it pours with very little head and kind of brown caramel color although
this may have been pour lighting in the room
anyway the smell is definite caramel toffee and very tad slight booze
taste is similar in caramel toffee i get the sweet on the backend possible marshmellow
it is not hott or boozy tasting and at 13.5% all i can say is wow
very smooth and sweet but not overly sweet
all one can say is this is amazing brew and may I have another please
definite up there on the top of my list

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 14:38:37 | More by mhksuccess