Insanity - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

DocJitsu

California

3.83/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy cider-amber color with no head at all. There are some cola type carbonation bubbles that migrate from the bottom of the glass to the surface of the beer, but once that fades, which is very quickly, this looks like a glass of ice tea. Vanilla, toffee, and some tart non-citrus fruit on the nose. Mouthfeel is pretty full and wet with a little carbonation sting on the back and edges of the tongue. I'm not sure I'd want much more carbonation than that with this beer. It warms your mouth right up. There's some tart cherry, some vanilla, and some sweet, buttery toffee. The flavors fade before the alcohol evaporates, so there's a bit of an off-putting alcohol flavor that lingers. It's a pretty good beer overall. It's appearance is a trip though.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 01:19:56 | More by DocJitsu

DRyan

Texas

4.05/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appears to have been bottled 1/4/12
Poured in a pint (not the best glass, but I'm too lazy to clean a tulip right now, so that's how it's gonna be tonight.)

A: Pours a deep ruby-copper with a very thin head that dissipates quickly without leaving much lacing. As I had seen that there is a lot of sediment associated with his beer, poured slowly and left the last bits behind in the bottle, my glass is mostly sediment free.
S: The scent is a lot of sticky sweet malt, vanilla, dark fruits (fig and some raisin) and just a hint of the alcohol
T: The taste is more toffee than vanilla, the malt sweetness is not as pronounced as it is in the scent, there is very little hop taste or bitterness but there is some balance to the sweetness. The alcohol is obvious but not overpowering.
M: Thin, smooth, a little tingly from the fine carbonation
D: Certainly not made to be chugged, but for a beer over the 10% mark this is pretty easy to drink

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 01:43:21 | More by DRyan

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

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

Not sure where or when I first had this.

Chestnut brown pour, hazy, with a small white head that recedes to a wispy layer of bubbles; minor splotches of lacing. Aroma fairly heavy with bourbon, notes of toffee, vanilla, oak. Malty sweet taste, caramel, toffee, vanilla, bourbon-soaked oak, overripe fruit sensations. Medium-full body, smooth and chewy, low carbonation, a very nice barleywine overall.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 07:24:39 | More by Rifugium

sleuthdog

Illinois

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

12oz bottle poured into snifter

Appearance: Copper orange color reminiscent of ice tea or apple juice. Pour produced maybe a half finger size light brown head that dissipated almost immediately. There is some definite lacing present as the beer settles.

Smell: A huge sweet smelling beer of booze soaked dark fruits (raisin and fig) brown sugar, toffee, and vanilla. At the tail end there is a touch of oak and bourbon.

Taste: This follows the aroma with a big sweet punch up front with the booze soaked dark fruits. There is a big sweetness throughout with the vanilla, and brown sugar. The alcohol is not very well masked and I get a pretty forward aspect to the alcohol especially at the end and swallow. A warming effect is noted on the swallow in the throat and the chest.

Mouthfeel: Syrup like, full and rich is the best way to describe this beer. It is a creamy feeling beer with little carbonation.

Overall: I wasn't sure what to expect from this with King Henry and Sucaba already my favorites of the style. This one has taken its place in pecking order for me as third among the ones I've tried.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 00:59:47 | More by sleuthdog

JamesShoemaker

New York

2.63/5  rDev -37.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into my new flute glass. Thanks Andrew!

A - gross. The sediment in this beer became really active when I poured it out. It looks like there are skin cells floating around in there; does not dissipate. No head, obvious carbonation.

S - there's not much to the smell except the sweeter barley character. I'm beginning to realize that I don't care for hopless BWs.

T - blech. I wanted to drain pour this one from the get-go. Unfortunately I had just drain poured a skunked Fat Dog, so I powered through the Insanity. This BW is so artificially sweet, I really, really detest it. The only good thing is that the alcohol is hidden, and rather high, so it's not a total waste.

M - not bad. The taste doesn't linger, which is good in this case, and it feels less syrupy than expected.

O - I've had two Weyerbacher beers so far (this one and Blithering Idiot). Their BWs are really bad, IMO; I'll try the Simcoe, but if that flops I think I'm done with Weyerbacher.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 16:04:23 | More by JamesShoemaker

davey101

Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

01-10-12 vintage. 12 oz bottle into a DFH signature glass.

A - Pours a dark murky brown/red body with a two finger light khaki head. A half finger cap sits neatly through the whole beer. Great lacing and retention. It wasn't until I held it up to the light that my opinion changed on this beer. Super chunky with floating bits of sediment and yeast. Meh.

S - Raisins, vanilla bean, sweet toffee, and marshmallows . Not overly complex, but quite nice and inviting.

T - Awfully similar to the nose (raisins, vanilla, and sweet toffee) but with a huge booze finish. Mouth feel is creamy and silky with low carbonation.

