Heresy - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

Jarod

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle
SERVED ROOM TEMPERATURE
No date on bottle
Aged for a few months

This beer poured a jet-black inky color that when held to the light showed an outline of cocoa brown all around the edges, and as thick and dense to not allow any light to pass through. With several pours the average created a tiny foam head that was cocoa brown in color somewhat thin, slightly creamy and sticky at times, but not long lasting. With a vigorous pour, I noticed the head as a thick and rich and a few inches tall, with medium sized carbonation bubbles packed somewhat densely, but not long lasting either as it also fell to nothing less then a ring on the edges of the glass. At times I noticed some lace trying to form, but nothing much then a mere small group of carbonation bubbles trying to hold on. Also noticeable was that this beer seemed to be fairly carbonated. The aromas that it gave off were at first of a bourbon/whisky-esk note, not overly powerful but definitely noticeable, it blended with aromas of cocoa powder, fresh cut/split vanilla bean, the wooden oak barrel it was aged in (this was noticeable all through the nose), a wistershire sauce, some dark fruits, caramel, earth tones near the end, oat grains, dark malts and then it finished up with the warmth of alcohol tingling the nose. The first sip was surprisingly sweet with tones of alcohol and bourbon. But after the second tasting I noticed that it still had some sweet tones but all the flavors came forth: alcohol –bourbon, sweet chocolate, caramel, fresh vanilla, a dry wood – the oak barrel, earth tones, slate and ash and coal where noticeable all through out, near the middle to back of the swallow more chocolates dark malts, dark sweet fruits and finally ended with dry cocoa, ash and alcohol flavors. One think noticeable was that the bourbon was all through out the taste. After each swallow I was left with warmth of alcohol. The body was medium to slightly heavy at times as it warmed up even more. It was smooth and creamy overall. I tried this beer first directly from the case that was sitting out on the floor of the distributor room temperature and was wowed. I stuck the case in the fridge when I got home and tried one at the cooler temp and was not impressed, it tasted like the Weyerbacher Imperial Stout, good but not what I was looking for, so I determined that room temperature was the way to go to bring out all the flavors that were supposed to be there. Over all I liked this beer, a good sipping beer, and a good experiment from the brewery and brewer. I can’t wait for the next oak barrel series with one of there other beers. I would drink again on a cold day. Also I would like to add that I rather liked the label, and the name as well. Seems to fit.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2004 13:35:05 | More by Jarod

lauries444

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

05-20-2013 02:01:29 | More by lauries444

KSfrost

Maryland

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-19-2013 21:48:42 | More by KSfrost

bcuz7

Florida

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-19-2013 21:42:50 | More by bcuz7

Lordquackingstic

New York

4.11/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured mostly into my rainy sunday chili, and then the rest into a mini snifter.

A: Onyx black with light slightly coming through around the edges, making the edges dark brown. Head is of medium height (which is acceptable for a barrel aged stout) and the lacing is slightly sticky.

S: Belgian chocolate soaked in oaky whiskey, sweet toffee, slightly smokey.

T: Whiskey punch upfront with coffee and chocolate malts smoothing out the rest of the taste. Definitely tasting the Old Heathen on this (which was used as the base beer for this), as the Belgian yeast comes through nicely along with the oaky, smokey whiskey notes. Slightly sweet, but nowhere close to being too sweet.

M: As many others have stated, this is pretty thin for a barrel aged stout, but I'm personally okay with that. Whiskey notes linger after swallowing.

O: I've heard this has been called the "poor man's BCBS", and I totally disagree. These are two completely different beers, especially since this is a Belgian stout. This is a very nice and drinkable barrel aged stout; it doesn't look to kick your ass like most barrel aged stouts, it just looks to be easy sipping and flavorful, which it is. Definitely worth it for the cheap price.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 20:02:12 | More by Lordquackingstic

MastaShonuf

California

3.25/5  rDev -18.5%

05-19-2013 14:00:43 | More by MastaShonuf

mtalley999

Maryland

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-19-2013 01:41:28 | More by mtalley999

jakeox

Illinois

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-19-2013 01:12:48 | More by jakeox

carlosega

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%

05-17-2013 19:29:31 | More by carlosega

schaffer9252

New York

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-16-2013 22:16:49 | More by schaffer9252

civicm87

New York

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-14-2013 23:08:27 | More by civicm87

bconsidine

Maryland

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-14-2013 17:34:55 | More by bconsidine

lupercmda

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -6%

05-14-2013 01:45:15 | More by lupercmda

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

05-13-2013 06:32:40 | More by Bonko_the_sane

henshawb

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%

05-13-2013 01:12:12 | More by henshawb

bradcochran1234

Georgia

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-11-2013 02:28:04 | More by bradcochran1234

larryi86

Delaware

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter

A- Black with a small two finger tan head.

S- Bourbon, oak, chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, caramel malts. Kind of boozy.

T- Chocolate, dark fruits, bourbon, charred oak, vanilla.

M- Smooth, medium to full body.

O- Not a bad barrel aged stout, but it doesn't really wow me. I could see myself buying this again because it is affordable and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 00:34:40 | More by larryi86

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-10-2013 22:05:48 | More by mikeburd1128

krisbee

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -6%

05-10-2013 03:43:28 | More by krisbee

In_Control_Mike

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -6%

05-10-2013 02:30:19 | More by In_Control_Mike

shehateme

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-09-2013 23:57:43 | More by shehateme

brewtus

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Poured black with a two finger tan bubbly head. In the nose, chocolate, a little bit of oak, slightly metallic. Some dark fruit. Taste hits you with a boozy start, some dark fruit, oaky, bourbon, tobacco, some milky chocolate. Texture is good, drinkable but not as thick as many imperials I've had. I've always taken this for granted and decided to finally give it a shot. I'm pretty glad I only bought a single, it's not bad by any means at all, it just tastes a bit immature on the oak aging. I know I hold the barrel aged stout at a high bar, but this just doesn't wow me. Again, it's pretty good, nothing more. Glad I tried it once.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 01:10:38 | More by brewtus

argock

Virginia

3.71/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into a clear glass snifter. Bottled on 03/13/13 on bottle neck. 4-pack purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA).

A: Black with 1-2 fingers of beige head, falls away quickly but leaves a few spots of lacing.

S: Heavy on the vanilla with some roasty overtones and dark fruitiness. The whiskey barrel provides a twinge of alcohol burn, but overall the aroma is good but pretty tame.

T: The flavir is good but I feel like the stout character is not as prominent as it should be, which leaves this beer a little soul-less. The whiskey flavors are most forward, but the dark maltiness never comes through until the roast notes do in the finish. This tasted good at first, but faded with warming which is not a good sign for this style generally.

M: The thin feel is a detractor no doubt. This doesn't feel like an imperial stout either. Carbonation is moderate.

O: Heresy is a decent beer but I can't recommend it any more than that.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 05:00:12 | More by argock

Bromine

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -6%

05-07-2013 09:20:15 | More by Bromine

drewone

California

3.75/5  rDev -6%

05-07-2013 07:04:40 | More by drewone