Heresy - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

Jeffreysan

Maryland

3.43/5  rDev -14%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle poured into a snifter

Appearance: Pours completely black and devoid of all light, like tar, without practically any head or lacing to speak of, just an extremely thin, almost invisible halo of lacing gripping the glass. This beer is gorgeous! Exactly what an Imperial Stout should look like!

Aroma: Dark bread, slight roasted coffee beans, and dark chocolate. Hints of vanilla. Oak. Subtle alcohol aroma

Taste: This is a very strong tasting beer, much stronger than its little brother the Old Heathen. Definitely getting alcohol here, whereas in the Old Heathen I had to really, really search hard to get any alcohol. Here the alcohol practically slaps you in the face! Almost too much too, as I’m finding it pretty harsh. The alcohol completely overwhelms the other flavors of the beer to the point that I couldn’t taste much else, except some hoppy bitterness at the finish. Not a good balance.

Mouthfeel: Smoooth, like a creamy coffee, with almost no carbonation to speak of, which leaves a smoothness that’s very, very pleasing. Very chewy, thanks to the alcohol, which clocks in at 8%, and you taste it all here.

Overall: I didn’t like this stout anywhere near as much as I liked Weyerbacher’s Old Heathen. Actually, out of all the Weyerbacher beers I’ve had, which I’ve liked very much, I rate this one really low, taste-wise. Not my stout at all. Love the name, in fact, it’s one of my favorite names for a beer, but I don’t like the beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 22:15:42 | More by Jeffreysan

bcsbeer

Florida

3.79/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pulled from the ice box and sat on the counter 30 minutes before serving.
Visually it was a midnight brown with a generous tan head. ( aggressive pour) The head reduced to a ring after a few minutes. No lacing to speak of, the suds could not hang on. Not a lot for the nose, baring a light whiskey aroma with some dark fruits. Taste was boozy flavored with raisin, fig, molasses and black licorice. It had a nice alcohol warmth on the big gulps. Mouthfeel was in the middle, somewhat oily and low carbonation.
If you like a shot of Crown Royal with your fruit cake you should do well with this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 04:31:29 | More by bcsbeer

lunarbrew

Wisconsin

3.73/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured hard with a small 1 finger head that fell down as quickly as it appeared. Beer seems to have a medium viscosity. Pours jet black.

Smell oak and roast on the front end. Lacking the sweet nose I was hoping for. There is a lot of acidity in the smell, which is a bit of a turn off for me. There are notes of black currant, raspberry, and fig. Def. some bourbon present, but nothing that wows me here.

Flavor is more mellow than I expected. Still not sweet enough, and I find that berry acidity in the backend. There are some nice flavors going on here, but nothing seems to mesh like I want it to. Some light toffee, a little vanilla, and a good about of oak flavor. Generally, the beer doesn't pack a big enough punch.

Mouthfeel is fine, but a little lighter than I like. Medium with medium-heavy carb. Shmeh.

When I want a BA stout, but not one I'll miss, this is the perfect candidate. It's good. Ok. Decent. Fine. So-so.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 02:31:11 | More by lunarbrew

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A- Pitch black body, sticky tan head that stays around for a while.

S- Roasted malts, sweet vanilla, oak, hint of caramel.

T- Big on roasted malts with hints of sweet caramel and earthy wood towards the finish. Vanilla and a slight hint of booze in the finish.

M- Velvety smooth, full bodied, medium carbonation.

O- A good offering, but not in the upper tier of barrel aged stouts. Lacks a little bit in flavor, but very good for the price.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 01:45:45 | More by stephenjmoore

martyl1000

Wisconsin

4.08/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4

This is after my 3rd bottle of Heresy over a period of two weeks at home in a quiet environment. It's a beautiful pour into a snifter. Mostly opaque black, topped with a inch of khaki head. Almost no lacing to speak of, as if it were much higher abv.

