Samuel Adams Stony Brook Red (Barrel Room Collection) - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Mitchster

Michigan

4.93/5  rDev +29.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

$8.99 for a corked and caged 1pt 9.4fl oz bottle @ Bevco.
Samuel Adams Stony Brook Red starts out as a strong red ale fermented with a Belgian style ale yeast. This younger ale is blended with over 50% of our Samuel Adams Kosmic Mother Funk®. The Kosmic Mother Funk is a Belgian ale that we age in oak casks and tanks for over 6 months. The beer in the oak vessels undergoes a secondary fermentation with brettanomyces yeasts and lactobacillus to give the beer a rich tropical fruit note and some sourness. Stony Brook Red's resulting blend has an earthy, fruity, and estery character. The beer is also bottle conditioned."

Brewed with Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Munich, Special B, and aromatic malt. Hopped with Hallertau Mittelfrueh. Fermented with a Belgian yeast strain, then blended with "Kosmic Mother Funk" (fermented with Brettanomyces and Lactobacillus). Bottle conditioned with champagne yeast.

35 SRM, OG=22.5° Plato, 9%ABV, 251 Calories/12 oz, 10 IBU.

Pours out to a clear very deep brown with burgundy highlights, forming a nice soft and creamy light tan-yellow head that grows owing to the brisk carbonation, with excellent retention and beautiful lacing. Carbonation is brisk, ~3.5 carbs or so. The aroma is absolutely delicious and enticing...notes of sour candy, rotting cherries, dusky basement, Belgian funk, balsamic vinegar. Mouthfeel is tart and complex with a medium body and powdery effervescence. The taste opens with tart cherries, sour candy and vinegar, followed by a touch of figs, then a strong leather note in the middle, a very mild earthy bitterness, and more funky earthiness in the finish. Aftertaste is winey with blackberries. The tartness is not over the top and stays balanced with the malts. Lots of melanoidin in the finish, like melanoidin malt...probably the result of a very long boil. Definitely true to style of a Flanders Red/Oud Bruin.

What an exceptional beer. Without a doubt, the best I've had this year. I honestly could do without the Special B and aromatic malt, and this would have been even better with some more residual sweetness. A well-balanced sweet/sour beer, re: Duchesse, is to die for, but as is, this is heavenly stuff. As it warms up and the carbonation simmers, it takes on a more enveloping mouthfeel and the malts come out a bit more. A beautiful, beautiful beer. Will definitely have to buy another couple bottles of this.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 23:26:34 | More by Mitchster

Jparker37

Wisconsin

4.88/5  rDev +28.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Champagne style bottle poured into an oversized tulip.

A - Great clarity within a beautiful shade of red. Medium sized tan head holds up well. LIttle to no lacing.

S - Tart like sourness but ripe raspberries/cherries are most obvious and exploding from the glass. A little underneath I can find a mellow toasted wood character from the barrel. Way in there I can get a tiny tiny hint of vinegar.

T - After a brief stint with mellow cherry flavor an onslaught of sourness joins and holds on more than halfway through. Just past midway and the complex earthy flavor and wood take over and show great dimension. The finish comes full circle back to a great ripe red fruit along with a mild alcohol warmth that lasts for a while.

M - Medium bodied, medium-high carbonation, never sweet nor dry.

O - Wow, this beer has me delightfully surprised. Everything was great, maybe one of the most complex beers I've had. I will be purchasing more to cellar and I recommend you also follow suit.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 23:50:54 | More by Jparker37

acevenom

Louisiana

4.7/5  rDev +23.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The cork came out with a loud pop and plenty of smoke emerged from the bottle. Poured into a large brandy snifter. Pours deep reddish brown with a small, somewhat quickly dissipating light tan head. There's a little bit of lacing left behind and some visible alcohol legs. I can see through the beer if I look through it from the top as opposed to the side of the glass. The beer smells like a good Flemish red. It has that tart cherry scent. I get some of that bready and sweet malt along with the oak. I can pick up some of that alcohol as well, but it's very faint. The taste follows the nose. The cherry tartness is up front, but it's balanced by the bready and mildly sweet malt with some of that oak flavor. There's some spice in there as well. The alcohol isn't that detectable in the taste. It's incredibly well-balanced. The body is medium with moderate carbonation. The finish is a little dry. The drinkability is high. This is an excellent beer that I would recommend to fans of this style.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 00:05:17 | More by acevenom

bilyboy65

Colorado

4.6/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: No head, but a very clear reddish brown color. Not a lot of carbonation to be seen.

S: Slight alcohol scent, but it is heavily masked by a sour raspberry coated in caramel nose. Wild grain scent as well.

T: Pretty much mimics the nose only the wild grain seems to come to life and give it a bready taste.

M: Smooottthhh!

