Very Mad Cow - Revolution Brewing Company - Brewpub

Grohnke

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter.

Pours deep dark brown, essentially turning to black once in the snifter. A creamy, Boston coffee colored head persistently layers the surface of the beer

Strong bourbon aroma, with a slightly weaker oak. Notes of roast, chocolate, vanilla, and milky lactose in the nose. Noticeable alcohol.

High levels of bourbon right up front, with roast, chocolate supporting. Vanilla and oak, along with light caramel intertwine as secondary flavors. Lactose like sweetness is medium throughout. No hop flavor, medium light hop bitterness. The finish is a paradox - finishes sweet, yet dry, with a long roasty yet sugary aftertaste. Bourbon and, to a lesser degree, oak notes remain incredibly strong. Some surprise coffee flavors peek.

Mouthfeel is medium with medium carbonation. There is a slight milk stout creaminess, however it seems lacking in mouthfeel. Slight alcohol burn.

The bourbon characteristics in this beer are incredibly high, in aroma, flavor, and aftertaste. So much that it throws the base off balance in a sense. Additionally, it is quite light on that signature, decadently silky creaminess that is a staple of milk stouts. Perhaps it's too young of a beer, and with a year or two on it the intense bourbon will fade from being overbearing to a pleasing, balanced component.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 06:04:53 | More by Grohnke

joeseppy

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up at the Revolution Brewery 2012 Nov release, also had on tap.

Bourbon on the nose with slight vanilla, caramel, and oak backdrop.

Tastes like a bourbon and coke that was sitting around for awhile. Not very sweet.

Low density brew with a bourbon aftertaste. Not alot of depth.

If there were a score for value, I would give it a 'C'. Very drinkable and not overpowering. Worth a try if your at the brewpub.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 03:50:52 | More by joeseppy

UCLABrewN84

California

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to jmgrub for sharing this one at drewone's tasting.

Pours a clear dark brown with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, bourbon, and wood. Taste is much the same with a smooth bourbon finish and a mild roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer that is really tasy and smooth.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 22:30:21 | More by UCLABrewN84

Vonerichs

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark, dark brown that's much lighter around the edges. It has an aggressive head from a not-so-aggressive pour. The head is pretty persistent, too.

The nose is toasted coconut, marshmallow, and vanilla. It has some great bourbon notes in it.

What I really like about this is that is imparts flavors from the bourbon, maintains a high abv, but doesn't come off as boozy. Vanilla and coconut are the main flavors with a dashes of chocolate and vanilla. It has a nice sweetness to it without becoming syrupy.

Fantastic creamy mouthfeel. It's very smooth and as I already said, not boozy at all.

I thought this was a really solid b.a. milk stout. In fact, I don't think I've ever had a milk stout from a barrel. Everything about this was subtle, but in a good way.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 02:10:50 | More by Vonerichs

Sean9689

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Rev Kedzie Grand Opening Party.

A - Pours black, cream-colored head, thin collar.

S - Bourbon, coconut, vanilla, barrel, light roast, and chocolate. Very sweet and boozy, but in a good way. Sweetness works well with the booze and there's a touch of creaminess that comes through as well.

T - Mostly bourbon with the remainder of the beer coming afterwards. Light barrel, chocolate, roast, and vanilla in the middle which helps tone down the booze. Alcohol is there, but works well with what's going on. Finish is coconut booze and creamy chocolate.

M - Full body, rich and smooth, creamy finish.

O - A nice BA milk stout that could use a bit more time before it's really "on". That said, I easily finished my pour and would have again if offered up.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2012 17:27:49 | More by Sean9689

homebrew311

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: appearance is dark black with brown highlights at the edges, a hint of clarity, minimal head

S: nose features an onslaught of whiskey and barrel. Not getting a lot of the milk stout base. Some coconut comes through.

T: the barrel seems overdone on the tongue, quite a bit of booziness with the milk stout getting lost in the background. The wood provides a raw character too that somewhat detracts from the smooth creamy stout

MF: this feels a little thin with mild carbonation

O: this is the second barrel aged treatment I have tried of Mad Cow, and I must say this one leans towards dissapointment. While this wasn't a bad brew by any means, Revolution has been holding it to such a high standard and I feel this one is a little short of that.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2012 07:37:03 | More by homebrew311

KDawg

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

had on tap at revolution. Poured into a snifter with a good dark brown color with very little head

pungent nose with the noticeable bourbon aromas to it along with some raisins, dark chocolate, and loads of malts

full bodied with a good feel. The flavors aren't as complex with notes of bourbon, dark chocolate and malts. The bourbon dominates a bit too much

A quality stout. Full bodied with more complexity on the aromas than the flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2012 21:30:45 | More by KDawg

emerge077

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Draft serving at Revolution.

Black in the glass, thin off white tan colored head that didn't stick around for long, not surprising considering the abv. A thin skim and ring around the edges is all that's left behind.

