Pike Entire - Wood Aged Stout - Pike Pub & Brewery

TeeCee

Louisiana

3.33/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Not my best review. Not rated to stated style as the rating would be very low.

So I can't tell if this is supposed to be a sour stout, but it is.

Appearance:
The huge, continuous head seems to me to be the first sign that this is either intentionally or accidentally sour. Other than the fact that I can't seem to pour more than two ounces at a time, the beer has a nice dark color with lots of tan head.

Smell:
The cherry scent again tells me I'm dealing with something going sour. I smell cherry/sour more than anything.

Taste:
Like Avery's Depuceleuce or something. Not getting stout and not getting 60 IBUs.

Mouthfeel:
Nice and medium in the mouth. Light for a stout, but not like drinking water or anything.

Drinkability:
If you like sours, this is on the lighter side. For me, I've been working on this bomber for over an hour, hoping I don't have a headache in the morning.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2010 03:18:29 | More by TeeCee

jmccraney

Washington

4/5  rDev +11.4%

01-22-2013 20:07:17 | More by jmccraney

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev +18.4%

12-08-2012 21:54:05 | More by t0rin0

joefc

Oregon

1/5  rDev -72.1%

12-05-2012 14:55:13 | More by joefc

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from 6/2010 notes. One year old properly cellared bottle. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours black with a massize aggressive dark tan head; 80% glass filled with foam. Fades slowly with lacing. Once past the foam, the beer is quite nice. Dark smoky malts, dark fruit, nice oak woody flavor, coffee, light hops. Light hop finish. Nicely balanced. Glad I got one of the good bottles; this 2009 apparently had problems.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 17:48:29 | More by LiquidAmber

piclee

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

03-17-2012 05:40:48 | More by piclee

AlaskanYoung

Alaska

4/5  rDev +11.4%

12-12-2011 09:44:04 | More by AlaskanYoung

imperialking

Illinois

4/5  rDev +11.4%

11-18-2011 00:45:31 | More by imperialking

Exiled

Texas

3/5  rDev -16.4%

11-15-2011 02:10:02 | More by Exiled

SkeeterHawk

Texas

3.73/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

I just happened to notice this beer in a side display at the downtown Spec's a week or so ago, so let's give this bad-boy a try.

Appearance: Very highly carbonated. The beer was poured carefully and still gave a 4" head of tan foam. The head started to fall pretty quickly, thank goodness as I poured it to the rim accidentally. There are lots of brown splotches of lace left on the glass after drinking, so this beer makes it's mark, that's for sure.

Aroma: The aroma had wood aged notes a-plenty with vanilla being the key player. There are some dark fruit like raisins and plums along with a dry woody character. Some liquor qualities coming out as the head starts to fall a bit with sherry being the one that comes to mind. Chocolate, dark caramel and a subtle roast are becoming more prevalent as the beer warms. There is a subtle floral component coming out as the beer warms that I guess is from hops, but the woody aromatics are muddling that quality up a bit.

Taste: The flavor is very carbonated, probably a bit too much, but I move on. The body is medium and the carbonation makes it dance on your palate quite a bit before you really get to taste it. The flavor has lots of wood with dark caramel that wasn't that apparent in the aroma. As the beer sits some, there is a nice chocolate flavor coming out. The flavor favors the malt, but the high carbonation, roast malts, and hops make for an interesting challenge for the malt to get through. Then the alcohol is also a player in the mouthfeel and finish so that it makes the beer appear drier than you would expect.

Opinion: This is a pretty good beer, and one of the better ones that I have had from Pike Brewery. I normally don't say this, but it would be nice if the carbonation was a good bit lower so the beer would be a little more drinkable. The overall blend is nice and the wood aging goes well with the rest of the flavors. That said, I think that the thing that this beer lacks the most is mouthfeel. The fact that the carbonation is so high actually takes away from this beer. It would be much better more subtly carbonated so that you can really explore the feeling of the malts. As it is, it is coming across a bit dry, fizzy, and acidic...which can all be contributed by the carbonation. As the beer sits and the carbonation softens, it still seems a bit thin with more acidity in the finish than I would prefer.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 02:43:53 | More by SkeeterHawk

MrFootstones

California

1.85/5  rDev -48.5%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

This 2009 bottle pours 96.4% milk chocolate colored foam, settles to 0.5cm cap on an opaque black body. Not looking too promising.

Smells like bile was mixed with some bitter dark chocolate. A scoach of something oddly savory. Eesh..

Tastes less nasty than it smells. Mildly sour bitter chocolate with a weird off something. Finish is unpleasantly vegetal. There lurks beneath a decent imperial stout with some vanilla and oak.

Despite the overcarbonation there is some decent body here with fullness suggested by the explosive carbonation. Somewhat silky. Not awful.

Clearly infected. Would like to try the beer as the brewer intended it.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 03:26:37 | More by MrFootstones

Bfarr

Washington

2.6/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 1 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Explosive brown foamy look. Chocolate and wood aroma with a lager background. Sharp bite, mineral, molasses, alcohol, and a dry wood finish. Tinges of metal creep up. Foamy and acidic feel.

