Decadence - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

Fish113d

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I finally got my hands on a bottle of this at a new brewbar called the Brewhouse Grill.

It pours from a chilled bottle into a pint glass a hazy orange/burnt sienna color with an edge layer; practically no head forms.

Taking a whiff, I notice some slight honey and some cloves or ginger. When you put that all together with the hops and the oak, it gives the aroma of a mentholyptus cough drop!!! Talk about interesting! I asked my finace to smell it and she described it exactly as I have here without telling her what i smelled prior...

Taking a sip, I notice the flavor of some slight cherries to start, along with lots of honey and a touch of spice (cinamon of ginger). During the time I keep it on my palete, it tastes exactly how it smelled...it reminds me of a Halls Mentholyptus coughdrop with Honey!!! I couldn't beleive it!!! However, I really like the characteristics. I have had interesting barleywines or some interesting strong ales before, but this is the most interesting I have ever had I think.

A very full-bodied, thick, slow drinker! Definitely a sipper due to the context of the brew, as well as the high abv. that I would imagine could quite possibly be higher than 13%. The taste of the alcohol is rather mild however, and not that noticeable until you stand up! WOW!!! Very smooth and fun!

Overall, if you have 2 of these you can say "Syonara sweetheart!" cuz you night may be cut a little short. Do not operate heavy machinery after drinking!! ;) However, one is enough for anyone.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2005 18:14:09 | More by Fish113d

JAHMUR

Connecticut

2.25/5  rDev -38.9%

04-08-2013 20:31:12 | More by JAHMUR

midlifec

Michigan

4/5  rDev +8.7%

12-22-2012 22:00:36 | More by midlifec

claspada

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a seriously viscous syrupy dark golden honey color. Zero head with some spotty lacing at best.

Aromas are all spice initially; lots of ginger, cardamom and earthy/peppery notes. The honey aromas emerge more and more as it warms and spices subdue slightly.

The tastes directly follow the nose which I was hoping they weren't. Really spicy, with a lot of cardamon and ginger backed by a huge earthiness from the honey and pretty much straight honey flavor as well. I think they may have used a Belgian yeast on this beer as I am getting some peppery flavors in the finish.

Mouthfeel is super slick and syrupy at this point. Considering how old this beer is (2007/08 I think), it had held up pretty well. No alcohol, lots of sweetness, may be too much for some. I could only handle 4-6 oz myself before I asked for help.

Overall, a nice novelty beer but I am glad they went a different direction with their anniversary beers after this one. Not much else to say here.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 01:36:44 | More by claspada

kmwilson76

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.7%

12-27-2011 14:36:03 | More by kmwilson76

jophish17

Georgia

2.5/5  rDev -32.1%

12-24-2011 07:22:27 | More by jophish17

djrn2

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

12-21-2011 05:31:53 | More by djrn2

rab53

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +8.7%

12-10-2011 03:57:06 | More by rab53

HopStoopid120

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +8.7%

11-18-2011 17:22:04 | More by HopStoopid120

shufon

New York

3/5  rDev -18.5%

11-17-2011 03:39:00 | More by shufon

randomdanger

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +35.9%

11-15-2011 14:52:12 | More by randomdanger

ahalloin

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks to my buddy Dave for giving me this 6 year old bottle!

Pours a dark brownish copper (rusty copper?). It's almost clear save for some chunkage floating around in the glass. The head dissipated rather quickly in a flash of large off white bubbles as would be expected for something this old. A thin ring stayed atop the glass though.

The smell is thick with dark caramelly malts. A touch of roast resides in there as well, nestled amongst a spicy undertone that may be from the original spices added or perhaps from the yeast strain. Earthy, mossy hops are also present. It smells like a nicely aged barleywine.

The taste is more of the same with a big slightly burnt caramelly note, molasses sweetness, slight spice, and firm hop bitterness in the back end.

The mouthfeel is big and creamy but with a burning presence of alcohol. Can't imagine what this was like fresh. My taste buds are left flailing for mercy after the scorch of alcohol in the finish.