D: can't get enough.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2010 01:18:08 | More by bilyboy65

DmanGTR

New York

4.58/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Review from notes on 6/4/10

Poured a beautiful dark reddish maple, almost like an oude bruin. Nice cream colored head that left no lace. Vanilla, aged wood, touch of tannins, leather, and sour cherries are present in the aroma and taste. Very nicely balanced with an emphasis on the lactic tartness. Prunes, hint of figs, and cherries, a different but great combination. I think this is the best beer Sam Adams has ever put out. Bravo, I shall find this again.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2010 13:13:06 | More by DmanGTR

Kallessin

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear deep amber-brown with a reddish hue. There's a good inch of light-tan head that settles quickly with tons of nice lacing on the glass. A really beautiful looking beer.

Smells of tart fruit (cherries) with a sweet vanilla aroma, some spicy yeast and a very nice oak character. I only detect the slightest hint of hop aroma. There is a rich malty aroma (some caramel) underneath that really ties it all together nicely.

It has a nice tart fruit flavor (again mostly cherries) with a little sourness and a nice acidity. The oak quality gives it an almost wine-like flavor. The strong malt backbone and light sweetness really tames the sour and tart flavors giving it a wonderful roundness of flavor.

It's light to medium body with a nice smoothness, soft carbonation with a slight tingle. A pretty juicy texture, but with a dry finish.

A really great beer. I was very surprised by it really. All the flavors work very well together.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 21:36:20 | More by Kallessin

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

4.53/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

750ml bottle purchased at McKinnon's, bottle number 850. Pours a translucent copper color with little to no head to speak of. Smells like sour fruit. Tastes brilliantly sour with lemon, grapefruit, and pithy notes. Medium bodied and effervescent. Dangerously drinkable for its size. Awesome.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2010 01:51:58 | More by MrHurmateeowish

beerman240

Alabama

4.53/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A. Ruby red with a creamy head. Very appealing.

S. Fizzy passion fruit with a lightly smoked malt, tickles my nose

T. Wow, everything came together with a sour finish. Like a wine. The sour is like a dark green sour apple. Not a sharp sour,pleasant

M. Real fizzy,like cola. Very nice and tart...

O. I tried this on a whim, pretty tastey whim. And this is my first Sam Adams anything. Great job. If anything, would like a higher ABV.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 03:39:31 | More by beerman240

Shaggy9356

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: A very different looking, numbered, cage-corked bottle. Pours a brownish red. Decent head, some light white lacing.

Nose: Mild. A bit of wildness with vinous characteristics.

Mouthfeel: nicely carbonated. Easy on the tongue, sour on the tongue. Feels big, but balanced.

Taste: Wow. I wasnt expecting this from Sam Adams. I get some zinfandel, sour cherry, currants and woodiness immediately. Big taste followed by a little more sourness and a dry finish from the oak barrels. There is a gorgeous balance between the three main things going one here: sour, fruit and oak.

Amazing how well the 9% alcohol is hidden. Sam Adams has uncorked a surprising and delicious beer. I hope the rest of the barrel collection is this good. I will definitely be back to the brewery before this one sells out. Reminds me of Consecration a bit and honestly, if I had to pick between the two, I'd take this (never thought I'd say that!)

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2009 03:57:52 | More by Shaggy9356

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

$9.00 very cool "barrel bottle" purchased at the R&D brewery.

Looks very redish brown when poured, byt is a charming clear ruby when held to the light. One finger of off-white level foam.

Cherries and vanilla/oak mix in the aroma. Hints of alcohol. Bit of candy. Aroma improves in the glass.

Taste begins with generous fruit, cherries up front and a hint of apple in the back. Vanilla/oak follows next. Nicely mellow, while certainly not hoppy, the sweetness is pleasant but nowhere near cloying. Gentle alcohol warming but no burn.

Smooth mouthfeel with a bit of bubbly at the end of each sip.

Overall a very tasty treat of a wild ale, if not a particularly wild one.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2011 04:33:50 | More by RonfromJersey

DonDirkA

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours deep brown with a tinge of red and a foamy off-white head that settles to about a half finger. Nose is tart cherries, some brandy like qualities, white grapes (surprisingly), slight vanilla and oak, plums, green apples and just a bit of caramel. The taste is less tart than the smell. Grapes, cherries, oak, brandy, pears and it finishes on notes of red wine. Sam Adams attempt at a sour is a definite win. I haven't had many really good sours in AZ but this is finally one and at $9 its not a bad deal. I just hope Plaza Liquors gets some more.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 05:50:40 | More by DonDirkA

forsakenpariah

Alabama

4.48/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750ml bottle -> Tulip glass

A - Blood red with a medium off-white head that dissipates quickly with minimal lacing.

