Mean Gene - Revolution Brewing Company - Brewpub

Onenote81

North Carolina

4.21/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to wyatt13 for this awesome bottle!

Split with a friend. Poured into a snifter. Deep black body with a half-inch of tan head on top. Spotty lace left behind. Nose carries bourbon, vanilla, oak, toffee - a pleasant sweet aroma for sure.

Good smooth body. Not too bubbly or astringent at all. Holds up the bigness of this beer well. Great flavors that start out more base Porter-like with some creamy roasted oak flavors. As the beer warms the mellow sweetness comes more to the forefront. Bourbon, vanilla, butterscotch. A really nice beer here. I like that the bourbon doesn't overpower the base beer at all. I had the original Eugene a few weeks back and loved it. This is a great adjustment to an already fantastic beer. Thanks again, Wyatt.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 13:59:40 | More by Onenote81

cnbrown313

Illinois

4.29/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 22oz bomber into a snifter. Like their other barrel aged beers, this comes in one of those boxes with the wood grain.

A - Very minimal head, I had to pour hard and got about one finger of pretty nice light brown foam. The beer itself looks dark brown, but you can see through it - not viscous at all.

S - Very faint bourbon smell, and maybe a little chocolate. But nothing is overpowering or stands out too much

T - Wow... Very smooth bourbon upfront, with a creamy back just like the regular Eugene porter. This is nice. It's easy to keep sipping...

M - The mouthfeel is medium bodied, not sticky or cloying at all. Very smooth.

O - I was pretty impressed by this beer. The bourbon flavor is very present, but smooth and definitely welcomed. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 12:42:49 | More by cnbrown313

homebrew311

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

At this point, this is the last Eugene variant I have yet to try. I expect big things as they have all been delicious. Appearance is on par with Eugene... dark brown bordering on black with a small amount of head and some brown light passage around the edges. The nose presents heavy roasted character with dark chocolate countered with bright caramel, vanilla, some harsh tannins from the barrel, and plenty of bourbon character. The barrel is very strong on the nose and is no different on the palate. Bourbon presents itself first with heavy vanilla and oak. There is less astringency than the nose implied as the porter base comes in to balance out the spirit. My only complaint about this beer is that Eugene seems to be a little on the light bodied side to support the barrel treatment. Don't get me wrong, this beer is tasty, however, the heavy iteration of this beer, E. Norma Gene is a much more complete beer in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 05:26:39 | More by homebrew311

timc100

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Very dark brown, almost black with a minimal beige head.

S: Lots of lightly roasted coffee beans and bitter dark chocolate. There is a bourbon character, though not very dominant - hazelnut/vanilla and wood, some heat.

T: Follows the nose but messier. Coffee and chocolate hit first, then a wave of barrel notes.

P: Very carbonated and light/medium body. I know it's a porter, but wish it were bigger and creamier

O: Probably much better on tap - Bean was a mess from the bottle and delicious on tap.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 03:14:17 | More by timc100

emerge077

Illinois

4.11/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Kedzie brewery; review from written notes.

Black body with dark brownish edges. Dark tan collar of foam with very little lacing to speak of. Still glassy surface. Some clarity visible around the edges.

Fruity plum and brown sugar, coconut, soft whiskey in the aroma.

Bourbon figures large in the taste, the whiskey barrel dominates the base porter, a slight plum note is there, but it's mainly whiskey barrel from start to finish. Medium bodied and dry, a little thin. Overall not bad but not a favorite. May mellow out after some aging but not going to bother with it personally.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2013 00:20:35 | More by emerge077

Treebs

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Had on tap at the Revolution tap room. Served in a snifter.

A: Pours a dark black color with dark brown highlights. A tan head forms on the pour and recedes to thin ring. Some splotches of lace are left down the glass.

S: Light bourbon, some oak and chocolate. Roasted malts with mix with a caramel sweetness.

T: Same as the nose, but very smooth. The bourbon mixes with a decadent chocolate and some milk chocolate sweetness. Roasted malts with some oak barrel and subtle vanilla.

M: Medium bodied with a medium low carbonation. Velvety and smooth.

O: Very good and a nice smooth barrel compliment to the already delicious Eugene porter.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2013 19:48:44 | More by Treebs

KDawg

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured tap @ rev into a snifter. Pours a dark chocolate color with a small head.

There is a real richness to the aromas of raisins, some bourbon aromas, chocolate, and some malts.

Full bodied with a very smooth feel. There is nice depth with flavors of milk chocolate, raisins, and a touch of bourbon as well.

This was really enjoyable. More on the sipping side, but really good regardless.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2012 20:41:32 | More by KDawg

dirtylou

Washington

3.98/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

on tap @ revolution

from notes

appearance: 2 x 5oz samples, rich dark brown body, frothy mocha cream head - almost as if it were a nitro pour

smell: bourbon, chocolate, repeat

taste: the woodford reserve barrel comes through pretty strong - bourbon is strong with a bit of oak. Didn't try the base beer but I appreciate a nice bourbon barrel porter, and while a little sloppy, this one served the hair of the dog role well

mouthfeel: powerful bourbon, silky smooth

overall: nice, but could use some more body and depth of flavors

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2012 04:43:39 | More by dirtylou

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the brewpub. Served in a 12 oz snifter.

A- pours black with a 1 finger dark tan head. Smal trails of lacing.

S- huge bourbon and vanilla notes. Nice chocolate milk, roast, and slight coffee.

T- alcohol, bourbon, chocolate, roasted malts, vanilla, with some roast bitterness.

M- medium body and carbonation. Little fizzy at first but mellows.

O- very good ba porter. More barrel forward but enough going on that works well together.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2012 17:30:26 | More by kawilliams81

AgentZero

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Black beer that browns and reds on the edges. Has a nice ruby glint in the light. Half a finger of off-white head head that left nothing on the sides.

S - Chocolate and some nice bourbon. Touch of oak and hint of alcohol. Smells very nice and inviting.

T - Unfortunatly the taste does not live up to the nose. Not sure if the base beer is not strong enough or that it sat in the barrel for too long, but the alcohol is too sharp for the time being. Some of the chocolate and roast comes through but you have to look for it past the hotness of alcohol.

M - Sitting in the barrels made it a little thin, by its a fairly minor complaint. Carbonation okay.

O - Not a bad beer, but I had higher expectations. Could be a lot better if it sits for a while.

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2012 01:19:32 | More by AgentZero