O - An overly boozy but tasty english style BW. Can it compete with King Henry and Abacus? Of course not, but its a well priced beer that I can purchase 8 months after it was brewed. Wyerbacher has the 12 oz BA BW market cornered!

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 03:19:55 | More by davey101

Pelican5

California

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

Poured from a 12 oz bottle |

Thanks to djmichaelk for sharing!

A : cloudy, ruby red iced tea in color, half finger head didnt stick around

S : golden raisons, grape lollipop, vanilla, caramel, light bourbon oakiness, clover honey

T : follows the nose, bourbon soaked golden raisons, sweet caramel malts, sweet dried fruit, clovey honey, no hops to speak of. Full mouthfeel.

Overall : Excellent. Very well balanced and smooth, slight warming alcohol on the finish. Sweet and smooth balanced with a little warmth on the back end. Does not drink like and 11% beer at all. Look forward to aging some of this. Well done.

Cheers ~

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 07:35:14 | More by Pelican5

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

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

This beer looks great. Super sweet nose. Über malts. Flavor is stellar. Smooth and seet with loads of malts, raisins coating my tongue, mild vanilla as a very after thought. Slight booze on the backend too after a few sips. Extremely smooth feel. I think this is quite and underrated barley wine. Beats the hell out of what Gratitude became. Hard for me to pick another from the area, or the country, that is on this level, or exceeds it. Bottom line: you couldn't really ask for anything more.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 22:26:30 | More by RblWthACoz

kylehay2004

Florida

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

Very thin head which dissipates quickly on a murky amber orange body. Very strong but not overly boozy aroma with apricot, raisin, caramel, candied orange and malts. Flavor has a lot of wood and oak character up front which moves to apricot and raisin. This one is surprisingly not very boozy but the finish definitely has a whiskey like tingle. Strangely the more I drank it the less complex it seemed. Medium body and moderate carbonation, smooth for the ABV and style.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 01:34:02 | More by kylehay2004

bozodogbreath

Indiana

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Received in a IP trade with mjmadsen 21. Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Founders Brewing Company snifter.

A: A slightly aggressive pour produced a small off-white head that dissipated quicky but hung to the edges of the glass. Clear mahogony/fig colored with considerable sediment that takes away from the visual experience.

S: A sweet, ripe fruit smell backed up by the oak bourbon barrel.

T: Sweet, dark pitted fruits. Toffee/vanilla. Malt. Bourbon on the back end.

M: Smooth, warm mouthfeel with a light bourbony bite.

O: A very enjoyable English Barleywine. Would love to have a six pack to enjoy over the winter.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 01:32:17 | More by bozodogbreath

rudzud

Massachusetts

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

Picked up a 4 pack of this at the store, I think this is a year old. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Poured a nice deep, dark almost mahogany hue with a one finger light tan head that faded to leave a thin blanket and light side lacing.

S - Oh wow this is nice. Rich bourbon barrel notes with lots of vanilla and sweet, sweet malts. Slight toffee too.

T - Taste is very balanced. Not too much booze/bourbon on it, faint oak barrels. Some slightly faded vanilla, sweet malts but not overly so. Slight toffee. Pretty solid.

M- Mouthfeel is pretty damn good. Nice carbonation keeps this from coming off as too big. The booze is hidden nicely. That said, its still a sipper and it does sneak up on you.

O - Overall this is a tasty beer. Definitely a better than average representation for the style. Quite affordable too.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 03:51:17 | More by rudzud

challenja

Virginia

4.68/5  rDev +12%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served into a low ball glass from a 120z bottle purchased at Total Wine in Fairfax, VA.

A: Golden honey slick. Foamy white soda discharge which disappears slowly in an open low ball glass.

S: Very sweet..and that's an understatement. Sugary grape Popsicle. Cherry lollipop. Sweet molasses malts and vanilla sugar cone.

T: Sweet candied figs. Peppery white spice. Grape soda. Honey spruce tree. Thick and pasty breaded spiced vanilla malts. I didn't get the oak barrel, not gonna lie, I can see where it helped with the thickness of its mouthfeel but that is coming up next.

M: Full syrupy mouthfeel. Thick and well mannered. I attribute this to its time in the oak barrel's.

O: This instantly reminds me of one of my favorite winter warmers Troegs Mad Elf. These are dangerously strong beers that can lead to trouble down the road. A select beer for a select beer enthusiast.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 02:03:39 | More by challenja

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.23/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours cloudy light brown with a small tan head that sticks around for a few minutes. Solid lacing down the glass.

Big booze and toffee aroma. Some wood and vanilla as well. A few dark fruits comes out as it warms, but are firmly in the background.

Similar flavors. Big bourbon notes with a load of vanilla and toffee with some brown sugar and oak in the background. A little on the sweeter side, but not too bad as the booze does a good job of balancing out the sweet malt.