Overall this is an interesting brew that is aging quite well, and I don't typically like aged beers.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 00:49:18 | More by ahalloin

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Rich dark brown, nearly black with a large tan head of about two inches in height that took forever to settle down and left behind tons of side glass lace that really just thickened up as you went and coated the whole glass.

The aroma was rich with chocolate and roasted malts. Big notes here of cocoa and molasses, hints of smoked malts and a touch of earthy hops. The flavor was more of the same. There was an initial shock wave of chocolate and roasted malts, some light smoked notes that started to come through as well. Almost a hint of bourbon as it warmed and the mid palate took over. This warmed into a light burnt caramel like flavor that soon rolled over into a long, sweet finish that left the lasting flavor of vanilla and coffee on the tongue. The carbonation was just about right on this one, rich, subtle, and never dull or slick.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2011 01:25:58 | More by mikesgroove

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottle of this back in early 2007 from a local 6 pack shop that still had this sitting on the shelves. It was one of the first Weyerbacher's that I had ever tried I think. Anyway the beer poured out as a dark rich looking brown ale almost black. The aromas were herbal and roasted. The flavor to me tasted like a weaker version of a Jagermeister Shot mixed with a beer. There was some really kick ass flavors of Anise in the brew. I really enjoyed that about this beer. The first sip hit me really hard in the mouth, and as i drank it got smoother and smoother. This was a really interesting brew and I'm really glad I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 02:39:30 | More by Knapp85

Mistofminn

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this extra earlier today and cracked it open. Thanks goes out to Koopa for this very obscure brew!

Pours a milky brown color, extremely hazy. It's so hazy, it makes it lighter, hence the milky reference. Light brown in color, with a soft tan head. Retention isn't the greatest and doesn't leave much lacing.

The nose reminds me a lot like Weyerbacher Insanity, or other strong English Barleywines. As it warms, fruity characters come out, most noteably apples.

The taste is strong on the fruit notes, with a little bit of spices in the background. I get big sweet malt notes as well as sweet honey (possibly adding to the hazy look also).

Mouthfeel is surprisingly light, probably sits at around medium, with a smooth feel with little to no carbonation. Drinkability is pretty good.

Overall, this is a truly unique brew, and I was pleasantly surprised. Reactions were mixed, but it gets a thumbs up from me. The 13% is hidden nicely in this one. I was extremely skeptical in the beginning, but those feelings quickly disappeared when I tried it.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2010 08:40:45 | More by Mistofminn

pmccallum86

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to mistofmin for sharing this bad boy.

Pours a deep amber color with a very cloudy appearance. Very little head that leaves very little lacing.

Smell is of apples and booze. Big malt aromas come through as well.

Taste is fruity and boozy. Big fruit flavors come through, apples and pears with some spices, probably cinnamon. Very original and tasty.

Mouthfeel is full and creamy, slightly hot in the finish.

Not the most drinkble beer, but nice to sample a few ozs of. Very interesing concoxtion.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2010 04:35:59 | More by pmccallum86

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to mistofminn for sharing this 'treat.'

Poured into flute glass.

Pours no head. Color is a super thick/hazed burnt orange copper.

Aroma: Massive amount of spices. Honey, ginger, molasses, nut meg, pumpkin. Just a massive amount of spices. Too much! Some applesauce and fruit mash.

Taste: Big malt flavors with a ton of spices. Massive honey, nut meg, cinnamon, molasses, and pumpkin. Some caramel malty. Wow, the spice is crazy. Applesauce is a big flavor.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and warm. Medium bodied with a lower amount of carbonation, which is understandable for how old it is. Ends malty with some heat.

