He'Brew Jewbelation Vertical (Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Blend) - Shmaltz Brewing Company

jegross2

Illinois

4.34/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Reviewing the Jewbelation Vertical (Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Blend) from Shmaltz Brewing Company (He'Brew) out of Saratoga Springs, New York. This strong ale is a blend of He'Brew's eight, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteen and fourteenth anniversary beers, which was subsequently barrel aged in 6 year rye whiskey barrels. I have been sitting on this bottle for a few years.

Score: 93

2013 vintage bottle served in a GLASS and enjoyed on 02/24/13 to celebrate the Oscars. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Pours a dark brown color that is almost black in color. Not opaque, with amber highlights atop and bottom when held up to the light. A finger-plus of beige head off the pour. Good lacing and retention. 4.25/5

Smell: Figs, fudgey chocolate cake, desserty vanilla, brown sugar, and non-boozy bourbon. Toffee, leather and caramel too. 4.5/5

Taste: Caramel, toffee, vanilla, molasses and cocoa throughout with a touch of alcohol warmth in finish. There is a nice kick from the rye too. Tons of toffee and fig in finish. Dark fruit and plum are also present. Excellent medley of malty flavors and barrel character! 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, medium carbonation. Quite malty with a good sweetness, but it's not a "sweet" beer. A touch over carbonated, but that is nothing that letting the beer sit out on the counter for 30 minutes can't solve. 3.5/5

Overall: Easily He'Brew's best beer. If the carbonation was a little lower this would have been even better. I wonder if they'll ever attempt to replicate this beer by blending and barrel aging more recent vintages. I am glad I have a few more bottles of this, as it is aging wonderfully.

Cost: $12.99 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 15:59:41 | More by jegross2

elgiacomo

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottled December 1, 2010. Over 2 years old. Served at cellar temperature. Purchased from the beer cellar at Beverage World.

Pours very dark brown to black with a two finger brown head that settles to a small creamy cap and leaves a bit of lacing behind.

On the aroma, the whiskey hits you first and foremost, really nice, then it’s just layers of malt complexity, chocolate, molasses, vanilla, oak, coffee, toffee, overripe dark fruits of dates, figs, plums and raisins, some sinus-clearing alcohol. Excellent strength.

Flavor is amazing. Whiskey, vanilla and oak, dates, figs, plums, chocolate, coffee, molasses, fairly sweet, moderate bitterness, still some alcohol heat on the finish. Very complex and rich.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, sticky, creamy, good carbonation.

Very complex, flavorful, aromatic and enjoyable. Will need to snag at least one more bottle to tuck away for a while longer.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 07:15:00 | More by elgiacomo

davey101

Connecticut

4.45/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Batch no. 002 / Cases: 892. Bottled on: 12/01/2010. 22 oz bomber into a tulip glass. Pro tip: Let this one breath for a bit!

A - Pours a dark, dark red/brown body. Appears black until held up to the light. Massive head forms, then settles into a fingers worth of light khaki foam. Super sticky lacing with long lasting retention.

S - Holy mother of rye! Rye spice, sweet caramel, figs, maple, raisins, vanilla, oak, chocolate, pears...man this is a great smell. Very sweet with that distinct rye bite to balance things out. The interesting thing is that it really balances on the line between stout and barleywine without adhering to a real style.

T - Rye spice, oak, vanilla, chocolate, raisins, and butterscotch. Not as impressive as the nose but its still awfully intriguing and unique. Very barleywine-esque with plenty of chocolate and barrel notes to shake things up a bit.

M - Medium bodied and creamy with low to moderate carbonation.

O - This is drinking very damn well right now! Very unique blend of beers with a fantastic rye whiskey edge on it. I was very impressed by this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 04:10:26 | More by davey101

fhyden

4.16/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber from original release.

A -- Opaque brown, minimal retention, nothing special but nothing off-putting.

S -- Figs, oak, leather, vanilla. The smell is a little over-sweet, but not bad.

