FraGeeLay - Karbach Brewing Co.

maximum12

Minnesota

3.03/5  rDev -27%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to drummermattie02 for my first two tastes of Karbach, this being the last of the duo. 22 oz. bottle split with my wife amongst a snowstorm. On the 18th. Of fucking APRIL.

Pour is a clay-streaked muddy brown, kind of like my backyard would be if it wasn't fucking covered in snow. Fast-disappearing cap. Nose boast spices by the metric yard, cinnamon & nutmeg are two I imagine I can ID. Light vanilla is the only hint of barrel. Like smelling cookies from a stranger's kitchen & thinking "ooh, these could be really good or really awful."

FraGeeLay is like Paul Bunyan kicking you in the face - if Paul's boot were made of spices. Massive spices overwhelm that base beer, the barrel, several snow-covered robins outside my window, & a small bur oak in the backyard. Tons of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, on & on, you name it, it's probably in here. The barrel makes a cameo mid-palate & is immediately drowned out by the spicing: faint bourbon, skeleton of vanilla. Honestly, several ounces in, I could have split this bomber with 3-4 people & been content.

Too much spice, too little beer, too little barrel. This isn't bad, in fact it's decent enough, but it's one note & that note gets tinny after repeated sips. Mediocre.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 02:17:35 | More by maximum12

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A really unique beer thanks to ApostleBrewing, my first from this brewery. Shared with rudzud.

Pours a great fluffy 1+ finger fluffy thick head that fades slowly, tons of gorgeous lacing, super dark color mostly brown like but lack of light gives it black color.

Nose is very interesting, brown malts, toasty, brown sugar, nutty hazelnut, molasses, syrupy like candy, and quickly into baking spices galore, faint cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, holiday spices. Then into barrel, light toasty oak and vanilla, light and barely any bourbon, but then into light brandy soaked raisins, etc, fruit cake like.

Taste starts with the baking spices and biscuit malt, light cardamom, nutmeg, other holiday spices, etc. Then dark fruits, brandy soaked raisins, nuts, almost hazelnut like, etc. then into malts, caramel, hint if toffee and brown malts, brown sugar, molasses, ginger bread cookie, etc. Then into barrel, light toasty oak and hint vanilla, very faint bourbon. A hint of an earthy hop I'm three middle too. Chewy dough like, candy cookie dough, tasty. Finish is sticky semi sweet, more warming booze, lingering candy flavors, ginger, raisins, nuts, etc, light barrel and brown malts and molasses sugar lingering.

Mouth is med to fuller bodied, decent but lighter carb, some warming booze.

Overall a nice beer, tasty, light warming booze, nice brown malts, fruits, spices and nuts, great barrel rounding flavors, quite a nice beer, wish the bourbon came through a bit more as it would really kick this beer up.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 21:01:43 | More by jlindros

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared by JLindros ...big thanks!

A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a dark dark brown with a two finger light mocha head that slumped to leave a nice quarter inch head that left good side lacing.

S - Aromas of sweet malts, light molasses, holiday spices and the like. Warm barrel notes along with fainter Bourbon.

T - Taste is similar to the nose with more winter warmer notes, sweet malts and caramel, gentle barrel notes with super super faint bourbon notes. Wish that bourbon was stronger.

M - Mouthfeel is solid here lightly carbonated and drinkable.

O - Overall this was a solid offering. An interesting mix of winter warmer spices and faint barrel notes. Would like some more Bourbon though.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 00:54:00 | More by rudzud

champ103

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

On tap at the Sugar Land Flying Saucer, the Hey Merchant, and via bottle in Houston, TX.

A: Pours a dark brown, nearly black color. A two finger rocky tan head forms with excellent retention. Plenty of sticky lace is left behind.
S: At first, the bourbon barrel hits the nose. Vanilla, oak, light sweetness. Coco beans and bakers chocolate comes next. Baked bread with cinnamon spice. I love the aroma. Everything is so well melded together.
T: Like the nose everything works and completes everything else that is going on. Big oak and wood aromas up front with vanilla sweetness. Big coco bean flavors and slightly bitter bakers chocolate. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove spices. Everything is balanced perfectly.
M/D: A medium to full body. Very fine carbonation. Velvety smooth and creamy. So enjoyable to drink. I can do more than sip on this.

I love Yule Shoot Your Eye Out. This is excellent as well. Maybe even more enjoyable. Everything is so well balanced. Some people might think that a detriment. Though to me, the subtleties of bourbon barrel, chocolate, and spices that all intermingle are perfect. Well done.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2013 02:26:37 | More by champ103

drummermattie02

Texas

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

Chill night watching football, figured I'd open one of these, I don't write full reviews often, but this is a beer (and brewery) that I feel like are worth it. Karbach is doing great things.

A - Poured into a snifter, frothy tan head with crazy lacing, especially for a barrel aged beer. I've only had Yule Shoot on draft, but I don't recall it being quite this pretty.

S - Big vanilla/oak presence, spices are very toned down relative to the base beer (which for me is a good thing). This is one that I could smell for a while.

T - Frankly, I think the smell is better than the taste, but not by much. Same muted spice relative to the base beer, very smooth and subdued tasting beer, great balance. Barrel flavor is not as present as I thought it would be based on the aroma, but some interesting cherry/fig flavors are brought out that I don't remember from Yule.

M - Perfectly "weighty" and appropriate for a cold (read: 40F) Texas night. Pretty damn drinkable as well. Hopefully they can keep supply in line with demand on these BA products going forward.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 03:04:29 | More by drummermattie02

MordorMongo

Indiana

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

Christmas Eve....work for the kid is all done, 24 hours of A Christmas Story still in background on TBS as it should be.

A - Super dark brown, beautiful thick khaki head, lacing is righteous, very similar to the non-BA version as expected.

S - Barrel is right there, saying "Hello, nice to meet you!", behind lies the roasted malt, spices and some warm vanilla. Expected a bit more BOLDNESS honestly, but nothing to complain about.

T - So nice having this right after the base beer. The barrel just smooths and mellows everything out almost perfectly. The roasted malt, dark fruits and spices come together as one with the oak/vanilla from the barrel. Notably less dry finish. Some booze makes an appearance, a tad more "wet" than I would prefer.

M - Perfect for a winter warmer imo, not a single complaint here from me.

O - I strongly suggest if you have this finding the base and having it as well, really damn nice job of Karbach showing how well a winter warmer can be with a stint in a barrel. I would drink a lot of this if on tap near me I think. Call me a fan.

Thanks for a great Christmas Eve Karbach, keep up the good work!

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 05:56:56 | More by MordorMongo

Ford

Texas

4.98/5  rDev +20%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

What we have here is Karbach's Yule Shoot Your Eye Out Winter black ale aged in bourbon barrels.

Let's just say.. it's great!

Plenty of chocolate and ginger spices.... all wrapped up in a gentle bourbon blanket... to make you feel warm and cozy.

I am hoping this will be an every Christmas type release. 2012 was the first year for this beer. Sold in bombers and available on tap a few places around Houston.

What a great, great beer. Yule Shoot Your Eye Out is top notch and this simply improves on it.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 19:50:36 | More by Ford