He'Brew Jewbelation Fourteen - Shmaltz Brewing Company

AnPiobaire

New York

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

During the initial pour I found this beer to be a lucious opaque black with ruby edges in the glass. It poured into the brandy snifter with a thin creamy brown head. My initial nosing was of sun dried fruit i.e raisins and figs with a hint of chocolate. Although the alcohol was evident I didn't find it as overpowering as some other reviews have stated. I found the taste to be initially of vanilla and cherries sliding into dark chocolate and raisins. The mouth feel was chewy and thick with a bold flavor. Again I did not find the alcohol to be overpowering to the palate. However, I was certainly well on my way to a good time by the end of the bottle. I plan on going back to the specialty grocery where I found this gem and plan on relieving them of their stock for future enjoyment. I would reccomend this to fellow beer advocates that are into the bolder spectrum of the beer scale.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 23:55:16 | More by AnPiobaire

oline73

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a goblet. I split the bottle with a few friends.

Appearance: Pours a super dark brown color with just a bit of light coming through. There is a smell layer of tan head that goes away completely.

Smell: Very sweet. There are hints of dark fruit, brown sugar, and some banana as well.

Taste: This beer is super sweet with a crazy amount of malt. I guess this is to be expected. I'm picking up dark fruit, brown sugar and molasses flavors. There is a mild hop bitterness as well, but it is definitely overshadowed. The finish is quite hot from the alcohol.

Mouthfeel: The body is quite think and syrupy. There is a very mild amount of carbonation and the finish is slick on the tongue.

Drinkability: I liked this beer, but I definitely couldn't drink too much of it. The sweetness makes it kind of tough to get through too much, but given the abv I expected this. The alcohol is quite hot, but it isn't unpleasant. I don't know that I'll look for any more, but I'm glad I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 16:48:35 | More by oline73

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Pours an opaque black with monster head. Low carbonation.

N: Brown sugar, medicinal grape, grapefruit and booze.

T: Molasses, brown sugar, cocoa, coffee, toffee and sugar.

M: Medium bodied, semi-creamy and bitter.

D: Decent drinkability for 14%. Sweet, bitter and delicious.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 01:36:37 | More by justintcoons

THECPJ

Delaware

3.53/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes:

appearance: dark brown almost black with a 1 finger head

smell: sweet malts, alcohol

taste: sweet malts, alcohol, almost a barleywine

mouthfeel: mild carbonation, full body, oily aftertaste

drinkability: glad I split this with friends. lots of booze in this one.

cheers,

The cpj

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2011 18:36:32 | More by THECPJ

DrStiffington

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

First time I had this I had already knocked back a few on New Year's Eve. The alcohol, not surprisingly, was not as present at that time. This time, yeah, it's noticeable from the first whiff and doesn't let up. Besides the alcohol, I smell some toffee and maybe a little coffee. The color is black with some red when holding it up to the light. Malty in taste, but the alcohol is always there too. I like this beer a lot for being a powerful brew that can give you the warm fuzzies. I'm splitting this one with the wife, which I think is a good move.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 00:18:28 | More by DrStiffington

wahhmaster

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 1 pt. 6 oz. bottle into a Brooklyn Brewery tulip.

Appearance: Pours an inky black color with slightly reddish hues to it. Has a medium-sized, reddish-tan head that dissipates quickly and leaves some spotty lacing.

Smell: Smells strongly of sweet malts and alcohol. Hints of chocolate and maybe some spices are present in the background.

Taste: Wow, this beer doesn't play. Strongly alcoholic throughout, this is definitely a sipper. Starts of spicy and relatively bitter. Finishes smooth and sweet with hints of milk chocolate, caramel, and dark fruits.

Mouthfeel: Thick, almost creamy, with a bit of stickiness to it.

Drinkability: Whew, this one is strong and doesn't try to hide it. This would definitely be a good beer to share because finishing the whole bottle would certainly be a task, albeit not a wholly unwelcome one. This beer is rich and complex, although the alcohol masks some of its complexity. Certainly worth a try but definitely a beer made to share.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 03:02:39 | More by wahhmaster

paulozanello

Brazil

3.8/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured a bomber into a snifter.

Color is very dark and opaque but not quite black, with some brown and red colors on the edges when looked against the light. Head was thick, creamy and of a light-brown color. Great lacing throughout.

Aroma is very powerful with sweet malts, dark chocolate, mollasses, some dark fruit and, of course, a lot of booze.

Taste is very very sweet with a load of dark malts, mollasses, caramel, dark fruits like figs and plums and a good deal of alcohol. Finishes with some nice chocolate and coffee notes as well as some very light hop bitterness.