T -- There we go. When I had this beer fresh, the Sazerac was overpowering and the beer was kind of a boozy mess. After a few years of aging, this has settled into an excellently-balanced and nuanced brew. The Sazerac counters the sweet tastes of figs, brown sugar, vanilla, and cacao beautifully.

M -- Well carbonated, if a bit thinner than I'd expect from the nose and taste.

O -- I'm glad I stashed a few bottles; I was hoping that a few years would let the heat and barrel flavors settle down, and it certainly did. Considering the low cost of this beer, I'm stoked.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 21:29:39 | More by fhyden

sweemzander

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle from the 2011 Holiday Pack

(A)- Pours a near pitch black/brown color. Some tan froth.

(S)- A rich profile. Sweet malts with bits of vanilla behind it. Some raisin, cocoa, and caramel.

(T)- Similar to the smell. Rich malts and a subtle woody vanilla and raisin/caramel combo.

(M)- A good carbonation level. A nice balance too with the subtle barrel characteristics.

(O)- Overall, I like the blend and the barrel character in it. Definitely the most unique of the bunch.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 14:23:00 | More by sweemzander

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, from the 2010 Boxset.

appears almost black - just some garnet highlights in the corner of the glass. 1/2" cream colored thick head. good head retention. spicey whiskey aroma, plum, tobacco,. definitely boozy, but nice. taste starts smooth, complex brown sugary malt, then ends a bit harsher and herbal. medium body, smooth mouthfeel, fits the beer.

overall - a nice cap to the boxset series. although I think I liked the 13 and 14 better.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 03:07:39 | More by jmdrpi

warnerry

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a deep reddish brown with one and a half fingers of creamy looking light brown head. Head has nice retention. Leaves nice lacing.

S - Quite a bit of oak and vanilla. Roasted malts with a bit of char, lots of dark dried fruits, chocolate, toffee, and some coffee.

T - Similar to the nose, but the chocolate, toffee and dark fruits come through first, with the oak, vanilla and whiskey coming through later. The rye whiskey aging adds a bit of spiciness that is very nice. Finishes a bit sweeter, with some herbal hop bitterness thrown in. Very nice.

M - Full mouthfeel, but not overly heavy. Some sweetness, but drying from the oak really takes over on the finish.

O - I haven't had any of the base beer recipes yet, but this is blended well enough to come together and not seem like a blend. The rye whiskey aging offers a nice flavor alternative to the sweeter bourbon.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 02:14:48 | More by warnerry

MrOH

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Extremely dark brown, thick dark tan head that recedes fairly quickly.

Raisins, dark fruits, tobacco, vanilla, oak, and a bit of roast all swirled together. Very well balanced nose.

Vanilla, dark dried fruit, woody spice, raisins, a bit of cocoa. Again, well balanced and tasty. Alcohol is extremely well hidden.

Pretty dang hefty with low carbonation, but what else would you expect?

Overall, this is a damn fine beer, and the best of the gift pack.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 01:35:22 | More by MrOH

laituegonflable

Australia

3.18/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a very dark brown colour, just coloured around the edges. Head is beige, nice and foamy but a bit loosely connected, without a huge amount of retention. Lace is OK.

Smells malty and sweet. Plenty of spicy roast with hints of nougat, wood smoke, chestnut and buttermilk. Could use more of the peppery spice that comes through at the back, as it's slightly sweet for me.

Taste is quite similar. Similar roast, in that it's there but subdued. Similar sweetness, with a touch of treacle and chestnut on there. Some buttery notes and a disappointingly heavy, sinking burntness on the back, giving over-roasted coffee and actually a grassy note which seems to come from nowhere. Bit sweet and a bit unbalanced, in that the flavours don't really mesh. Also slightly heavy overall, really. Can't say I love it.

Bit thin, but decently smooth. Slightly granular at the back and ultimately dry. Not bad.

A bit of a hodgepodge of dark beer flavours that can't quite find a full synthesis. Not bad, but underwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 07:04:55 | More by laituegonflable

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.03/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Purchased from Whole Foods Union Square in NYC. Brought back to Sydney Australia and shared with @tobeerornottobe and @LaitueGonflable.

