Old Tavern Rat - New Old Lompoc Brewery

UCLABrewN84

California

4.4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle pour at Woodshop 7 held at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.

2009 vintage.

Pours a murky dark brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, caramel, wood, vanilla, and whisky. Taste is much the same but is slightly tart and has a woody finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with a nice barrel aged presence in both the aroma and flavor.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 01:21:46 | More by UCLABrewN84

womencantsail

California

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

Thanks for sharing, Tim.

Pours a dark brown color with a small off-white head. A nice bourbon and oak aroma followed by plenty of toffee and brown sugar. Just a mild booze notes and a hint of dark fruit. The flavor is surprisingly woody and hoppy. Quite a bit of pine and earthy hop flavor, which is also a bit of a surprise. Lots of oxidation, but not so much in the cardboard sense. A hint of bourbon on the palate along with good malt character.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 21:42:21 | More by womencantsail

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy amber brown body. No real head.

Nose has some boozy malt, some orange.

Fantastic bourbon presence along with that sort of chocolate orange that you get at Christmas and have to whack on the fireplace to break apart. Big warmth on the finish.

Like I said, big, chewy, and warm.

Good beer-- still a bit hot (I thought It'd be more subdued by now), but given to me by John Foyston, who painted the label. Good bourbon presence, I'd recommend even more time on this.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 01:45:27 | More by zaphodchak

HopHead84

California

3.68/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

3/24/2012

Bottle shared by Tim at Kill the Cellar Day, thanks!

A: Reddish brown with some clarity and a big beige head.

S: Toffee and caramel with earth notes. There's a restrained nuttiness that meets brown sugar and a light whiskey presence. Oxidation is tame and alcohol is well hidden.

T: Boozy and nutty toffee with caramel. Moderate bitterness with a strong earthy presence. The finish is boozy and bitter. Whiskey is mellow throughout. There's evident oxidation in the flavor.

M: Medium body with medium carbonation.

Overall: Getting a little oxidized, but still a good beer. Definitely worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 19:25:36 | More by HopHead84

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had the original tavern rat at Toronado Bwine festival years back, I enjoy this one much better.

Poured a dark brown with a small tannish head. Nose is all over the place with tobacco, brown sugar, hops,malts. Taste is molasses, brown sugar, caramel, candy sugar and perhaps molasses and perhaps some dried dark fruits. Booze, what booze? Very light and very drinkable. Finish is nice stticky and tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2010 15:59:43 | More by barleywinefiend

jdense

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Imperial pint at the Horse Brass 11/13.

Not the same as Tavern Rat which has already been entered and reviewed. This 9.0 abv Barleywine is billed as a double LSD, and cellared 10 months for this holiday season.

Dark brown nearly opaque body, some lacing. Huge complex nose, roasted caramel and chocolate malt dominate the nose along with tobacco and molasses. Big hop presence on the tastebuds, with dried fruit (apricots, figs) for balance. Pretty big alcohol kick, not real drinkable, especially imperial pints. Alcohol fairly noticeable in the finish. Full bodied one-off, interesting, worth a try.

EDIT- Snifter at the Sidebar 11.25.11. Need to update the drinkability to overall category. While this is pretty bourbon-y it's very tasty. Damn, I wish I could have a glass of this with Don over American Spirits-and I don't smoke.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2009 23:39:01 | More by jdense