Insanity - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice head in pour, lasts throughout. Creamy mouthfeel. Unique yeast. Woodyness did something, I guess mellowed the barleywine flavour. Aroma of rum and alcohol. Malty, vanilla, and also chocolate malt. A bit better in a bottle had all to myself later on.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2005 23:19:05 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

"Let us consider that we are all partially insane. It will explain us to each other."

--Mark Twain

Minimally murky cranberry-infused orange beneath half a snifter of caramel mousse colored foam. I love the spongecake-like texture of the head and the amazing amount of lace (given the ABV) that is being laid down. This is how an American barleywine should look.

On the pour, the room was filled with the scent of bourbon. Now that I'm concentrating on the nose for real, aided by the sloping sides of the snifter, that aspect is a more balanced, more incorporated portion of the whole. Caramel and boozy maraschino cherries lead the assault, although boozy makes it sound like the alcohol is harsh or raw. It isn't.

My best guess is that this bottle is two years old. Looks like I picked the perfect time to crack the crown because it's still a beast, but it's a manageable beast. That's exactly how I like my barleywines. In addition to a little age, I think the fact that the alcohol portion of the flavor profile tastes like bourbon helps immensely.

Insanity favors the caramel-toffee family of flavors and is a better beer for it. Whereas I like my DIPAs and American IPAs to be pale malt-dominant (to keep the hops in the center of the spotlight), I like my barleywines to feature flavor from the barley side of things. There's plenty of hop bitterness to go around and it keeps things from becoming too sweet and sticky.

In case you hadn't heard, this beer is Blithering Idiot aged in oak barrels that had previously held bourbon. If it's done right, I haven't yet met big beer that didn't benefit from such aging. Since bourbon (along with single malt Scotch) is my favorite liquor, I might be a little biased. The classic flavors of burnt sugar and vanilla are front and center, giving this big ale the nudge that is needs to enter the realm of greatness.

How in the world can a beer that weighs in at 11.1% be so damn drinkable? Again, softening due to the passage of time has a lot to do with it. Another reason is a mouthfeel that is softly carbonated and isn't a big, gooey mess. I occasionally like big, gooey messes, but I also like barleywine mouthfeels that are built for speed. Like this one.

I need to acquire another bottle of Blithering Idiot because I don't remember it as being nearly this good. It's hard to imagine that bourbon barrel aging is completely responsible for the outstanding ale that sits before me, but I guess it's possible. Insanity just shot to the top of my 'must have' list when I travel to Ohio next month. Insane is right. Insanely delicious.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2007 16:23:18 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.58/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This one was for Rich. Apparently your favorite brew man and I could easily see why. Served on tap none the less, this one was enjoyed thoroughly on 02/27/2010. 

The pour was a deep, dark amber in color with a decent bit of cloudiness to it. Nice little head of white pops up and over the top, settling down into a thin, but firm coating of white that sticks to the walls decently, and evenly. Rich, deep vanilla coming through the air, enough that it was really the only thing I was detecting at first. Smooth, oak notes now coming up as well as toffee and butterscotch. Complex as could be, you could fall in and die in the aroma of this one. Then you take that first sip, and wave after wave of crashing smooth as silk flavor washes over you. Just immense and complex, it really just puts it all into perspective. Rich caramel malts that are pinned perfectly against the rich, decadent toffee and vanilla flavors. Light touch of bourbon, smooth, earthy, Sublime. There is just nothing at all about this that doesn't just scream smooth and complex.

 

One of the best BA versions of anything out there, and with its relative ease to acquire should be a staple in anyone's fridge.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2010 15:14:11 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.58/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Richard for sharing.

Pours a hazed copper color with a soapy off-white head. Smells a bit boozy. Lots of sweet malt, bourbon, and brown sugar. There’s toffee, and caramel, maybe some dark fruit. Not bad, but hot. The flavor is more of the same, except a bit muddled and slightly oxidized. There is good toffee and vanilla character, but quite a bit of booze and bourbon. Some mild oak notes. Medium to full body with low to medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 17:14:27 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Pizza Paradiso in Dupont Circle. Served in a snifter.