Pours a really deep brown-black colour, with a filmy but fine head of smoky white. Patchy lace forms above the oily body. When swirled, it has legs. Remarkably fine carbonation. Overall, looks really great.

Nose is softly sweet at its basis, but roaringly layered with big American oak characters, giving boozy hints and vanilla up the wazoo. Hints of roasted malts give some depth and complexity. Overall, it's exceptionally aromatic, it perhaps not as byzantine and heady as some others in a similar style.

Taste is also layered with oak, but with a slight oxidised character to it, giving a hint of old red wine and paper bags. There's still a smooth roasted character, but it's lightened and leavened by the oak and the age on it. Some dryness on the finish gives it a slight mouth-smacking quality that works against the smooth vanilla and chocolate roasted overtones.

Overall, this is a nice beer, and a beer of this type with this pedigree in this style is always going to be good. But it feels inferior to many of the other similar brews, especially the Firestone Walker anniversary beers, and in its genre it's nearer the bottom than the top.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 04:42:52 | More by lacqueredmouse

alexgash

Connecticut

4.73/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle. Bottling date 10/4/2010.

Dark cola brown body. Clear, with garnet edges. Fat finger of creamy, dark sandy brown head. Nice lacing too. Complex nose with notes of shoe leather, figs, Madeira, butterscotch, various spices (cinnamon?), vanilla, and whiskey-soaked oak.

Singed malts up front. Soon turn sweeter, with caramelized fruit and rich toffee flavors. Chewy mid-palate with lots of sugary ripe figs, brown sugar, and caramel-soaked malts. Light butterscotch, coconut, vanilla, semi-sweet chocolate, and moderate whiskey notes around the edges, increasing toward the finish. Full-bodied with a nice creamy feel. An amazing blend, aged to perfection. Wish I had more of this!

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 02:03:37 | More by alexgash

billab914

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle into my CBS snifter. It poured dark brown in color with a thin, frothy, tan colored head barely covering the top of the beer.

The aroma shows a lot of barrel character to it with a lot of woody oak, brown sugar and some moderate bourbon flavors. Some sweeter, malty flavors are there as well with some notes of caramel and toffee. The barrel aged flavors seem to dominate a little, but they are some really good flavors.

The taste also has a lot of the barrel aged characteristics coming through. I get A lot of woody oak to it throughout with a little brown sugar and bourbon in the finish. The sweeter, malty, caramel and toffee flavors are there in the finish, but seem a little overshadowed by the barrel aged flavors.

The mouthfeel is on the heavier side with carbonation being moderate for the style. Overall I thought it was a very nice beer. The barrel flavors dominated a little, but thankfully they were pretty good. Very enjoyable beer to sip on this evening.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 02:14:42 | More by billab914

kylehay2004

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Single finger tan, thick head with excellent retention on a neat jet black body. aroma is complex with rye, cola, chocolate and dark fruits. Flavor is stronger on the whiskey and dark fruit notes with oak, vanilla and spices. Very complex with the dark fruits consisting of plum, prune and raisin. Medium body and moderate to high carbonation. Overall this beer is very complex and overall excellent.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2012 01:40:52 | More by kylehay2004

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.8/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Review from 2/2011 notes. Poured into a Black Raven pint glass. Pours a very dark red brown, appearing black in the glass. Light brown head with light lacing. Delicious dark malt, oak and caramel aroma. Flavor similar, dark and roasted malts, excellent oak, whisky, caramel and chocolate. Finishes malty with a bit of a hop kick. Absolutely delicious. After considering the early Jewbelations as just above average and the later ones as a nice but a bit boozy, this one turned out just right. Mazel tov I really wish I had been able to stock up on this ale, but it disappeared quickly.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 06:01:36 | More by LiquidAmber

Mitchster

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A blend of all 7 recipes of Jewbelation aged in 6 year Sazerac Rye Whiskey Barrels. 10.5% ABV. Bottled 10/4/10. Batch 001/230 cases. Part of the 2011 Holiday pack with all the Jewbelations.

