Insanity - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

smokeypeat

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice amber brown with a very distinct red tinge around the edges. Minimal eggshell head that does not linger too long. The aroma on this one is great. Picking up lots of dark fruit, some toffee, vanilla, cherry, faint alcohol notes. A lot is going on but it all smells great. The taste is fantastic as well. A really complex beer. A barleywine that is definitely a more traditional English style with a big malt background. I'm loving the mix of flavors: Caramel/toffee/dark fruit/almond/vanilla/cherry/slight bourbon the list goes on and on. Low on the carbonation side, but drinks really smooth for 11%. Overall, I can see this beer being a staple in my house. It's a great slow sipper to linger over on a weekend evening. Weyerbacher hit a home run on this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2011 04:35:00 | More by smokeypeat

Brenden

Ohio

4.46/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Insanity is a massively murky and extremely thick medium brown with a heavy burnt orange hue going a bright medium red in the light. The light tan head reaches 1/2 a finger or so, though the retention is good. It's strong enough to stick to the glass in a leggy, broken ring up top and some patchier lacing following behind.
I think the key to opening this beer up is letting it warm. Malts are sweet and bready with lots of caramel and vanilla. I don't know if oak is the wood used, but the impression I get, and there's plenty of wood, is that it's oak. Not focusing exclusively on malts to the exclusion of the hops, there's a balancing touch of herbal and floral bitterness just peeking out. Alcohol certainly does come out, but not too heavily. This aroma doesn't punch in the face, but it sure gives off its complexities within just a couple of moments.
I love all the flavors and the big, rich complexity to this beer. At first, I feel that the alcoholic presence is too heavy and gives off too heavy a fusel note, but when everything comes together, it works so well. Raw, leafy bitterness is gentle, and there's enough hops presence to balance and add depth while never trying to convince me it's an American version of the style. Wood is big here, oaky and dry, and that dryness serves to further balance this heady brew. Sweetness is in the hugely bready malts and consists of notes of cherry, vanilla, fig, and caramel, and there's some nut in here as well. The key is that the bourbon is really a flavor in play here; it's not just a fusel note, or nondescript flavor of alcohol, but easily distinguished as bourbon. While pretty heavy, and definitely a sipper, there's no denying it's delicious.
The feel is thick and rich in a full body. While a crisp bite comes up front, it develops a smooth creaminess right off. Alcohol doesn't thin the body out, and it's a pleasure to sip.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 18:58:43 | More by Brenden

rboinski

California

3.88/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle poured into a Russian River -tion Glass

Appearance: Pours an amber with an orange, no head and just the faintest little wisp of lacing on the edge.

Smell: It has the smell of bourbon and sweetness. Loads of vanilla with some cherry and brown sugar.

Taste: The taste has some bourbon notes and has some alcohol heat to it. Sweetness on the finish, and some fruit character.

Mouthfeel: Mouthfeel is similar to a spirit with a light carbonation. Sticky.

Overall: Very good beer but I don't have much experience with barrel aged barleywines so it is hard to do a detailed review. Nice beer and a style I need to get more familiar with!

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 15:52:19 | More by rboinski

thegerm87

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -4.3%

05-22-2013 01:30:03 | More by thegerm87

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

05-22-2013 01:11:30 | More by mikeincharleston

dcloeren

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

05-21-2013 19:46:51 | More by dcloeren

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

MikeCactusGordon

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%

05-13-2013 13:34:39 | More by MikeCactusGordon

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

05-13-2013 06:32:56 | More by Bonko_the_sane

Hallertau

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

05-12-2013 00:51:24 | More by Hallertau

2beerdogs

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

05-11-2013 05:42:14 | More by 2beerdogs

aslamm75

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

05-11-2013 00:24:15 | More by aslamm75