The aroma is a serious flaw. I can't pinpoint the problem, but the barrel aging and the burnt coffee are not working well together, at all. It's more like burnt paper and leather.

The flavors in the mouth are perfectly complex enough, dark chocolate, bitter-sour cherry, oak, and molasses. But certainly not sweet enough for a likable Russion Imperial Stout.

Medium-bodied, w/ a sharp not entirely welcome carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 06:16:13 | More by martyl1000

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

had this one on tap and it was ridiculously good - got a bottle to review it finally..

pours a deep brown/black with a finger of dark tan head which quickly dissipated. smells deliciously sweet of brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, oak, whiskey. the flavor is amazing.. a nutty/chocolatey/whiskey mix that blends so sweetly well together. a very simple but perfectly balanced flavor profile. once the beer warms up you get a lot more of the barrel flavor, which is still thoroughly enjoyable. really enjoy this one and recommend it to anyone that hasn't given it a chance. medium to full body with low carbonation, best drank at room temperature.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 09:50:40 | More by facundoCNB

ACinSC

South Carolina

3.99/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Heresy will take you a bit off guard if you are inexperienced with stouts.

Poured into a stout glass, the tan head quickly subsides. The aroma is of roasted malt and sour grapes.

Tastes much the same. It has a slightly milky texture and the sourness of this stout fills the nose quickly. It has an oaky flavor from being aged in whiskey barrels.

The aftertaste is not too bitter, which is a plus. Heresy is a strong beer that takes time to appreciate properly as the flavors are complex and I'm still becoming acquainted with this one (only had one glass so far). I may re-rate after a second try.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 06:40:04 | More by ACinSC

thebigredone

Wisconsin

3.78/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Received this from my father in-law as an early birthday gift. No idea how old these bottles are as I cannot find a date. Also, just getting over a cold, so not tasting this at full strength.

Pours a deep blackish brown. Small tan head that dissipates quickly.

Nose is light. Some barrel aromatics, a touch of roast, but nothing really jumps out at me.

Taste is somewhat similar. Light barrel taste, a bit of whiskey, a touch of chocolate, some dark fruits, and almost no roast. Taste fades quickly and leaves a lingering hint of cheap whiskey.

Mouthfeel is quite thin.

Overall, a somewhat subpar BA stout. If I were blindfolded, I would have a hard time guessing that this was barrel aged. Almost tastes more like a poor quality Quad. I'll update this if I get a different impression from my other bottles, but I probably wouldn't ever seek this out.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 02:07:53 | More by thebigredone

Lordquackingstic

Italy

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

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

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

Beerlover

Minnesota

3.16/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25

This is an average bourbon aged stout, not the worst one i've tried but pretty average for this style, leaves a lot to be desired.

mainly in the mouthfeel and in the taste, the bourbon notes are there but slightly minimal for my bourbon desirous palate. slight notes of vanilla, chocolate, roast malts and bourbon, sweetness is a little les than normal and there is a very nice dry finish. the mouthfeel is not nearly as thick, slick and heavey as normal. the price point on this on the other hand is a definate plus at around 12 bucks for a four pack of 12 oz bottles, can't really beat that for a bourbon barrel age imp stout.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 03:13:24 | More by Beerlover

BA_Berto

New York

4.61/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Great beer, at a price that you can't beat! Is this the next BCBS? No. If you get your hands on a bottle or two, you'll thoroughly enjoy it! I am now looking to set a bottle or two aside to see how this brew develops, but this in my opinion is an undiscovered Gem!

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 02:55:11 | More by BA_Berto

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.73/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours an opaque black color. The head is a one finger tan shade that retains surprisingly well for a barrel-aged RIS (though perhaps not given its ABV). A good ring of lacing is left on the glass.

S: There's a bourbon character here - and it's a wholly decent one at that. Notes of vanilla, charred oak, and coconut complement the chocolaty, roasty base.