Pours out to a slightly hazy very dark mahogany forming a tall creamy dark tan head with superior retention and excellent lacing. Nice looking. Moderate carbonation. Nose opens with copious dark fruits (prunes, dates), followed by a floral hoppiness, soy sauce and cola. Mouthfeel is big, rich and dense with a syrupy mouthfeel. The taste is a recap of the nose...lots of dark vinous fruits, some light black walnut, molasses and floral hops. The bitterness is mild to moderate, it's definitely more sweet than bitter, and it has a definite tartness, perhaps from the whisky barrels, but also due to the copious hops. I drink good bourbons and whiskeys and I honestly can't taste whiskey in this.

This is a very good beer, but I prefer the other Jewbelations because they aren't so tart as this one. It's a nice after dinner beer that is well made, but I don't think compared to the other jewbelations that the blending and aging in casks improves it.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 22:45:38 | More by Mitchster

bayougutter

Louisiana

4.45/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Dark brown with a small tan head that didn't last long. no real lacing to speak of. Just a little light passes thru this one, really dark brown.

S- Smells of oak, stone fruits, caramel/toffee,rye whiskey, sweet malts , and a little alcohol. There's a lot of stuff going on, well blended, complex as nothing dominates.

T- Holy Crap. This is one fine beer. It taste like it was aged on rye whiskey for a year then bottle aged for four years. Taste about the same as it smells, really well blended and balanced. And again nothing really dominates. I did not get as much alcohol warmth as I was expecting.

M- Thick, creamy, and silky smooth. Light carbination.

O- First time having this one and I didn't really know what to expect, Bought on a whim, but I knew He'brew was solid. Wow, this is a must try. It taste like a really well done aged strong ale. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 23:53:56 | More by bayougutter

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4.72/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from session notes.

Not surprisingly, this one has the same appearance as all the other Jewbelations; the dark brown color, the single finger of tan head with nice retention and mediocre lacing, everything syncs up.
Aroma contains grape notes (as well as lesser amounts of other dark fruits), dark chocolate, chicory, allspice, milk tea, and some accents of herbal hopping with a constant level of bourbon booze in the foreground framing everything.
Flavor is a heavy rye malt forward rich doppelbock with tannic elements and herbal / tea-like / earthy hopping elements. All of this orbits around a strong core of dark figs, plums, and spiced baking chocolate. Body is heavy but not as syrupy as the most recent Jewbelation, lightly carbonated and silky smooth in texture. This brew is definitely worth trying, the complexity of aroma and flavor just keeps on coming to the table with something new every time you sip or smell it!

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2012 00:58:19 | More by WastingFreetime

Duff27

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown beer with a tan short lived head. Average lacing.

I love that rye smell, ugggghhh.

Perhaps the most straight rye flavor I've had since Rugbrod. This one is a lot sweeter. Well balanced. Earthy hops.

Medium to medium thick mouthfeel. Good carbonation.

Deliciouus! Exellent rye flavors mixed with hoppyness.Thanks Elliot for the share.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 04:14:21 | More by Duff27

sinstaineddemon

Connecticut

4.9/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

on tap at WilliBrew for weird beer wednesday 12/7/11

A - dark chestnut brown, impenetrable to the harshest light, a thin beige sticky head sits atop

S - holy bourbon! rich, big bourbon aromas, the dark sweetness rounds out a robust aroma oaky, vanilla, hoppy nose

T - darkness abounds; dark sweetness - vanilla, toffee, burnt caramel, molasses, brown sugar, - dark fruits - black cherries, raisins, dates, plums, and such, and all this sits above a great hoppy oakiness

M&D - sublimely complex and layered, supremely blended, a slight alcohol burn at the end was warming and well received, but may turn some off, an amazing beer, makes me wish WilliBrew got more than 5 gallons.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2012 22:59:32 | More by sinstaineddemon

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle, bottled on 12/1/2010. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown with about a half inch tan head. Head retention is good, but there isn't much lacing at all. Aroma is pretty nice, the brew smells like rye whiskey, vanilla, oak, dark fruit, chocolate, molasses and caramel. It tastes like roasted malt, caramel, rye whiskey, vanilla, oak, chocolate, and some molasses. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a little bit slick, but also seems a bit thin to me at times. Moderate carbonation. Overall I think this is a good brew, definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 22:54:13 | More by bluejacket74

beagle75

Iowa

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

Poured from a bomber into a goblet.

