Wee Heavy Bourbon
Microbrasserie Le Castor

Wee Heavy BourbonWee Heavy Bourbon
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From:
Microbrasserie Le Castor
 
Quebec, Canada
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
ABV:
11%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 9.92%
Reviews:
18
Ratings:
75
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 10, 2021
Added:
Dec 02, 2012
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  18
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.9 by groleau from Canada (QC)

Jul 10, 2021
 
Rated: 4.51 by StormAles from Canada (ON)

Aug 17, 2017
 
Rated: 4.16 by zotzot from Vermont

Jul 21, 2017
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Le Castor Wee Heavy looks none the worse for wear despite spending time in charred bourbon barrels. You won't see your finger on the other side but transparency is different from translucency; the deep Morello cherry complexion may be a bit shadowy but still shows glowing amber highlights. Even its soapy white head made it out intact, lacing and all.

The aroma is a little reserved at first but both the sticky-sweet malt and effects of the bourbon barrels gradually show more and more with warmth. There's a great deal of dried fruit flavour, enough to remind me of a health food bar (though I doubt there's any on the market with this kind of alcohol presence). By and large, caramel and peat still steer the ship.

Le Castor Grande Réserve satisfies both your sweet tooth as well as that part of you that had a long day at work and just wants to unwind. It is strong and satiating but not out of proportion; the creamy caramel, nutty honeycomb and fig/raisin paste flavours of the malt not only stand up to the vanilla, butterscotch and baking spices of the barrel but flatter them.

Despite the use of bourbon, the similarities to Port are irrefutable: there's nuances of fig, apricot, blackberry and raspberry doused in caramel, cinnamon spice, milk chocolate and roasted hazelnut shavings. Of course there's also singed oak splinters and mineral-y, mossy, vegetal peat flavours related to the base beer. It's a real neat - and very chewy - combination.

Le Castor is undoubtedly one of Quebec's finest microbreweries and offerings like the Grande Réserve Wee Heavy Bourbon really underline that point. Bourbon barrels are dangerous when in the wrong hands, but in this case they were used responsibly and ingeniously - scotch meets bourbon and the result is a smooth, drinkable 'thunder and lightning' tandem.
Sep 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.81 by jaydoc from Kansas

Sep 23, 2016
 
Rated: 4.24 by Corson from Canada (AB)

Aug 23, 2016
Photo of DaveBar
Reviewed by DaveBar from Canada (ON)

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Purchased at Depanneur AS in Montreal for $12.49 for a 660ml bottle. Served at 6deg C in a tulip letting it warm as required

A- Opens well and pours a tiny 1/4" white head that is gone in seconds. Very dark brown colour and unfiltered.

S- Fruity with little bourbon barrel scent. Sweet

T- Bourbon shines though along with sweetness and malt. Very little scotch here as it's been taken over by bourbon. Nice malt and almost no hops to be seen. Very nice well rounded brew.

M- Sticky and syrup like. Very nice

O- Very good brew. I like this one a lot. Has great balance and super sweet which I typically do not like but this one is very good. Wonder why this one is not rated higher. Price is a bit of consideration but this is a fine brew so I did not rate it down in the overall department because of price like I do for other over priced brews.

Food Pairing

This wonderful full brew went well with....... Osso Bucco. The shank with thyme, rosemary, bay leaf on a salt and peppered beef shank and stock just opens up the brew..... and the beef!

Enjoy
Mar 21, 2016
 
Rated: 4.17 by mademers from Canada (QC)

Mar 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by rspauldi from Texas

Feb 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.56 by DanGeo from Michigan

Jan 04, 2016
Photo of TBonez477
Reviewed by TBonez477 from Vermont

4.42/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
I have no idea why this beer isn't rated much higher overall. This is extremely comparable to Backwoods Bastard. Aroma is oak, leather, vanilla and brown sugar. Taste follows with a great warmth from the alcohol to carry the sweetness as well as complexity from the barrel aging. Body is smooth and velvety, lower carbonation allows the flavor to carry itself. I thought this was overall an excellent beer and would definitely seek out again.
Dec 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by Beerbom from California

Dec 08, 2015
Photo of CanadianBacon
Reviewed by CanadianBacon from Canada (QC)

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
This one almost gets a 3.75 across the board for me, It got a 4 for feel because its smooth and drinkable for an 11 percent beer. All things considered the 12$ price tag per bottle should warrent mid 4s.

Appearance - Poured from a 660 ml bottle into a tulip, poured a deep clear amber with very little off white head which faded quick. not much going on in the way of visible carbonation.

Aroma - oak, whiskey, grape sourness, vanilla.

Taste - The flavor profile is oaky with whiskey flavors throughout, Grape, figs, dates, caramel, brown sugar, alcohol, vanilla. Lasting oak taste after you swallow.

Feel - Feel is fairly light bodied without much carbonation almost feels still. the bitterness isnt strong although you get a little out of the oak.

Overall - This is an interesting beer and had potential to go a long way, if the flavors mixed better I may have felt differently. Its still a very good beer but Its missing something considering how expensive it is. Because of that it got a lower rating. Cheers!
Nov 17, 2015
Photo of VbolieuV
Reviewed by VbolieuV from Canada (QC)

4.02/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice ruby color with a small head that disappear quickly , almost no carbonation. Nice whiskey smell, there's also vanilla aromas, caramel, dark fruits and black licorice. In the mouth you really taste the dark fruits and black licorice. There's a subtle whiskey taste and it definitely doesn't feel like an 11% beer. I expected more of a bourbon taste from it, but otherwise it's not bad at all.
Nov 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.52 by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

Oct 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by KJ2013 from Pennsylvania

Oct 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by Beervana from Canada (BC)

Oct 16, 2015
 
Rated: 3.64 by Bugs318 from Canada (QC)

Aug 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.08 by BakaGaijin from Canada (ON)

Aug 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.12 by Antilochus from Canada (ON)

May 24, 2015
Wee Heavy Bourbon from Microbrasserie Le Castor
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 75 ratings