S - Earthy, funky, dark fruits and some lactic sourness bringing up the rear, with some soft oak notes playing around throughout. Not overly complex, but very nice with a very solid delivery.

T - Funky sour caramel aroma that fades into dark fruits and toasty oak in the middle. The sourness and oak become more dominant troughout, rounding out a very lengthy finish. Aftertaste is sweet and oaky. Taste is much more complex than the aroma and is absolutely divine.

M - Medium-full body with lots of carbonation. Seems to leave a sorty of oily yest peasant consistency as it goes down. Very nice.

This may not be the best or most complex sour I've ever tasted. But as far as the price, I don't think a better bargain on a barrel aged sour exists anywhere else in the world. I will definitely be buying this stuff again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 19:56:26 | More by forsakenpariah

DIM

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I got this quite awhile back from joepais. Not sure why it took me so long to try it, but thanks Joe!

a: This was a chill-hazed dark amber tinted chestnut color. It poured with a medium sized, lightly sticky head.

s: Fruit with hints of vinegar rather than vice versa which made for a nice change of pace. I found lightly musty apples and grapes with some fairly pronounced oaky aromas. There was also something candy-like under the funk.

t: The phrase Flanders-ish comes to mind. There is no palete crushing, heart burn inducing sourness, just a nice and refreshing underlying funk. Lots of fruit flavors in the form of grapes, raspberries, and apples. There was a lingering toasty oak with faint well incorporated alcohol.

m: Light and spritzy carbonation with a surprisingly moderate body given the abv.

o: I want to use the word approachable, but I don't mean it in a patronizing or dismissive sense. This balanced and deliciously quaffable. I'd love to have this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2011 20:04:40 | More by DIM

shand

Florida

4.45/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is my second foray into the, as I'm now finding, criminally underrated Sam Adams Barrel Room Collection. Is the Samuel Adams name on the bottle making people underrate these? Anyway, Stony Brook Red pours out a deep red color with a small head. The aroma reveals layers of tart cherry, oak, vanilla, and a bit of vinegary funk. The flavor profile is similar to a Flanders Oud Bruin, with the tart cherry, grape, and funk taking center stage here. The toasted oak comes through on the late finish, bringing along it's buddy vanilla for a great aftertaste. The mouthfeel is fantastic, it's highly carbonated and very dry. The drinkability is also great. Another winner from the Barrel Room Collection. The oak on the finish really pulls everything together for me, it's integrated so well. At nine bucks for a 750ml, this is a steal.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 02:22:52 | More by shand

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

i poured this beer into a snifter glass. it has a dark red body with not a lot of head to it, no lace either. The smell is funky of tart cherries and of toasted malt. The first sip is like wow, tart cherries threw the sip, then it a little bitterness on the back of the tongue. the mouth feel is very nice, has some carbonation. Overall i really like this beer and can't wait to try the other barrel room collection(they are sitting in my beer cupboard).

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 20:18:04 | More by chefhatt

beauweaver

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is one of my very favorite Sam Adams. I just love it. It is a wonderful beer. I favor Flemish Red Sour Ale like Rodenbach and this is pretty close to that style. It is a tat more edgy than a Rodebach and is an incredible brew. It has a bit more alcohol (about 9%)than the Rodenbach (about 5%) but it is easy to drink and does not go right to your (my) head.
I bought about 1/2 dozen bottles at the Sam Adams brewery just before the summer and I made my way down there this afternoon as I have none left to drink.
They were out of stock and are not planning to make it anytime soon. I was so diasppointed. I was able to grab a couple bottles at the beer store on my way home but what am I going to do after? If you know where to find some in the Boston area, please let me know.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 21:06:44 | More by beauweaver

champ103

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A huge thanks to tjmodica for sharing a bottle with me and several other BA's.

A: Pours a beautifully bright and slightly hazy reddish color. A small white head forms, and some lace is left behind.
S: A strong aroma of vanilla, oak, and tart fruits. Slightly acidic with some tart and sour cherries up front. Very nice.
T: Cherries up front that are tart, tangy and vinous. Slightly sour. Though the balance of woody oak, vanilla, tart fruits, and toasted malt are excellent.
M/D: A medium to full body that is incredibly crisp, dry, and refreshing. So easy to drink. I can sip on this all day.

A beer that is not over the top sour, but really balanced between the sour, oak, and fruits. This is just excellent. Well done Sam Adams, something I highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2010 23:03:31 | More by champ103

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4.36/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

This pours a medium brown color with a decent, beige head. There is a decent scent of yeast and fruits. The taste is very Belgian with a complex mixture of citrus, other fruits, and yeast. The texture is quite nice and very this beer makes for very easy drinking. Very smooth and well made!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 19:27:47 | More by Lemke10

ThePaleRider

California

4.35/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Very dark red/brown. Looks like black tea. Nice two finger head. Color of the head is very close to tan.