Aroma is straight up bourbon, brown sugar and coconut sweetness with some toasted oak and booze. Definitely strong, this batch.

Any nuance that Mad Cow had is completely obliterated by the barrel this time around. It's straight up Woodford, with some feeble cocoa and mild roasty stout notes peeking through. Definitely lost any smooth creaminess and sweetness, it's astringent and boozy from the barrel. Flavors are still good, just a bit harsh and bourbon focused. Seems like it would benefit from a little blending with standard-issue Mad Cow to smooth the rough edges.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2012 20:53:46 | More by emerge077

lstokes

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very dark with a thin tan head and plenty of lacing. This is heavy on the whiskey and oak notes, with the lactose only showing up in the taste, and that late. I like the bourbon-into-sugar development in the taste, but ultimately the bourbon is a bit much. I guess I like my milk stouts sweet? Creamy, rich mouthfeel--I was happy to drink my snifter but probably would not want another.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2012 05:22:34 | More by lstokes

AgentZero

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Darker brown beer that has a nice tan head. Little bit of lacing on the sides.

S - For a milk stout this smells awesome. Roasted grains and cocoa with some nice oak and bourbon. Less of a lactose and milk bomb, probably due to the barrel aging. Smells appealing.

T - Milk chocolate, impressive roasted notes, the nicest bit of bittering espresso to mellow the sweetness. Bourbon is more of a hint than a presence, not hot at all.

M - Smooth, lower carbonation, medium bodied, no complaints.

D - Like this a lot more than most milk stouts, found it very good and went back for at least one more pour before the night got hazy. Good stuff I would like to have again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2011 04:58:19 | More by AgentZero

MasterSki

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Goose Island Stoufest. Out of all the strange Goose one-offs, BCS variants, etc. this might have been my favorite beer. Served in a taster glass.

A - Pours with a big persistent tan foam that settles to a thin cap, leaving splotchy lace. The body is a very, very, dark brown that is a bit lighter at the fringes. Good looking brew!

S - Tons of barrel notes - coconut, butterscotch, whiskey - meld perfectly with lactose sugar, roasted grains, cocoa, and some earthiness. I just kept smelling this one all afternoon - a reference quality barrel-aged milk stout.

T - Taste is a bit of a letdown, but still quite solid. Lots of milk chocolate, roasted grains, butterscotch, and a little whiskey bite. Perhaps a bit muddled and understated.

M - Smooth, lower carbonation, medium body. Finishes quite sticky. It could stand to be a bit creamier, I suppose, being a milk stout and all.

D - This stuff is awesome. I went back for numerous pours throughout the event. I hope it makes a reappearance at the pub soon (and that they allow growler fills).

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2011 14:38:28 | More by MasterSki

ChugginOil

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Solid black with a finger of light cream colored head that leaves mass lacing.

S- Light bourbon up front with a twist of vanilla and oak. Bourbon dominates mostly here but not nearly as much as most barrel aged brews.

T- Sweet caramel and creamy butterscotch come through the bourbon tones that strike me first. Vanilla and oak are nicely blended making this brew quite balanced.

M- Thick and creamy. The motor oil I seek. This coats it up in fashion.

T- If i had six livers I would drink this all day!

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2011 19:40:19 | More by ChugginOil

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewpub - December 27, 2010.

Pours near black with a thin mocha head that persists for a bit before falling to a thin cap. The nose brings a very strong bourbon presence. A bit heavy on that and the booze right now, though it is nice. I think this will develop well, it just needs a bit more time. The taste adds a bit more complexity with a bit of roasted malt and some chocolate. A bit of sweetness counteracts the boozy nature of the beer. A bit too much alcohol in the feel, but is nice and rich. Drinks pretty well overall. Wish I had a bottle or two to age for a bit.

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2011 01:28:26 | More by Thorpe429

jrallen34

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at On Photon...Light black beer, light tan head but not much there, low carbonation...Nice aroma with typical Woodford vanilla and bourbon, molasses and a hint of roast...The taste has a big bourbon bite on the front, but its quickly balanced by bitter chocolate notes. Very creamy, another nice depth twist, makes it very full and sweet though.

Another above average barrel aged from Cibak. This is worth trying.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-24-2010 00:05:49 | More by jrallen34

cadaugherty

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a small Snifter at the pub-

Appearance- Dark black with a light cappuccino colored head that fades quickly. Some lacing.

Aroma- Bourbon, vanilla, and a touch of maple. Some roasted malt.

Taste- Bourbon right up front followed by cocoa. The roasted malt is more apparent in the taste. Very rich and sweet.

Mouthfeel- Rich and smooth. Definitely not thin.

Drink- It's a big beer and I would say one is enough.

Overall another solid offering for RevBrew. Glad to see them consistently creating good new brews.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2010 02:53:20 | More by cadaugherty