Oak-Aged Backburner (Imperial Barley Wine Style Ale) - Southern Tier Brewing Company

SawDog505

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Lost Abbey tulip, bottled 2/15/12. Pours a orange red, with a one inch off white head, that leaves some solid lace. Smell is hard candy, vanilla, dark fruit, biscuit, carmel, grapefruit, and brown sugar. Taste is really well balanced, lots of vanilla, carmel, burnt brown sugar, and sweet grapefruit in the finish. Body is thinner than expected, the amount of carbonation you would expect, not really dry, and drinkable for its heft. This is a good and different tasting barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 03:34:04 | More by SawDog505

Grinky

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -13.2%

06-20-2013 03:09:13 | More by Grinky

oberon

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a rich amber tinged deep brown with a billowing one and a half finger off white creamy head that takes forever to settle,just great clarity and a great head.Toasty oak and alcohol soaked dark fruit in the nose,as it warms a real alcohol zip comes into play.A full creamy feel with low carbonation.Flavors are lightly toasted with a shot of vanilla and raisin,it's not overly sweet though as there is a earthy more toasted finish.I like this better than the standard version,it doesn't seem to be as sweet,the oak is not overbearing.another great one from ST.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 23:09:05 | More by oberon

aleslover

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

06-16-2013 01:20:40 | More by aleslover

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Deep mahogany body with unexpected clarity. Poured a one finger cream-colored head that has now dissipated to a thin film of suds, leaving good lacing.

Aroma: Rich malts oozing with caramel, apple and a touch of hearty spice (like one would find in hot cider). Not much in terms of hops and reminiscent of a Scotch Ale.

Taste: Of the many flavors, the oak is the most prominent. It brings out an almost cinnamon or nutmeg spice note in the grain. This creates a sort of cinnamon apple flavor that gives it an almost candy-like quality. Although it is hard to define what hop flavor is present, it is easier to detect the bitterness that is contributed by them. The bitterness starts about halfway through and continues on through to echo in the aftertaste. This strikes a good balance with the somewhat sweet malt flavor. Once the hop bitterness has faded after each sip, the heat in the back of the throat kicks in. Although I’d classify 9.6% ABV as being only in the upper middle part of the craft beer strength range, it definitely packs a punch in this Barleywine.

Mouthfeel: Almost full in body but not quite heavy feeling. The carbonation is on par with what is expected from an oak-aged brew and brings a lightness to the drinkability. Although classified as more of a sipper, it is easy to take this beast down.

Final Thoughts: I’d been curious to try Backburner for a while now (well ever since I grew to appreciate this style) and while not the beer I expected, it did impress. Just when I’d begun to peg the American Barleywine style as nothing more than citrusy malt-bombs, Backburner comes along and redefines that trend. With characteristics of both an American Barleywine, English Barleywine, and Scotch Ale, Backburner is a treat for those seek out the finer things. Would I drink it again? Sure.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 19:54:19 | More by JamesMN

b1515152004

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.7%

06-15-2013 12:26:08 | More by b1515152004

djre4orm

Virginia

3/5  rDev -25.6%

06-13-2013 20:15:06 | More by djre4orm

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

3.63/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

P: Murky mahogany color with a fast fading taupe froth. Wet lacing forms on the sides.

S: Heavy wood aroma, vanilla, sweet roasted caramel malt, creole spices, roasted barley, and a faint old milk aroma.

T/M: Super sweet upfront with toasted caramel, syrup, brown sugar, drinks similar to really sweet tea but with loads of smoldered barley and wood. Hops are earthy and very mild while faint chocolate lingers in the backdrop. A nice full body with moderate carbonation.

O: I hate to say it but I'm not a fan of this one. I like that the oak cuts the sweetness but its just too understated for the brigade of sweetness that attacks the palate. It's like drinking overly sweetened tea. Well put together and easy drinking gives this a bump in points. I read reviews about a strong hop profile so I really want to try a fresh version.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 03:30:40 | More by Hopswagger

bluntedboywonder

New York

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%

06-01-2013 02:05:51 | More by bluntedboywonder

CEDAMA

California

3.5/5  rDev -13.2%

05-29-2013 21:46:52 | More by CEDAMA

LI_PO12

Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber into Tulip

Appearance- Deep amber, somewhat hazy, half finger head dissipates quickly.