A: Slightly hazy, dark brown color with clumps of peripheral light beige bubbles. Scant lacing remains on the glass.

S: Woody spirit and treacly grain are joined neatly, resulting in a strong and focused smell. Dark vinous fruit is also found to be lurking.

T: Begins sweet, with refined dark crystal malt that is cola-like, and flashes of caramel corn. Early whiskey is volatile, providing aromatic qualities that are complimentary to the malt. Acidity is mild into the middle, where dark fruit is well-integrated, becoming slightly tannic and pithy in the presence of the oak. The finish finds this beer at its most better, though it does not outpace other qualities. Hints of fresh marjoram, citrus pith, toffee, and booze linger.

M: Thick viscosity, syrupy and decadently heavy on the palate, with low carbonation.

D/O: This barrel-aged strong ale is a pleasure to slowly sip, with layers of admirable qualities in the nose as well as on the palate. Considering the level of class it brings for the enthusiast to appreciate, it is also a remarkably good value. While 6-year-old rye barrels don't sound particularly impressive, they lend themselves to some appealing results here.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 20:07:16 | More by beagle75

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From the holiday pack. Bottling date 10/4/2010.
Appearance: dark brown with cola highlights.
Smell: rich and buttery. This smells damn good. If this follows the pattern of the first 5 beers in the pack, it'll taste even better.
Taste: oh man,this is good. Can't quite go 5. rich, buttery, malty.
Mouthfeel is a tad thin for a big beer.
Overall: best beer in the pack so far. Very nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 01:40:39 | More by cindyjeffsmith

aasher

Indiana

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

This beer pours a medium bodied Coca Cola brown in color with a two finger beige head. The aromas are sweet and malty. The first thing I pick up is the rye whiskey and I can tell that the barrel aging was a success. I also detect some toffee, buttery saltiness, nuts, vanilla, and oak. It has a really nice nose. The flavors are rich and malty. You get a good amount of roasted malt, some barrel, whisky, nutty saltiness, with a clean yet somewhat quick finish. I'm a fan. It drinks between light and medium in body with proper carbonation. Overall this is a nice beer. The barrel aging was done very well and it has nice drinkability for both the style and abv. I'd definitely drink this one again.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 04:12:38 | More by aasher

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a 16oz.snifter

A- thin black pour. Thin tan head with fairly thick lacing that resides quickly.

S- aroma is amazing. Dark chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, leather, and dark fruits.

T- bitter chocolate, vanilla, sour dark fruits, and astringent bitterness at finish.

M- medium body, a little thin. Slightly acidic, bitter but relatively easy to drink.

O- had this a year ago and don't remember the sour dark fruit notes. Still a very good BA beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 03:42:16 | More by kawilliams81

patm1986

New Jersey

4.8/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

bottled 10-4-2010

out pours a muddy dark brown with a bit of head, cream-colored with some retention but not much lace. sits looking brandy-like.

aromas of black plums and fresh figs, light brown sugar, vanilla, whiskey is very subtle--definitely would not be able to tell it was rye.

taste lots of stone fruits: plums, pear. figs again. there's a port quality here. vanilla and caramel sweetness. it's so unbeleivebly mellow, i'm in shock. the flavors are all so wrapped up in a tight progression that none of them are any more dominant or overpowering than the next; it's really incredible. the barrel flavors are really smooth.

so smooth. not too big or hot; you don't get that 10% or that whiskey barrel bite. creamy. exceptionally smooth.

epic. i wish i had more. the barrel aspect of this beer is as smooth and accepting as anything i've had. it actually reminds me of the type of success achieved in KBS. it's really incredible. i'm so curious as to how this drank a year ago, because with nearly twelve months on this piece, it's more drinkable than i would've imagined.
cheers

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 03:13:03 | More by patm1986