Body is very heavy, one of the heaviest that I remember having. Very chewy and full mouthfeel. Carbonation is medium to high and it works well. Drinkability is low as this beer is overly agressive on the palate.

Overall e very BIG beer, I think it is interesting to try at least once. There are definitely some complexity to its taste and nose but like many others already said, the alcohol is just too much and that ends up hurting the final product.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2011 17:43:27 | More by paulozanello

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Served from tap into an imperial pint. Poured a massively dark brown with a red hue around the edges when held up to the light with a one finger tan head. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, dark chocolate, dark fruit, and alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, chocolate, dark fruit, sweet fruit, big alcohol, and slight bitter hop. It had a heavy feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this brew wasn't that bad, but it wasn't that great either. If I'm honest, it was definitely better than 13, just more boozy. Based on my experience with 13 last year I vowed to never drink another one again, and here I am drinking another one... To give it another shot? Hardly... This one is in-and-out of the Top Buzz List and I'm trying to tick them all. That is the only reason why. If I'm completely honest I don't know why this one is in-and-out of that list as this isn't a great beer. The only thing it needs to be good is less booziness in my opinion as it is quite invasive on the palate. Cellaring might do this one some good...

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2011 12:48:09 | More by thagr81us

TCgoalie

Michigan

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into an over sized snifter, the color is black. Some mocha head appears upon pouring but recedes soon after. The lacing is pleasant as it leaves a mess along the sipping side of the glass.

There are all kinds of smells overloading my senses. Brown sugar, biscuit, chocolate, molasses, fig, raisin, plum, and some heat sting.

The taste is much like the smell with an emphasis on chocolate and brown sugar. The dark fruits take a backseat and meld with the hops that are trying to creep through near the end. This is a malt bomb but the saving grace is that it drinks like a stout. I like it.

The mouthfeel is full and rich delivering interest to the drink. Though the hops are somewhat hidden by all of the malts, they come through by creating some drying in the end.

I would have to say this isn't the most drinkable brew but that is no surprise. 14 malts, 14 hops, and 14% will rarely yield a drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 23:58:20 | More by TCgoalie

peacebone116

California

3.5/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured a bomber into a tulip glass.

A: Quickly dissipating tan head--Wesley Snipes black with slight red hues.

N: Plum and biscuits and raisins.

T/M: Stone fruit (raisins and plums) with the hint of egg-nog or brandy. there is a slight hop bitterness, but it fades very quickly behind the booze and sweetness. Very thick body.

While I certainly appreciated the complexity of this beer, I did not enjoy the sweetness. Maybe with a bit of age this will mellow out.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 21:56:48 | More by peacebone116

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

on tap at pope in philly. served in tulip glass.

Pours a deep opaque black with a thin, tanned head, very little lacing or film.

Slightly subdued nose with earthy wood, dark fruit sweetness, candied sugar, hoppy edges, and warmth.

Strong candied fruit with raisins and dates. Burnt sugar and syrupy molasses add to the sweetness. Some oaky vanilla tannins with earthy qualities. Dark roasted malts with charred edges and anise. Boozy warmth continues throughout the profile. Finishes bitter and warm with earthy dark fruit.

Full syrupy body, very sticky and viscous. Slow, long drinking, and pretty hot on the palate. I somewhat struggled to finish an 8oz pour of this, it was a bit too sweet and hot for me.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2011 17:09:47 | More by xnicknj

100floods

California

2.85/5  rDev -30%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

This baby has been sitting around for a few months and I'm not interested in seeing what a year does to it. So here we go.

Pours a thick black. Super bubbly tan head that goes away with haste. Smells heavily of booze dipped dark fruit and straight up alcohol, but not much burn. VERY sweet flavor. Super malt and booze combo. It reminds me a six month old Marin BW on steroids. Hefty dark fruit and booze flavors with some hops in hiding. Strong notes of brown sugar. This isn't as hot as i would expect from a 14% big beer, but it certainly makes up in how sweet it is. There's a hop flavor, but not much. Definitely signs of immense complexity in this beer. Toffee, dried fruit of a sweet citrus persuasion. The hops in here don't seem to come off as bitter, definitely more floral. A lot of flavors fighting for it's moment in the taste bud spotlight. Something about this makes me thing this beer wants to be a bit of a beast while try to maintain some kind of form. This beer is definitely a test of patience.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 04:51:25 | More by 100floods

Retsinis

California

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a Bruery tulip glass.