S - Very sour smell. Tangerines, cranberry, raspberry, and grapes. Very aromatic.

T - Lots of barrel aging flavors. Not as sour as I was expecting. Chocolate, dark cherries, alcohol, wood, and green apples. Very sweet with a little bite of tart on the front.

M - Lots and lots of carbonation. Smooth transition from tart to sweet to warming.

O - Very unique and super complex. Every sip left me guessing what was next. Sometimes I forget that Sam Adams is a real brewery because of their commercial appeal, but this beer is pretty amazing.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 07:46:42 | More by ThePaleRider

Cavanaghty

Maine

4.34/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a Sam Adams Glass.

Appearance: Deep red almost brown color. It had a beige head that was about 3 fingers thick, and then went down to about 1 finger thick and it lasted a long time. No lacing.

Smell: Fruity and Spicy. Hints of cherry, citrus, hops, maybe pepper too.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Smooth medium to full bodied. Taste fruity up front with cherry and citrus, some peppery and sweet after taste. Definatly can taste some alcohol.

Overall: Another great brew from Sam Adams! I would buy this one again.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 19:32:33 | More by Cavanaghty

waltonc

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wow, this is an exceptionally good beer for a $10 corked and caged 750 bottle. Pours brown/ruby in color with an initial inch of light tan head. Smells of tart cherries and cranberries and the flavor follows. Seems a bit like a sour brown (such as La Folie). Not too dry, not too sweet. This is far from mouth puckering sour. Flavor isn't exceptionally complex, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a really enjoyable, guzzleable beer. Body is medium with high carbonation.

Definitely looking forward to picking up some more of this.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2009 02:58:48 | More by waltonc

Jayli

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Snagged this one at Gordon's in Watertown
Consumed 12/14

A: This beer pours reddish brown with a one finger of tan sudsy head. Head recedes relatively quickly and not much lacing to speak of.

S: Nose is quite tart and sour. Oak and malts are present but the most prominent is the nice cherry notes.

T: Taste is quite amazing. Sour cherries and oak really dominate throughout. Very tart up front and then fades out with the oak leading the way in to a touch of malt and sweetness. Finish is slightly sweet apple. Pear is left on the palate in the aftertaste only.

M: Light side of medium body, moderate to high carbonation, crisp and clean body with a bone dry finish.

D: This is my first real experience with this style and am pleasantly surprised! Not filling, nicely blended the balance between tart/sour and malt is excellent. Alcohol is undetectable. I'm looking forward to exploring more of this style.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2009 02:05:17 | More by Jayli

gdrydenc

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Well, being tricked by the name of this beer, I anticipated it being an amber or something of the like. You can imagine my surprise when I opened it up and took a big gulp. With that said:

A - Pours a medium amber with about 1/2 finger of head that dies away very quickly. The color of it is about what I would expect, given the name.

S - When I first smelled it, soy sauce was the first thing I noticed. However, as it warmed/I got used to it, the soy sauce began to fade away and I began smelling sour fruit, bitterness, and overall funkiness.

T - Much like the later portion of the smell, this is certainly sour. Sour fruit, almost like underripe fruits, take the forefront. Secondly, the funkiness is totally present. Very interesting tasting beer.

M - This beer is fairly flat, as I expect it to be. Fairly thick in the mouth.

Overall, this is a cool beer. Received as a gift from my sister, well appreciated and I'd like to have this beer again!

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 01:55:42 | More by gdrydenc

gestyr

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass

A: Pours a deep reddish brown with a minimal head that dissipates quickly and leaves lacing. As it warmed up the head lasted longer and longer.

S: Red wine. Fruity, slightly sour aroma

T: Again, very wine-like. Fruity with enough sourness to make it interesting. A hint of oak is present in the background. No alcohol bite.

M: No carbonation bite. On the light side of medium bodied.

O: The sourness balances the fruitiness very nicely. I would drink this again. It would go great with grilled fish.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 23:20:06 | More by gestyr

allengarvin

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Interesting bottle design certainly draws one's eye. It pours out a deep mahogany color with a dense quarter-inch head atop it. The nose offers all the normal notes of a Flemish red: vinous fruitiness, sweet malt, a little oaky vanilla as well. As for flavor: Sam Adams really got this spot on! No one thing dominates. Instead, there's a wonderful blend of oakiness, tart cherries without cherry sweetness, and malt, lightly caramel. Acidity is present but this beer is at the less sour end of the Flemsh red spectrum. There are lots of food pairing possibilities here that would be interesting.

Every time Sam Adams comes up with a new line of beers, I've come to expect no more one well-done in the bunch. This one certainly hits that! Looking forward to the others, though.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 16:37:05 | More by allengarvin