T: Wow, I'm surprised how heavily the barrel character comes through. The opening chocolate sweetness is quickly supplanted by vanilla and coconut in the middle. It finishes with strong charred oak and a returning hint of powdered chocolate. This one lacks complexity - great chocolate character, though.

M: Tannic with a capital T. The lighter body and dry finish means this comes out more strongly than, say, BCBS. However, there's still a lingering sweetness on the aftertaste. If I have a (big) problem, it's that the texture seems almost inadequately thin and angular on the palate given the sweetness level. The good drinkability can't compensate, either.

O: This is a poor man's BCBS in every sense of the word. It's not as decadent, not as big, not as flavorful, not as hard to find, and not as expensive. The mouthfeel is underwhelming, but I can really see this as a great introduction to barrel-aged imperial stouts. Hell, I'd gladly pick it up again myself.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 03:30:58 | More by ThisWangsChung

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into pokal. Jet black, showing deep red in light. Thin tan head that sticks a bit. Smell; it has that "old banana" bourbon smell that BCBS has. Taste is coffee/chocolate stout taste up front, finishing with bourbon sweetness. In this way, it's sort of the opposite of the BCBS, where the bourbon came first and dominates. Alcohol not noticeable. As the second barrel-aged stout I've had, it's no match for BCBS, but it's good.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 23:42:15 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

Givemebeer

New Jersey

4.53/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I know that this is crazy - but I almost prefer this to KBS. Possibly it's because it presents itself with more of the bourbon than the KBS which is mostly coffee and chocolate (and overhyped yet still very good). Great bourbon barrel aged stout especially for the price. Definitely check it out. Don't understand the lack of love on this site for it.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 18:12:24 | More by Givemebeer

Jt1234

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2013 bottle poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance - pours pitch black. Head and lacing are almost non existent. There's not much to look at here.

Smell - the dominant smells are dark chocolate, oak and vanilla. I also picked up some cherry and licorice.

Taste - dark chocolate, oak and dark fruit. The alcohol does come through at the end, but it isn't too intense.

Mouthfeel - medium body and medium carbonation. A nice touch of heat at the end from the bourbon

Overall - this certainly isn't the best barrel aged stout I've had, but its probably the best value. You really can't go wrong with this one at $3 a bottle. I wasn't the biggest weyerbacher fan initially, but after having Old Heathen and Heresy I am beginning to change my mind.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 01:09:13 | More by Jt1234

mverity

Florida

4.51/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is superb, pitch black with a light brown/tan head. The aroma is wonderful, full of licorice, leather, dark malt, and a pleasant smell of dog breath. Taste is of vanilla, burnt oak, a touch of bourbon, and roasted malt (duh). Mouthfeel is chewy and viscous. Great beer!

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 05:41:37 | More by mverity

Stevedore

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, bottle julian code 0723, 2013 vintage poured into a Bell's snifter and consumed today 4/20/13.

Aroma: Sticky sweet molasses, a little bit of vanilla, some toffee and caramel with a good bit of bourbon heat. Pungent even at the end. (4)

Colour: Very nice thick dark brown, nearly black. Pours with a nice 2cm fluffy brown head that dissipates within a minute into a thin brown film and a decently thick brown collar that itself disappears over time. Lacing is nice, nothing to write home about but overall a very nice appetizing stout that gets me excited to slurp it up. (4)

Flavour: Definitely doesn't disappoint. Straight up, I get sweet molasses and caramel. No roast malt. And then I absolutely get a nice kick of vanilla which is one of my favorite things about BBA beers. It finishes with an earthy, oak bitterness. A nice complex beer that's not difficult to drink at all. (4)

Mouthfeel: Definitely thick bodied, perhaps on the thinner side of thick. Good carbonation. Thick, resinous and syrupy. I don't feel the heat at all even at room temperature. The aftertaste is vanilla and oak, with sweet molasses. This is both quaffable and sippable, whatever you may be in the mood for. I'm impressed with this aspect of the beer. (5)