I picked this up and it may have been sitting around in a distributor warehouse (it was an '09). It foamed up substantially but oddly, despite all the problems, I actually somewhat enjoyed it. Maybe it was because it sat so long the alcohol changed into a more potent hallucinogen.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 00:29:13 | More by Bfarr

alamode

Massachusetts

1.25/5  rDev -65.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

22oz bottle from 2009 into Stone shaker pint. bottle lists ABV at 9.5%.

A: poured pitch black with what looked like a nice viscosity, but instantly turned to an expansive froth. after a handful of minutes the huge froth disappeared, leaving about half a glass of what originally poured from the bottle.

S: infected, sour mess...with hints of a barrel-aged stout.

T: awful.

M: it didn't stay in my mouth long enough to get a good read.

D: not drinkable...drain poured and an insane amount of froth filled my sink!

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 14:54:51 | More by alamode

Jayli

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Acquired this from stonequarrywest via SS '10 so a big THANK YOU goes out to him!
Poured in to a pint glass

A: This beer pours a thick deep, dark, mahogany brown, almost black and a vicious 4 finger of brown rocky, creamy head that retains. Big ol' chunks of sticky lacing are left on the glass.

S: Nose is... whoa! What is this? If I could make a recipe for a sour stout - this is what it would smell like. Tart soured cherries, oak, bitter bakers chocolate, and charred malts.

T: Taste starts with tart sour notes - soured cherries. Then an oaked, woody, roasted malt flavoring comes in. Bitter bakers chocolate comes through mingled with plum or raisin and a hint of molasses. The finish has a good deal of citrus hops that leaves a bitter hang on the tongue.

M: Lighter side of medium body, high carbonation, prickly on the tongue with a dry finish.

D: As the beer warms, goes down easily, oddly tasty, hidden kick, not a very good representation of style ... but there is no such thing as a sour stout... yet. I'd give this a whirl again, though I would have to be in the mood for it.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2010 03:52:42 | More by Jayli

Docer

Washington

3.73/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Snagged a bottle to try... sat about a month only in my cooler... bottle was a major gusher... took 20 min's to let the foam settle in the glass....

- Huge mocha head... gushing... rich dark black brew is what was left after all the foam settled....

- Very smokey woody scent with sweet grains, bitter hop... slightly salty, zesty... earthy...

- Great smokey flavor... slightly alcoholic.. cream, salt, wood, smoked spices.... sweet coffee and chocolate... blended ok, but quite hot and medicinal...

- Medium bodied, and thin really... creamy...

- Not bad, but could be better perfected... the bottle was a major gusher, and it is still a bit hot... and it might as well be called a smoked stout...

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 02:08:37 | More by Docer

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume III, Issue II:

American brewers have taken wood aging to new levels that have never been seen before, re-creating flavors that traditionally would have been there pre-stainless steel. Add the blending of beer, which Pike has done here, and you open a whole new world of complexities.

Big, viscous tan head on top of a crude-oil-colored liquid--another form of black gold, perhaps? Plum pudding aroma of burnt sugars, candied dark fruit and a modest dollop of vanilla bean with a hint of burnt toast and dark-roasted coffee. Slick and smooth medium to full body, you would expect syrupy, but this has a pleasant mouthfeel to it. Roasted flavor never becomes domineering or brash; lots of chocolaty and mild coffee flavors. Toasted cocoa nibs come to mind with an edge of light molasses. Mild warmth from the alcohol, but it mostly stays hidden. The wood character plays up the vanilla sweetness, but then cleans it up at the same time with a layer of tannin dryness. Dried black currants and ripe plum in the back. Quick sting of hop bitterness does not cut through the malt, but does help to balance. Roasty and woody finish. This is a beer to savor every last drop: epic in stature but nothing too bold to not be utterly approachable. This is beer's answer to fine Port wine.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2010 12:53:48 | More by BeerAdvocate

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Middle stout rather than an imperial In a word, dry. The pour was a gusher, although not handled much in several months. Most was fortunately saved, and it poured mollasses substantially in foam form. Much roastiness. Initially a bit of sweet, brown sugar, anise, though bone dryness took over and dominated. Drinkable but a pint is much.Thanks Presario.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2010 04:47:45 | More by northyorksammy

srandycarter

California

3.45/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Almost black, tan head, leaves slowly to ring. Lots of cling lace.

S - Chocolate chip cookies and citrus juice.

T - Sour and Stout meet. I don't know...

M - Medium body, good carb, balance is iffy.

D - Guess I am just not ready for a sour stout.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2010 03:26:03 | More by srandycarter

philbertk

Washington

3.68/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pike Brewing Company--Pike Entire Wood Aged Stout--2008 Release--22 oz. Bottle--9.50% ABV--60 IBU's. (4.0 / 5.0) Stout--Imperial. Wax sealed. Thin lace espresso head. No sediment. Opaque chocolate black ruby color. Roasted chocolate mild oak hop front. Creamy sweet rich bourbon oak roasted chocolate espresso smooth big Stout body. Balanced mild bitter hop bourbon EtOH hint mild hot end. Sampled 2/1/2009. $12.99 Each.