Pours an orange-copper color with a short white head and a bit of lacing on the way down. The nose carries a decent amount of bourbon along with light vanilla and oak. Sweet caramel and brown sugar there as well. Flavor is fairly sweet with some nice barrel notes in the background. Medium-full body with slight carbonation and a nice chewiness. Solid brew.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2012 01:27:14 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.6/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a bright, though murky dark-hued ruby body with a cream tan-colored head. The game is afoot!

Smell: Okay, here's the skinny. The bourbon tones are quite intense, with notes of oak, vanilla, and sugar. A captivating smell, to say the least.

Taste: Let's of things going on here. Strong toffee maltiness and a soft touch of candy sugar evolves into an immense bourbon flavor. The sweet vanilla notes mingle with a certain fruitiness to create a cream of coconut flavor. Smooth, warming bourbon finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body, with a thick, luscious mouthfeel and almost nil carbonation.

Drinkability: Delicious! Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to deceive and delude you. Its hard not to express a deep love for this beer with the addictive furvor of a crackhouse reject.

Thanks for another fun-filled beer experience from... Weyerbacher Brewing Co.!

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2006 06:12:57 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a hazy chestnut color with a decent head that drops to a foamy surface covering with some splashes of lace

Smell: Whoa Nellie, is this a bourbon or a beer; loads of vanilla and oak; lots of fusel alcohol

Taste: Immediately hits the palate with an oaky vanilla bourbon aspect that starts to warm the mouth; significant dried fruit (dates) in there as well; after the swallow, the tannins dry out the mouth and leave a bitterness on the sides of the tongue; long, hot finish, with some hints of chocolate and cherry

Mouthfeel: Full bodied and syrupy with moderate carbonation; extreme warmth

Drinkability: A must for a Bourbon lover

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2007 03:05:56 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to bastu for sending me this one!

Pours a murky dark brown with a 2 inch fizzy tan head that settles to a film on the top of the beer. Random streaks of lace form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of brown sugar, caramel/toffee, vanilla, bourbon, and some nice woody aromas. Taste is of malt, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, wood, and some citrus zest. An alcohol warmth in the back of the throat with each sip. This beer has a medium body and a low level of carbonation. Smooth and slightly sticky in the mouth. This is a good barrel aged barleywine but the mouthfeel knocks the overall score down a bit.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 03:11:14 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a light burgundy color ale with a small dark head with pretty good retention. Aroma of sweet liquor filtered subtly through the malt and sweet hops of this beer. Taste is quite sweet but at least the bourbon aging and come well together at the end do not overpower it. Probably one of the best bourbon aging beers I had. Thanks to Beerslayer for that one.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2005 15:00:33 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