The beer pours a rich, deep, and pitch black color, with no light penetration. The head rose about an inch or less, and is a cola tan color, that faded to just a light ring around the glass edge. Some sticking to the glass.

The Aroma's are quite complex. Dark roasted malt forward at first, ranging from chocolate, coffee, and some dark fruits, raisins, dates, figs. Followed by some lighter malt notes of toffee, caramel, brown sugar, and then some lighter hints (likely from the 14 hops) of apricot, pine, and some heat from the alcohol.

The Flavors in the taste are just as complex as the nose, and closely mirror them as well. The dark fruits flavor notes are the most prevalent, with a mixture of prunes, raisins, figs and dates. This is followed with the milk chocolate, brown sugar, toffee, and caramel notes, as well as some piney hops that are subtle. The alcohol provides a backbone, is well masked, and brings this sipper all together.

The moutfheel has good carbonation for the strength of the beer, and the finish is sweet, rich, a little dry, but yet still a bit oily feel. The alcohol does not distract the palate. A smooth beer for sure.

Overall, a complex and well balanced beer, and for the price, the 14% ABV, and to add to the vertical series, this beer is a great value. Not sure though how much longer they can do the same ABV%, same amount of different malts, and hop varieties as their anniversary, but I am sure enjoying the ride. I plan to cellar this for a few years, but glad I got to try this beer now, fresh.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 01:15:24 | More by Retsinis

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, again with the 22oz label; part of the vertical.

This beer pours a deep dark oily brown colour, with cola highlights, and one finger of thin foamy beige head, which settles quickly, leaving a short wash of lace around the glass. It smells of warm caramel malt, raisins, butterscotch, and bitter earthy hops. The taste is strongly hopped - citrus and pine, slugging the way through a morass of brown sugar, stewed black fruit, melted Toffifay, coffee, and a tempered booze edge. The carbonation is quite sedate, the body dense, syrupy, and viscous. It finishes with a palate-saving dose of dry, bitter hops, and alcohol fringe.

A big beer, not too unlike the 12 and 13 - another heavy, fruity, and malty sipper, as balanced as can be by the commensurate hop rainbow. Under the circumstances, meshuggah-easy to drink - emphasis on the 'crazy'. Now, to the increasingly relevant question - will there be a 15?

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 00:49:42 | More by biboergosum

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a deep black with two fingers of toasted brown foam. Bittersweet chocolate, honey, maple syrup, and roasted coffee on the nose. Rich and syrupy texture, like drinking melted ice cream. Very full bodied with little carbonation. Dark chocolate and honey dominate the palate with coffee tones coming in on the finish. This a tasty beer with enough bitterness to it so as not to be overwhelmingly malty sweet. Somewhat too gimmicky for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 18:26:59 | More by CuriousMonk

lordofthewiens

Maine

4.18/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A 22oz bottle poured into a snifter.
Very dark brown color, thin tan head.
Roasted malt aroma, some dark fruit. Noticeable alcohol.
Great flavor. Coffee, chocolate. Some toffee. Taste reminiscent of a fruitcake. Alcohol still noticeable.
A little bit on the hot side, but still a pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2011 22:18:01 | More by lordofthewiens

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

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

Had this right after the Jewbelation 11. Pours pretty much pitch black, with tan head and mild lacing. Smells of roasted malt with caramel and some hops. Very sweet flavour with some mild roasted bitterness. Medium bodied for the style. Very interesting strong ale, I enjoyed it. Alcohol does not seem to as apparent as 14% would imply.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2011 18:49:17 | More by kwjd

Haybeerman

Colorado

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark brown color; almost no light. poured a 1 finger tan head with fair retention dissipating to a thick skim. Laced in wide rings.

S: Fruits, chocolate and coffee. Floral hops. Lots of alcohol.

T: Much like the nose. Dark fruits and phenols come through prominently. Malt comes through really big in the taste. Clean and warming in the finish for a big beer.

M: Light to medium body. Moderate carbonation. Dry and hot iin the finish.

D: Complex and flavorful. The ABV is evident; definitely a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2011 22:15:57 | More by Haybeerman

richkrull

Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Just had this one at Brasserie V in Madison based on the bartenders recommendation.

Poured a dark copper color with a bit of tannish brown head. Not a heavy smell, I don't pick up much alcohol. But a nice aroma, sweet malt. Very complex beer, fairly bitter. It's got a big flavor, but the 14% alcohol is not overpowering at all. Very smooth drinking beer, good feel. I really enjoyed this beer, very drinkable. I'd love to try this again.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2011 20:55:05 | More by richkrull

drabmuh

Maryland

3.83/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Beer served in a Hebrew vertical glass because I can. Beer is ruby copper in color with a tan head, thick, small and medium bubbles. Lots of lacing, looks good.