Pike Entire Wood Aged Stout--Brewer - Drew Cluley--2009 22 oz. Bottle. 9.50% ABV. 60 IBU's. (0.0 / 5.0) Stout--Imperial. Wax Sealed Bottle. Huge foamy mild lace tan head. Opaque dark black color. Fruity burnt oak foamy front. Fizzy mild sweet thin sour Stout body Rich infected sediment. Dry citrus sour end. BAD! DUMPED! Sampled 4/30/2010. $10.79 Each. Cellered under good storage conditions since purchase. Very dissappointing. One scary bottle left. 2008 was good. Brewer says they failed to catch a few infected barrels before they got into circulation.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2010 03:49:51 | More by philbertk

brentk56

North Carolina

2.83/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Pours a pitch black color with a blanket of tan foam - a decent patchwork of lace, too

Smell: Sour aromatics compete with the oaky barrel

Taste: Very woody and dry, with a developing sour character; underneath, the chocolate, coffee and dark fruit flavors can be discerned, but the sourness and the oak battle for prominence both before and after the swallow

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: I didn't get the gusher reported by others but this bottle (bought in Seattle in the spring of 2009) clearly has some off flavors; some have suggested that the sourness was the brewers intent - possibly so, but it sure isn't marketed that way so I am not sure I believe that

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2010 23:14:04 | More by brentk56

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.65/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

New batch (not infected) provided by inflateablechair.... Thanks Sam.. this is the 2nd time Sammy threw down this beer, but the last bottle (first batch) was like coffee spiked with fruity car battery acid.

Nice brown head... good lacing and retention atop a sorta thin looking black brew.

nose has bunches of black malts and oak... dry cocoa is also a bit player.

Flavor has hints of bourbon ... yet the oak is pretty heavy.. roasty... bits of char... French Roast... a small bit of chocolate holds enough sweetness to pull things together.

Body seems pretty lite for such a big brew and .... the carbonation is also pretty high. This beer has the bones to be pretty nice, yet the body and carbonation really need to be dialed in.... too fizzy.

Sam always brings the cool stuff that I overlook... You're good people inflatablechair.

4/4/4/2.5/3

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2010 08:17:40 | More by JohnGalt1

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.05/5  rDev -15%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

22 oz bomber that is 2009 vintage. Whoa, easy there fella...pours a reckless, foamy mess! Not quite a gusher, but definitely a glass foam-over. What little beer is in my glass is nearly black with a massive cap of large-bubbled dark brown foam.

Nose is slightly sour with some chocolate and mild roast. Smells a little like an infected beer, or at least one that is heading down that road. Would swear there is brett in here. That would explain the massive foam-over on the pour.

Taste does not seem as infected, although there is still a slightly sour twang to it. Still drinkable, and at $15 bucks you damn right I will. Cocoa nibs, chocolate and mild hop flavors are all detectable here. There is some sweetness in here, but it is balanced nicely by some roasty malts. The wood is definitely noticeable as well. Has more flavor and character than all of the other Pike offerings I have had, but still falls short compared to many others of the same style. It was quite expensive too, not worth the price IMO.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2010 12:41:41 | More by twiggamortis420

beertunes

Washington

3.93/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in straight pint glass. Poured black, as expected for the style, with with a thick tan head that had good retention and lacing.

The aroma was a very nice blend of oak, bourbon and malt. There was a solid base beer and the bourbon didn't overpower the beer, as is often the case with the bourbon barrel brews. The taste featured a very good roasted and toasted flavor, with the bourbon and oak adding nice layers of flavors.

The body was good, solid and not heavy, but perhaps a touch on the thin side for the style. The beer was very carbonated for the style, which for some folks alters body and drinkability, it wasn't an issue for me. I found drinkability to be very good for a heavier beer. Overall, a very good beer that's worth your time.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2010 22:25:26 | More by beertunes

WesWes

New York

3.58/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a pitch black color with a thick frothy brown head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a stiff black malt bitterness with an almost sour aroma. I guess it's the bourbon smell along with a very dry, earthy black malt character. The flavor is decent as well. The barrel flavor mixes well with the bone dry patent malts. There doesn't appear to be a ton of complexity here. It goes down easy, again with a touch of sourness. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a forgettable IS. It's drinkable, but not something I'd seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2010 22:03:18 | More by WesWes

jujubeast6000

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed 1/13/2010 (Bottle, waxed):

Pours a dark, dark black colored body, can't see any light through it. Humongous foamy tiny bubble head, extremely lasting, tan brown in color. Roasted aroma, some woodiness. A bit of funkiness too. Not strong an aroma overall. Creamy mouthfeel, chocolate. Roasted coffee, a tiny bit of ash. Tasty not a ton of flavor, lightish. More alcohol as it warms, burning, strong coffee. not too shabby.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2010 04:27:17 | More by jujubeast6000