Shared this one last night with some friends. Pours like thin syrup, clings to the glass as it falls. Tainty head reduced to a trace. Nose brings up sweet malts, vanillas, caramels, cashews, and alcohol. Brilliant bronze color that morphs in the light. Tastes brandy-like sweet with fruity tones of plumbs, dates, and figs. Alcoholic throughout. Less hoppy and more refined for an American Barleywine. Must be a English attempt. The woodsy, caramelly, vanilla-ey flavors give this beer exra complexity and sweetness through the body and into the finish. Alcohol masks much of the late flavors and aftertaste. A good beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2005 14:56:36 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poures a deep,rich amber color with a slightly off white head,aromas are very woody with some vanilla and high octaine alcohol kick ur nostriles hard and lets you know this is big and bad ass.Thick and chewey mouthfeel makes this beer a sipper one to savor,very warming alcoholic beer, oak flavors are very prevelant with some butteriness as well,almost like a vanilla flavored spiced rum.Iam glad I got a chance to try this,its a sipper or one to share with friends like I did tonight,very rich and flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2005 02:47:38 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is the second release out of three in the oak-aged line of beers from Weyerbacher. The bottle opens with a decent release of gas; and with the yeast poured, it's a hazy dark chestnut with orange highlights beneath a thin head of creamy light tan foam that receeds quickly to just an average collar (of course, the 11% alcohol will help to do that!). The nose delivers a waft of bourbon, sweetish vanilla, drying woody oak, dried dark fruits, and a distinctly caramelish malt - as well as an occassional note of cocoanut! It's full, supple maltiness slides more oily than creamy across the tongue; and it's very-fine bubbled (seemingly natural) carbonation lends a gentle caress to the tongue. The flavor is rich and complex with a pleasant note of alcohol, vanilla, dark fruit skins, almonds, caramel/toffee, almost-burnt brown sugar, a lick of black licorice, wood, a low-key leafy hoppiness, and a rounding note of delicate, buttery diacetyl. WOW! It's not as malty or hoppy as most American versions, but keep in mind that this is based on British barleywines, many of which are more along these lines. On the other hand, however, it's at American barleywine strength! It finishes drying as it's alcohol and drying woodiness battle what residual maltiness is there; and more licorice flavor comes out as it warms. Quite impressive!

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2005 22:57:35 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

Visually unassuming, the colors here are primarily dark ambers and earthy browns. Add a saucy tinge of haze and remove most of what most would consider head. There you go. See it? Give it time. Once you've got it (we don't have all damn day...) take a deep whiff. What's that ya gettin' there, hm? If you ask me, there's definitely some oak, some bourbon, maybe a touch of spruce, and a good, healthy dose of alcohol. Izzat whatchoo've got? ... Sorry, got a little woozy there from the fumes. We're good now. Trust me. So, kiddies, when we slosh this bad boy around in our oral cavities (that's sciencey talk for "cake hole"), what do we see with our taste buds? Definitely some honey, some more oak and bourbon, some maple syrup (can you say "pancakes, bitches!"?), and some brown sugar. Do any of you have anything to add? No? Good, that means the treatment's working. Just let it glide up your spine, that's it. Isn't that nice? Oddly enough, kids, this brew flows just as thickly and gooily as that sensation you're feeling. Now, you're probably not gonna want to have seconds on the treatment (hell, you won't even need another: one's all you'll ever need, heh heh...), but those of you who eventually regain their memories will want to have another one of these. **ding-ding* Dr. Money, you are needed in the lobotomy lab stat* Whoa, gotta go, kids, but I'll be back real soon to check up on you. Sleep tight now!

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2010 04:26:23 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Thoroughly hazed, deep crimson, slice of cocoa-cream foam rests above.
Rich aroma, complex and cognac-y, ripe fruit, cherries and grapes, dates, plums, my favorite kind of barleywine aroma. Gloriously good.
Taste: hot from the start, and dripping with juicy fruit, with an alcoholic sting on the side. Abundant flavor, lush, vibrant texture.
I'm a little confused, as the label only mentions an aging in oak barrels, yet doesn't state whether they were occupied by wine or whiskey....I am getting some bourbon notes, but they're overshadowed by the bubbling fruit, the vanilla tones speak up, too, feeling more mellow as we go...just a brief flash of harshness. I'm liking this lots.
Yummmm....a very complex and tasty creation. i like it, like it, like it.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2005 04:52:49 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.33/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark amber color with a thick frothy tan head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is outstanding. It has a very complex malt palate that is overlayed with a very fine bourbon scent. It boasts of multiple caramel and pale malts along with a slight vanilla odor. The taste is awesome. It has a very rich, malty flavor that boasts of caramel and some chocolate malts. It show off it's elevated abv., but is mellowed with the oak barrel aging. It adds a smooth bourbon flavor to the already complex palate. The mouthfeel is good. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a damn good beer. I love the barrel aging. I hope to see more beers of the same style. It drinks well and warms stomach.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2005 16:51:50 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Pizza P for their barleywine thing. Served in a snifter, beer is sort of copper / red and mostly clear. Thin almost non-existent head, low carbonation, no lacing, basically this beer is still.