Overall, this beer is reminds me a lot of some of the other Weyerbacher beers I have had (Imperial pumpkin). It is interesting, but so much spices are present. Not something I want a lot of, but it was cool getting to try it though.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2010 04:24:48 | More by mothman

FtownThrowDown

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Been sitting on this bottle for a bit. Figured no better time than the present to pop it.
Pours a ruby brown in color with little to no head. Nose is mint and chocolate right away. Smells like an Andes dessert chocolate.
There's a whole bunch of spice going on here, but time has melded this beer into quite the delight.
Plenty of spice and still getting a good amount of mint in the flavor.
The alcohol is starting to show itself now that it's had a bit of time to warm up.
Think this one was popped at the perfect time. Just enough time to mellow out and come together, and just enough to calm the heat from the abv.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2010 23:49:15 | More by FtownThrowDown

pwoods

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to FtownThrowDown for sharing during the super bowl.

22oz. brown bomber poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a murky brownish amber with little head. No retention or lacing.

S: Lots of spices. Chocolate and mint, smells like a Ande's candy. Some malts sweetness.

T/M: More of the spices and chocolate and mint. Some sweetness but not too much. Blends well together. Still some alcohol flavor but nicely mellowed, no real heat. Body is medium full with mild carbonation.

D: For 13%, this is damn drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2010 23:46:06 | More by pwoods

magnj

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A few weeks ago I was cruising the local craft beer aisle and this caught my eye. I wasn't 100% sure what it was because I wasn't buying beer 4 years ago but I knew it was something special. After a handy blackberry assisted google I found out this was a 4 year old beer. I love Weyerbacher and excited to try such an old brew I picked it up and dove into it last nigt during the snowpocalypse.

A - Murky golden body produced no head on an aggressive pour. Carbonation appeared to be low. Looked crappy untill it warmed and settled into a nice clear ruby-amber.

S - Spicy and subtly sweet. Straight out of the fridge it was mainly just hot alcohol and spice. But as it warmed again it showed it's true colors. Big apple, grape and other fruit smells. Spices which I could not identify and finally some kind of residual sweetness which I am told is probably the honey it was brewed with.

T - Again this beer was rough cold. Hot and spicy, this tasted more like liquor than beer and when combined with the appearance and smell those around me who were offered a sip were reluctant both before and disgusted after. And I must admit I too was slightly worried at first but given the chance to warm(and the 13% abv. to kick in) this became quite pleasant. Big apple and grape meld with somewhat aggressive spice. In the finish a distinct honey sweetness. Very challenging but tasty.

M/D - Silky body was complimentary to the huge beer it was. drinkability was ok. I managed to finish a bomber to my skinny self because I had no one to share with and I wasn't dumping it. However sharing with a friend is advised, I woke up feeling like I had done a few shots the night before. Overall I enjoyed the challenge, enjoyed the brew, and enjoyed the oldest beer I've consumed to date.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 01:41:26 | More by magnj

orbitalr0x

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle that's been lurking in my cellar. Got a 22oz bomber as a trade extra recently so I figured I'd open this one to see how it is doing.

Pours into my glass a deep ruby red with minimal khaki head on top, but I figured as much due to the abv. Quite a few particles in suspension here but it's not uncommon after aging this long. Aromas start with sweet, fruity malts bathed in a deep floral honey that really shines through. Spiciness abounds with hard candy and ginger undertones. A bit medicinal even. Ripe plums and fruit cake. Interesting.

First sip brings big sweet maltiness quickly smacked down by huge spice flavors and caramel. Cardamom becomes evident in the flavor even though I didn't initially realize it before looking at the description on Weyerbacher's website. Lots of dark fruit flavors and floral honey mix in with plum coming to mind most. Flows down with a medicinal, candy like finish. Alcohol heats up the throat as well.

Mouthfeel is dense and slick with a syrupy quality to it. Mellow carbonation. This brew is not messing around and with the abv it's a sipper. Overall, I found this one big but tasty at the same time...a bit too sweet for me so I'll probably need someone to help share the bomber. I always enjoy a new Weyerbacher brew and this is a good sipper. Thanks to mikey711 for the bomber.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2009 01:18:37 | More by orbitalr0x

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber poured into a snifter

Found this in a Polish grocery store in Brooklyn with a superb beer selection. I had this when it was first released, but wasn't reviewing beers then. I enjoyed it much more this time around.