Overall: Seems to be an underrated bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout. I don't know how long they age in barrels for but its got a nice thick, sweet molasses mouthfeel that's different than most others I've had which tend to be more thinner but creamy vanilla. I'm starting to question whether I prefer the former or the latter. At the price point ($10/4pk), its really hard to argue with the value of this brew. I would recommend it for people who are interested in a cheaper but incredibly tasty bourbon barrel stout that isn't overwhelming with the bourbon heat, i.e. a cheaper, slightly more sessionable weekday night option. (4)

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 03:14:40 | More by Stevedore

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.99/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- poured into a snifter; pours pitch black with a small dark tan head that reduces to a ring around the glass, short lasting lace

S- dark roasted chocolaty malt, a bit of charcoal, dark cherries with vanilla-oak character, faint licorice and just a hint of bourbon. Nothing profound but a nice blend of aromas.

T- dark, roasty and chocolaty. Dark cherry flavors resemble aroma as well as a bit of licorice flavor, they privideca slight tartness. A bit of vanilla sweetness is complimented by woodsy and earthy oak barrel, the finish has a good bourbon linger with some warmth at the end

M- medium body, moderate carbonation, foamy mouthfeel and finish. Lacking the creamy body expected from such a rich stout. Nice, warming bourbon warmth at the finish

O- at less than $3 a bottle, this is a great bargain. The bourbon is definitely noticeable and has some complex flavors. Doesn't march up with the world class examples, but definitely worth trying. Going to out a couple away for a while to see how they hold up.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 02:56:25 | More by Treyliff

ediaz

Florida

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a CCB Snifter

A: Black with a light tan head that leaves a thin ring and delicate lacing. whats left really hugs the sides.
S: Earth, sweet, vanilla, chocolate, wood. The barrel doesnt come out much, or at least not for me.
T: A sweetness that resembles whiskey into a chocolatey woody finish. Still get a lot of the earthy taste that was noticeable in the smell, but the vanilla is absent. It has a smokey peat character to it, almost like a scotch.
M: A little more carb than I'd like, and it doesnt coat the mouth like I'd expect from a stout - kind of light (not what i expected from the appearance)
O: It's not bad. There isn't a huge barrel profile which was a let down. I cant say these are hot, but I'm going to lay two bottles of the 4 pack down for a bit and see if it improves. I think I was hoping for the magic of Weyerbacher Insanity in a stout form, but this didnt quite live up to the bill. Regardless, it IS enjoyable, but if you are looking for a big barrel profile, I'd recommend you look elsewhere.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 01:49:23 | More by ediaz

themind

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

An 89??? this stuff is awesome! I try tons of BA stuff and I really like this. Deep dark in color with a nice small head when poured into the goblet. This brew has good balance and I am shocked it's not rated higher ( I say this a lot) If you like BA stuff this is a steal at $12.00 bucks a four. Really just a quality brew!

Bottom Line: Tasty BA stout worth the price tag twice over.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 23:29:39 | More by themind

Wluper

Virginia

3.84/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I was really excited about this beer as I'm a huge fan of almost any beer aged in a Bourbon Barrel. THIS beer was aged in a Whiskey Barrel though. It had a really good start, but it doesn't have the sweetness that a bourbon barrel stout finishes with. This one was a bit drier, but it still was a welcome surprise in my birthday six pack. I would definitely recommend it because it IS delicious, but I would probably only drink one or two glasses at most if I was out.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 00:23:04 | More by Wluper

harrymel

Washington

3.4/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Bottled Jan, 2012

Black, little ring of tan foam about the beer. Smells like licorice, blackberry, malt, graham, some toasted oats, and a touch of oak. Nice flavor, lots of roasted and toasted malts, some raisin, plum, oats, oak, licorice, booze and molasses. Medium on full bodied with a tight, moderate carb and a semi dry finish. It's a decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 08:15:03 | More by harrymel