Aroma is sweet, mild oakiness and a little liquor, smells nice really good.

Beer is nice, smooth, sweet, good finish, and nice malt backbone, this beer is a huge improvement on Blithering Idiot, quite an amazing version of a barleywine. I'd have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2012 16:10:49 | More by drabmuh

metter98

New York

4.22/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is clear mahogany in color and has a thin ring of off white bubbles lining the edge of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of bourbon and vanilla in the nose.
T: The taste is rather complex and has flavors of bourbon, fruits, malty sweetness, oak and vanilla.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied and very smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The beer is dangerously drinkable because the alcohol is well masked from the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2011 04:47:37 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.58/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a lightly hazy, amber-ruby color that is topped by a quickly disappearing, amber-tan colored head. The aroma is a heady mix of oak, vanilla and alcohol. The aroma is certainly dominated by the oak, but I actually enjoy it; there is enough concentrated malt sweetness to keep the oak in check. I get notes of sweet buttery oak, vanillin, sweet raisins and, interestingly enough, lots of aromatics that remind me of coconut. The aroma is nice and it is really striking how the coconut note comes to dominate the nose over time.

The beer has a light sweetness that morphs into a slightly hot finish reminiscent of rum and grain alcohol. The beer is so soft and smooth up front that it does not quite have enough oomph to balance the sharp finish. There is enough malt to hold the oak in check and keep it from over taking and dominating the flavor though.

The flavor of this beer is not rich enough; it is almost a let down after the well integrated, rich, aromatic nose. In fact that is the problem, the flavors in this beer just don't live up to the wonderful nose. There are soft fruity notes of raisins here, but they are not enough to hold back the thin, flabby character of a beer that seems like it should be rich and satisfying.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2006 22:21:33 | More by Gueuzedude

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.18/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Cheers to melbatoast93, thanks Hart!

Pours caramel/orange with 1 finger of tan head. Good head retention & lacing

S: Oakyness, vanilla & bourbon

T: Dryness, some booze, raisins, plums & vanilla up front. toffee, booze soaked figs, caramel, pecans & dryness as this warms. Finishes with pecan, oak & dryness

MF: Chewy with low carbonation with a touch of ghost booze, super balance

Drinks a bit slow, due to the ABV & style; damn fine English Barley Wine!

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2008 22:31:46 | More by russpowell

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.88/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into an imperial pint glass. While there's no date that I could find on the bottle, I know I've had it for more than two years.

A: The beer is a light reddish brown color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of strong alcohol, caramel, brown sugar, malts and a decent amount of hops.

T: The taste starts off sweet with flavors of brown sugar, caramel and citrus. Then there's a strong alcohol burn that comes in but it's not as boozy as the smell indicates. The malt character is very hearty. The hops presence is toned-down from the age but it's still strong enough to bring some balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down dangerously easily, not too filling, strong kick, good representation of style, I'm not sure that it's much of an improvement on Blithering Idiot but it has certainly stood up well with age. Overall, it's a good high-powered beer to sip on for a while.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2009 04:07:15 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a really good beer from Weyerbacher. I know how much they enjoy their barrel aged beers from the tours I've taken. This beer is the Barrel Aged Blithering Idiot so to speak. It's got a lot of the same elements that the Idiot has but it's a little bit stronger and sweeter. It's got a very deep copper color without much head. The aroma is of dark fruits, malts and some fresh wood. The flavors are smooth and robust with a big boozey aftertaste. The mouthfeel is a bit thicker than the Idiot so that works nicely too.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2011 00:25:06 | More by Knapp85

Gavage

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bomber bottle was a nice portion for this belly warming brew. Pours a amber bronze color with a 2" creamy head. Thick lacing develops. The aroma is very pleasant oak, malt and alcohol. The flavor is of thick maltiness, oak, plum, raisins, bourbon, and alcohol. A little bitterness adds to the "insanity" of the flavor.