Medium thick oily body with light but still present carbonation levels. Very nice.

Overall not nearly close to the KH class and a few bourbon barrel american barleywines top it, but still very enjoyable for someone like myself who likes the bourbon up front and present in these brews. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 19:44:11 | More by jmarsh123

matttttYCE

Arizona

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep cloudy auburn color lies below a light tan head that reaches a bit more than a finger high but then dies quickly. Leaves slight lace.

At first I get a swift kick of booz/alcohol, bourbon soaked wood, lighter vanilla, and toffee. Then I get more of the wonderful intricacies of a barrel aged barleywine - wonderful caramelized and just barely burnt brown sugar, notes of wine or grapes, hints of dark fruit like figs and plums mixed with something a bit tart like black cherries and caramel apple. As this warms a bit more the bourbon, vanilla, sweet vinous (grape/wine like) notes, and black cherries come out even more, it seems.

The taste is along the same lines as the aroma with plenty of boozy bourbon soaked oak, vanilla sweetness, toffee and caramel, brown sugar, dark fruits, and hints of vinous character. Maybe even some cognac notes to this one. All I know is this one is about a year old and the barrel aged character is still quite prominent and, frankly, it's lovely.

Nice feel. The carbonation is about medium, just a little higher than expected but not quite detracting. The consistency is silky and almost oily while the body is medium-high and viscous. The finish is nice and long and wet on the palette. Very nice.

This is a really damn good barrel aged barleywine. I can't speak to it when it's fresh, but with about a year (I believe) on it it's fantastic. Really wouldn't change a thing about it. Is this the best barrel aged barleywine I've had? No. That title is currently held by Goose Island's King Henry, which is phenomenal! But I would rank this one high up there with the likes of King Henry, Mother of all Storms, and Abacus/Sucaba (when fresh) which are currently the top three English Barleywines respectively.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 20:31:37 | More by matttttYCE

tdm168

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - dark amber with a short-lived, fizzy, off white head

S - bread, candy sugar, dark fruit, raisins, pears, apples

T - pears, apples, caramel, dark fruit, faint oak, faint vanilla, spicy alcohol, a bit boozy

M - very warm, full bodied, smooth, bitey

This is complex, smooth, potent beer. The flavor is very much like Blithering Idiot with a faint woody, earthy touch. I love big beers so this was enjoyable for me. If you like the style, I wouldn't pick this up.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 01:00:47 | More by tdm168

FosterJM

California

3.63/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1461st Review on BA
Bottle to Great Lakes Snifter
12 oz

2012 Bottle

CA Gang Bang BIF

App- I am going with the App from Behemoth because it was right after this beer and it fits. The color of a new undribbled basketball. Highly orange without a head to speak of or lacing. Looks like a clearer juice in the glass. A good see through color with more head a couple dots of cling.

Smell- A lot more in the nose of this one. Sweetness, malts, boozy as can be with orange rind and a little bit of pepper.

Taste- It's a big and spicy BW. Still very fresh and lacks balance right out the gate. ABV hasnt settled yet and the oak is still too prickly.

Mouth- A lighter medium body with a lighter carbonation. A bit too bubbly with residual booze and citrus.

Drink- I was really expecting so much more from this beer. I hope the 2010 I have outside can show some melding flavors and make it a bit smoother.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 21:11:02 | More by FosterJM

bcostner1

Tennessee

4.6/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured from 12 oz bottle into brandy snifter style glass. Deep, rich burnt-orange hue with a very thin and quickly dissipating head. Presence of some sediment from the bottom of the bottle noted in the glass (which is ok b/c I actually like the yeast sediment in my pours personally).

S: Ripe fruits, vanilla, bourbon, brown sugar, mild booze burn. Definitely above average but I've smelled some that are better too.

T: Wow...I am blown away. I expected this to be good but not THIS good. I get a LOT of stuff in this. Apricot, ripe figs, sweet dates are all there for sure. Vanilla throughout along with some wood presence as well. Sweet, melted candy sugar. Bourbon and mild booziness on the finish. Absolutely delicious.

M: For a supposed 11% ABV brew, I can't tell it. I mean, the alcohol is there slightly but very, very well masked. This is an easy drinker even though it is a little on the viscous/syrupy side when cold. As it warms up...watch out! Goes down soooo smooth!

Overall, this beer is top notch. I'm surprised it doesn't get more hype in the forums (even though it received high rating scores). I'm glad a bought a 4 pack. I would love to always have this on hand as it is one of the top 5 English Barleywines that I have personally ever tried. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 00:02:50 | More by bcostner1

WankelEngine

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tulip-wine glass. Split between my uncle and me.

A: Pours a lovely ruby-mahogany color. There is a light tan head which quickly fades to nothing. No lacing.