Aroma- Wow, Toffee, Caramel, Vanilla, Some dark fruits(figs, dates), some slight citrus and pine, alcohol but not getting in the way of the other aromas. And it gets much better as it warms up. Getting the oak in the nose for sure.

Flavor-Sweet, a lot of oak, vanilla, caramel, taffy, good balance but on the sweet side of things, Boozy but not harsh. Compared to the aroma the flavor is a lacking.

Mouthfeel- Full, smooth, medium low carb, alcohol warmth

Overall- I have had this before younger and it was very good. Picked up a 15 month old bottle to try. Still a solid barley wine. I have never had the un-oaked version so I don't how it compares but the oak helps this out a lot. I see they dry hop with amirillo and centennial so I'd be interested in finding a fresh bottle some day. If you like barelywine this is worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 05:43:28 | More by LI_PO12

Dannynoonan123

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +17.9%

05-26-2013 01:39:26 | More by Dannynoonan123

superspak

Michigan

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

22 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled on 2/15/2012. Pours slightly hazy deep ruby red color with a 1 finger dense cream colored head with good retention, that reduces to a thin lace cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big orange zest, caramel, raisin, molasses, toast, toffee, oak, floral, pine, grass, and floral earthiness. Fantastic aromas with great balance and complexity of malt notes with moderate hop and oak balance. Taste of orange zest, caramel, raisin, toast, toffee, brown sugar, brown bread, floral, pine, oak, grass, and floral earthiness. Minimal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of orange zest, raisin, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, toast, brown bread, floral, light pine, and hop earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice complexity and balance of deep malt flavors with moderate hop balance; and zero cloying sweetness present after the finish. Medium carbonation and moderately full bodied; with a creamy, fairly slick, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent barleywine! All around nice balance and complexity of malt flavors with moderate hops; and dangerously smooth to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 03:58:21 | More by superspak

seplo

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -13.2%

05-21-2013 01:53:36 | More by seplo

JohnSnowNW

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -0.7%

05-15-2013 19:39:15 | More by JohnSnowNW

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

05-13-2013 22:35:16 | More by mikeincharleston

vrbulldog22

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -6.9%

05-13-2013 18:57:02 | More by vrbulldog22

bluesplit63

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%

05-12-2013 11:17:09 | More by bluesplit63

Lynn

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

05-12-2013 10:35:12 | More by Lynn

assman79

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -6.9%

05-06-2013 00:33:10 | More by assman79

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from tap into snifter at tap and mallet Rochester ny. Pours a hazy burnt orange with nice lacing. Sweet malty syrup and an almost citrus hop aroma. Taste is somewhat mild toffe at first but finishes with a big toffee caramel hop flavor with a mild vanilla woody oak. Its easy to drink....really easy but hits hard. Its better as it warms. Nice barleywine.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2013 23:26:27 | More by DrinkSlurm

KiMiRaiK

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%

04-22-2013 02:17:30 | More by KiMiRaiK

nesarebad

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

TIme to rev up the old review machine:

Oak Aged-Back Burner; 22 oz bottle; Bottled on 2/28/13; served at 42-45F in my new Firestone Walker Barrelworks Teku:

A - Poors a beautiful clear ruby with a tea brown tint, 1 finger head that clings to the glass as vibrant lacing.

S - The nose is not intense or over powering. There are hints of dark fruit, leather, smoke, and herbal tones from the dry hops. Not really getting any hint of the oak aging in the smell. I would say the smell is just somewhat flat.

T - Upfront, you call tell that there are some complex flavors coming together. Hops, not overly bitter but very fresh at this point. A nice malt balance. Slightly medicinal...and...not much oak.

M - Smooth, vibrant, very fresh. Not cloying or viscous, definitely a drinkable barley wine.

O - A well crafted American Barley Wine. Hits the mark with a nice hop bill that balances the sweetness of the malt. It is what you would expect. The kicker though, is you are not getting much of the oak in the flavor. Perhaps the oak is working in the background to balance out the often assertive flavors in the style. Would like to see how this one works out with age and will definitely consider getting more if it is available.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 03:47:45 | More by nesarebad

oldedog

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -0.7%

04-16-2013 23:01:41 | More by oldedog

Invictus

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

04-15-2013 22:17:10 | More by Invictus