The mouthfeel starts smooth and ends with a light crisp finish. The alcohol and oak laden malt rides the tongue well after the finish. One bottle was just enough to enjoy over a long period, so drinkability score is just below good.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2004 00:29:02 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. bottle - poured into a snifter:

Pours hazed orangeish caramel-colored with a thin tan head that becomes a bubbly patch, though subequent pours produce a thin creamy even cover. Some lacing sticks.

The smell is of caramel with oaky vanilla, light cinnamon - oak plays a big role here - I'd say a dominating role, even.

The taste is of sweet vanilla with strong bourbon, woody. The bourbon and oak dominate. Alcohol is pretty well-covered in first few sips, but becomes quite apparent as it progresses. I had a hard time grasping the beer base, which didn't really make itself known, though caramel came through as it warmed. I liked it, but more for the oak aspect, which I think is really well done, more than the barleywine aspect with seemed like just caramel (maybe a hint of fruitiness). Finishes with a moderately boozy sweetness.

The fell is very creamy with a full (ish?) body. Soft carbonation gives it an almost cask-like feel. Interesting. I do like the creaminess of it - almost like a caramel, creamy bourbon.

Very smooth for a bourbon, rather smooth for a beer. As it progresses the caramel becomes more apparent, so does the warmth. Flavors do not hang on long into the aftertaste - a mixed feeling about that. The oak-aged aspect of this beer makes this one a winner, and an interesting brew for that. Still, not something I'd want to keep on drinking, especially as I enjoyed the first three-quarters of it more than the last quarter. Good use of oak here! My gut instince tells me that this would go well with spare ribs...will have to try it.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2008 02:57:09 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A 650 mL bottle from State Line.

A: The barleywine is dark red, resembling a nice merlot in its burgundy hue. As light shines through, brilliant orange colors emerge to brighten up the ale. The head neared two and a half fingers on pour and has left hints of lace around the glass.

S: The aroma is buttery oak, with some vanilla and bourbon notes taking center stage. As the oak aromas fade, the big malty presence emerges to confirm that this is a barleywine. Excellent aroma here.

T: The ale is fully of malty depth, concentrated to the point that the malts are tartly sweet, like a green apple, grape or raisin. The barleywine is nicely improved upon by the oak aging. The bourbon barrel has done great things to the beer, adding a depth of bourbon flavors that feature corn and vanilla The bourbon coats the mouth with a sweet bitterness that warms as it is swallowed. The finish is sweet but somewhat undefined, lacking a signature going away profile. That lackluster finish does not diminish the intense kaboom! of the ale.

M: The bourbon element is strong upfront but not so on the tail-end. Dig the beer for that early kick, it's well worth it.

D: This bomber is more than enough. The abv hits hard but the flavor. Oh how the flavor makes me want another one. The Blithering Idiot is a great beer, adding bourbon to the mix pushes it over the top.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2007 02:27:24 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.63/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First sampled one it first came out over a year ago, delicious then let's see how it has changed. Appearance: Deep cloudy amber plum tone big thick creamy tannish head leaves lacing all around the chalice. Aroma: Touch of whiskey barrel (tamer than a year ago), alcohol soaked fruit tones creamy caramelized pears touch of plum brandy rich sweetness touch of chocolate here. Taste: Sugary upfront rolling waves of creamy alcohol drenched over ripened fruit finishes vanilla oak whiskey tinged vapors malty heavy yet hop burps arise after a few sips quite a phenomenom. Mouthfeel: Big creamy lucious body definitely slow bubbles, carbonation chugs along coats the palate with creamy vanilla oak with a soothing burn of whiskey. Drinkability: Enjoy the complexity one glass at a time possibly my favorite oak aged beer to date.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2006 16:27:39 | More by WVbeergeek