S: Smells very sweet. Raisin and fig are prominent. Maybe even a little bit of prune. Toffee is also strong with a touch of oak and vanilla.

T: Oak and vanilla are prominent, but followed very closely in intensity by the fruit flavors. Raisin and fig are very potent flavors here. The oak provides a little bit of smokiness. A hint of bourbon comes through mostly in the aftertaste, providing a little bit of alcohol heat. A mild bite of pine gives some bitterness that cuts the sweetness and complements the alcohol.

M: Medium-thick and very sticky. Next to no carbonation.

O: Nice barley wine. Very sweet, almost reminiscent of a doppelbock. Potent flavors but it could have more depth.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 02:02:55 | More by WankelEngine

WesM63

Ohio

4.23/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tulip.

A: Pours a murky and cloudy dark copper color with a tiny 1 finger head. Minimal lacing and retention is present.

S: Dark fruits (fig), oak and some sweet malts. Some alcohol lingering about.

T: Up front I get loads of dark fruits then lots of alcohol and oak finishing with some sweet malts.

M: Medium body and carbonation.

O: Not really what I was expecting but good none the less. Reminds me more of an oak aged Belgian (strong dark/quad)

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 00:42:57 | More by WesM63

cfrances33

Illinois

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

2012 Bottle poured into a tulip.

Pour: Clear amber brown with a quarter inch off white head. Some sediment floating around which is why this one wasn't a 4.

Smell: Chocolate, vanilla bourbon, raisins.

Taste: Chocolate and vanilla bourbon play around, and then give way to dark fruits and some leather. As it warms, great vanilla cinnamon spiciness appears. Fantastic.

Mouthfeel: Just right, not too heavy but still creamy and fulfilling. Little bit of booziness.

Overall: Really fantastic bourbon barrel barleywine, and great that it is very available here. Highly recommended

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 15:39:32 | More by cfrances33

rlee1390

Indiana

3.83/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Ruby in color with two finger head, some, carbonation and sediment as well as some lacing.

S-Caramel, toffee, oak, some coffee and then there is something that smells burnt. Tad bit of bourbon.

T-Mainly caramel and toffee, sugary. Some oak and bourbon notes. Not much bitterness.

M-Medium bodied, some carbonation and smooth.

O-Not sure what it is about English Barleywines but I these are very hit and miss. Not perfect but not horrible either. Maybe some age will improve this.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 22:08:07 | More by rlee1390

BeRanger

Michigan

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

Received as an extra from MordorMongo - thanks again!

Poured from bottle into my Portsmouth Tulip.

A: Pours a Orangish/Amber hue with a white rim - not a lot of head on this pour.

S: Very sweet. Candied pecans, caramel, sugary, a little bit of booze, malts.

T: A very earth/oaky taste, candied sugar, caramel, toffee.. Very nice - a sweet barleywine with not much of a booze taste, it is masked very well.

M: Light mouthfeel, finishes smooth.

O: Very impressed with this - definitely glad I got it as an extra. I would stock up on this if it were available in Michigan.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 23:55:10 | More by BeRanger

JayAre46

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter, big ups to whoever sent me this! Thin white ring around the edges sits on top of a amber burgundy hazed liquid. The nose is of sweet toffee, vanilla, cinammon spices a little woody as well. Carmelized vanilla bean immediately hits the palate and flows into a malty presence with cinnamon sticks, candied sugar and light oak with a touch of heat in the back. Very easy to drink, medium to full body with a subtle carbonation that compliments. Overall this was a stellar beer, the vanilla and oak balance play superb for each other with neither being too much. The hops are non existent so I'm not sure how this one is fresh where this bottle was a year old. Something to seek if given the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 21:21:58 | More by JayAre46

BeerBuckeye

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark copper/amber color with 1 finger, off-white head.

S - Good amounts of dark fruits, raisins, some booze, vanilla, and oak. Even a touch of black licorice present. Very nice.

T - Taste starts very earthy and oaky, before fading into a lot of that dark fruit, some bananas, molasses. Finishes with a bit of bitter hops and another kick of black licorice.

M - A bit drying, but smooth. Booziness surprisingly holds up well at such a high ABV.

Overall - I was very impressed here. This is a solid brew by Weyerbacher. Nothing too overpowering, surprisingly balanced. Tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 19:38:42 | More by BeerBuckeye

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Insanity pours a cloudy dark copper color with a small white lacing head. There is a nice earthy aroma, a bit boozy, but doesn't have a burn like other barlywines or beers this strong. There is a strong oakey earthy flavor, with a mellow grapey undertone. Not incredibly overpowering, has a nice smooth flavor but it is boozy. Overall a very nice aged barleywine, a drinkable one.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 02:24:02 | More by vette2006c5r