Pours a hazy, chilled amber with orange highlights, a decent amount of suspended floaties, and a frothy, khaki cap.

Aroma is of sweet fruit, herbs, booze and spice all at once. The sweetness is cloying and trying to hide all of the spice. It isn't doing that good of a job. The spice is of coriander, clove, and anise, and is very potent. The overall aroma reminds me of a cherry brandy more than anything else.

A spice infused honey sweetness rushes over the palate first, followed by cherries, apples, and a splash of orange peel. The finish is really boozy. At 13%, you'd expect that. It hasn't mellowed much in the 4 years it has been sitting, but it definitely has melded a bit better with the rest of the flavors. I remember the booze dominating much more the first go round. The cherries have subsided a bit too. The beer has an herbal, medicinal astringency that is much more prominent after a few years under its belt.

Full, rich and luxurious mouthfeel. This has a syrupy, cherry brandy like finish that really coats the mouth. It's really tremendous.

A sipper for sure. I tackled this one myself and was it was all I needed for the night. Drinkability, given the style and what it brings to the table, is par for the course. Delicious flavors and a tremendous mouthfeel make this a joy. The only crime is that this was the last one in the store.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 19:14:09 | More by ColForbinBC

rayjay

Hawaii

3.38/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

From beerbeing in the never again again bif.

Pretty lazy beer from the pour, not much carbonation present, and it's got tons of particulate despite being carefully handled.

Tons of ginger on the nose. Medicinal and herbal.

Flavor is another ginger smackdown, accompanied by some mild alcohol/booziness. Throat heat. Interesting and well made, but it has its limitations. Reminds me of big beers from DFH.

Prickly mouthfeel, mild but sharp carbonation, and the heat going on.

Drinkability is limited due to the strength of the beer, the palate stripping herbal flavors, and the numbing heat. A sipper to share.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2009 03:00:26 | More by rayjay

maximum12

Minnesota

3.6/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to beerloco for sending a bomber of this my way & aiding my quest to imbibe all things Weyerbacher at least once. The bottle speaks to honey, spices, etc. & must be almost four years old. Sounds good to me!

Brew is a hazy amber, plenty of floaties & mush at the bottom of the bottle. Smell is like the punch of a superhero, like a Christmas brew gone wild. Holy spices.

Wild is right. Decadence is a whole lotta beer. There's an overwhelming spiciness that comes singing front & center & gets in your nostrils if you breathe in at the wrong time. But the spiciness - cinnamon? nutmeg? cardamon, if I knew what that was? - isn't harsh & off-putting as I normally find it, perhaps it's mellowed with age & if so, I'm glad I didn't have this right after it came out. Underneath the spices is the sweet honey, although it's more mingled than underneath, if you get my drift. There's some maltishness underneath, but you have to search. The spices & honey pretty much steal the show.

This is a flat, heavy beer, I'd assume due to the combination of age & high ABV. It comes on more like an after-dinner drink than something you could knock back with a burger; a sipper for sure. I split the bomber with my wife, & I couldn't handle any more than I have.

Very good - very interesting - beer. This has a lot of similarity to Surly Three, also made with a good deal of honey, although Decadence is more heavily spiced. Glad I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2009 01:57:33 | More by maximum12

rallison

California

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to DIM for this one!

Pours a dirty caramel color with a very fleeting white head.

Sweet caramel and light alcohol in the nose.

Rich caramel, dates and honey dominate the flavor with some alcohol and spiciness present as well.

Low carbonation gives this one a very thick mouthfeel. Alcohol warmth and a slight bite at the end.

Sips well, but a 4-6 ounce serving is probably all that is needed.

Not bad. The aging seems to have helped this. I imagine this was way too hot and harsh fresh - even now, the alcohol is definitely present. So, not bad..but not great.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2009 08:22:10 | More by rallison