Insanity - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

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BA SCORE
93
exceptional
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1,328 Ratings

THE BROS
91
exceptional
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rAvg: 4.18
pDev: 11.48%
Reviews: 780
Hads: 548

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Brewed by:
Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

Pennsylvania, United States

Style | ABV
English Barleywine | 11.10% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (734), on-tap (43), growler (3).

Notes:
A bourbon barrel-aged English-style Barleywine.

View: Beers (40) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by nhindian:

nhindian

Pennsylvania

3.8/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

My first barrel aged anything.. figured I'd go big with this one! Pours a deep brown, dark blood red color and develops little to no head. Many streams of bubble rise from the bottom of the glass, only to die wistfully among the surface. Little lacing to be seen

Nose is... wow. Almost all bourbon. Getting instant flashbacks of drinking Jim Beam on the rocks. Very interesting to experience in a beer, to say the least. Also getting sweet caramel, vanilla, figs and raisins. I can almost feel the alcohol burn through my nose...

Taste, expectedly, really follows the nose on this one. It honestly tastes like I'm drinking bourbon rather than beer, just with less alcohol burn. Not to say that there isn't a burn, but it fits and doesn't impose. Interestingly enough, as it warms up it gives it more complexity that helps subdue the alcohol (interesting because Weyerbacher suggests serving at 45-55 degrees), yet it still is present. Most noticeable in the warming is the presence of a smokey, oak feeling that doesn't help the burn but masks the alcohol a bit, giving way to the more fruity flavors and creamy vanilla. I'm a bit disappointed I didn't try Blithering Idiot before this to compare the two, but now I have a goal for the future!

Mouthfeel is heavy and moderately carbonated. Very sticky feeling and the bourbon definitely leaves a burning sensation on the palate. Really warms you up...

Drinkability is low. If the alcohol in this doesn't keep you from drinking too quickly, the sweetness and bourbon burn certainly will. A true sipper.

Overall not sure how I feel about this. It's my first bourbon aged beer so I don't have much to go on, but it's a strange sensation to have so much liquor sensation in a beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2010 22:23:22 | More by nhindian

More User Reviews:

mookihouse

California

4/5 rDev -4.3%

05-20-2013 18:28:08 | More by mookihouse

lauries444

New Jersey

3/5 rDev -28.2%

05-20-2013 02:02:28 | More by lauries444

Apellonious

North Carolina

4.1/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle - 4 pack

A - ruby red with brown undertones. Little to no head on the pour. Very thin lace.

S - dark fruit, fig, sugary malt. Slight waft of bourbon.

T - brown sugar, bourbon, dark fruits. Hints of banana and vanilla.

M - thick, moderately sticky, coats the back of the tongue and throat. Carbonation is light.

O - great offering. This is my first 'barrel aged' barleywine, so nothing really to compare it to, though reminds me of a Belgian ale, or maybe Ol Curmudgeon. Something good comes out of PA.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 22:34:14 | More by Apellonious

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5 rDev -4.3%

05-19-2013 16:52:52 | More by drgonzo2k2

Stalgondo

Georgia

4.75/5 rDev +13.6%

05-19-2013 16:30:53 | More by Stalgondo

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.75/5 rDev +13.6%

05-18-2013 22:05:09 | More by Photekut

sierrahopdevil05

Pennsylvania

4.75/5 rDev +13.6%

05-18-2013 15:42:01 | More by sierrahopdevil05

robbrandes

Oregon

4.5/5 rDev +7.7%

05-17-2013 03:38:45 | More by robbrandes

KeyWestGator

Florida

4/5 rDev -4.3%

05-16-2013 11:38:50 | More by KeyWestGator

Casey3236

Pennsylvania

4.25/5 rDev +1.7%

05-16-2013 03:49:25 | More by Casey3236

bconsidine

Maryland

4.25/5 rDev +1.7%

05-14-2013 17:35:16 | More by bconsidine

jason_nwx

Oregon

5/5 rDev +19.6%

05-14-2013 14:53:30 | More by jason_nwx

azdback

Arizona

4.25/5 rDev +1.7%

05-14-2013 05:04:26 | More by azdback

larryi86

Delaware

4.41/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle pouted into a snifter

A- A hazy ruby red with a two finger off-white head.

S- Toffee, bourbon, cherries, caramel malts, oak, some vanilla.

T- Raisins, toffee, bourbon, oak, vanilla, brown sugar, caramel malts, light hoppiness, well balanced.

M- Smooth, medium body, slightly chewy.

O- A great barrel aged barleywine. Between this and Sucaba I am changing how I feel about barleywines. This is not as good as Sucada, but it is a great easy to find and cheap replacement.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 01:43:16 | More by larryi86