Aroma smells malty and sweet, like raisins. Where are those 14 hops?

Beer is thick in body and really sweet. Seriously, where the hell are those hops. It tastes like an Old ale almost. Finish is dry and the midpalate is a little boozy. The finish also has some roasted bittered malt. Interesting, it's a good beer but not great.

On a different note, this entire brewery is a joke, it's all marketing. How about you focus on the beer for once? This particular beer has 14 malts, 14 hops, and is 14 percent all for their 13th...errr...I mean 14th anniversary. This illogically consistent theme is brought to you by the same brewery that makes an Oktoberfest that has 6.66% alcohol and DYED RED with food coloring. All hail Satan. Give me a break. Seriously.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 03:38:27 | More by drabmuh

mdaschaf

Washington

2.6/5  rDev -36.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Thanks to THECPJ for the share. Review from notes 11/20/10.

A: Pours a dark copper with little head formation. Little bit of lacing on the glass.

S: Raisins, brown sugar, a little caramel, and a ton of alcohol. Makes me a bit hesitant to taste it.

T: Lots of dark fruits - raisins and plums. Also some toffee and caramel. The alcohol is overwhelming though. It overtakes the flavor.

M/D: Medium to full bodied. The booziness was too overpowering for me. I would consider trying it again with a few years on it, but probably won't bother.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2011 03:34:54 | More by mdaschaf

brianandpiper

Nebraska

4.15/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a snifter

A: Dark black with a thin brown top just below the thick head. Heavy lacing all around the snifter. Pours slow and thick like syrup. Head remains throughout the entire glass.

S: Roasted, nutty, mellow hops, firewood.

T: Sweet Chocolate, toffee, coffee, and molasses up front. It finishes with a bitterness combo of hop and dark malt. High carbonation lightens this thick beer.

M: Thick and hearty. Coats the mouth. Leaves its presence even after it has been swallowed.

D: The thickness and bitter finish make it a good beer to enjoy slowly. The 14% alcohol is present in spots, but it is outweighed by the great complexity of flavors.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 04:25:34 | More by brianandpiper

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark coloured body with a good sized head, lacey. Roasty, imperial stout resemblance. Acidic finish fom the roastd barley. Some burnt parts. Some chocolate malt, mollasses, burnt brown sugar. Not an everyday beer, this was a sipper. Jason's bottle from the revived vertical pack.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 01:17:02 | More by northyorksammy

Khazadum

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A- Beautiful cap, tons of retention. Very creamy looking above an inky black body with no hues except for a bit of cola at the bottom of my snifter. Low presentation of carbonation from the edges and the above down view. Tons of lacing, very sticky. Looks great drink after drink with a thick sticky collar.

S- Minor aroma here. Bit of vanilla hints or rather coconut? Something sweet and generic. Some caramel presence, and a plastic cleanliness on the back end. The alcohol barely makes itself known in astringency with sharp tacks.

T- Opens caramels and dark fruits right at the start. Flows forward to have a bit of roasted grain presence. Finish is more dark fruits with some hints of fruit esters. Nothing spectacular, just a really good strong ale.

M- THICK! I mean, THICK THICK... You think of thick, and amplify it. This bad boy is chewy, syrupy, and oppressive that I can't get enough of. It has carbonation to kick, a crisp opening. The 14% never burns off, only pops up a tad on the back end in the finish.

D- This beer is truly an example of simplicity done amazing. Its flavors are great/good. Its body is AMAZING. It smells pretty run of the mill for the most part. But nothing is gimmicky... its nothing crazy, its just a simple beer. I can easily do this bomber by myself, but I really shouldn't.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 01:44:30 | More by Khazadum

WesWes

New York

4.47/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a dark brown/black color with a thick frothy tan head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is great! It has a wonderful warm, malty scent that boasts of caramel and roasted malts; rich and sweet. The fourteen varieties of hops used create a killer hop nose that balances a robust malt character. The taste is awesome! Wow, what a complex and delicious malt experience. It's rich and warming with tons of burnt toffee and caramel notes. It goes down slow and sweet with a nice alcohol burn in the finish. The hop character is mildly aggressive. It has a nice bitterness up front with a lingering hop taste. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a damn good beer. Fourteen malts and fourteen hops for fourteen years of business. I can't wait for fifteen.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2011 23:43:41 | More by WesWes