Blasphemy - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured vigorously with a one inch short lived head carbonation fizzes out pretty quickly after the pour, body is a deep ruby amber tone with a beige fleeting head leaves behind very thin specks of lacing. Aromatics come off with heavy barrel aging overtones vanilla, oak, whiskey edge with deep plum and raisin yeast notes arising from the Quad while fusel alcohol cinges the nose hairs the sweetness is so outwardly sugary, not sure if this is a good thing. Flavors come crashing in with alcohol not hidden at all I'm going to age a bottle of this bruiser to see if it mellows my nose hair is past the tickling point it's definitely burning high alcohol and syurpy sweetness overrides alot of flavor aspects of this beer although it's nice to have a quad aged on oak the charred wood, vanilla, and whiskey notes all come to play but hide the parts of the beer that were once really desireable, man it's so boozy I don't feel like I'm drinking beer anymore this is definitely blasphemy. Mouthfeel is sticky with residual sugars alcohol sizzles on the palate with each sip really begins to become cloying when it warms up a bit carbonation is ample but the barrel aging is definitely evident. Drinkability I'm just such a fan the standard quad and the alright tripel they brew why throw them in oak barrels I don't think it's helps these styles on the other hand I'm in love with both Hersey and Insanity amazing, and this seems much different in color than the standard Quad I remember drinking.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2007 15:30:49 | More by WVbeergeek

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark amber with a slight cloudiness. Impressive head that leaves good ring lace.

Sweet aromatic sugary malts. Really no balance to the smell.

Strong alcohol warmth in each sip, which would be expected at 11.8%. No noticeable hop counterpoint except well after the swallow. Extremely rich, almost oily; the carbonation is present but not strong enough to counter-punch the body.

This is a one-sided beer. If you like that side, you'll love this beer. It's contrary to my preferences and thus, the relatively light review. If you like mega-malty, powerfully alcoholic beers, this may be perfect for you.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2007 21:35:59 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Aprilluvsbeer for this one.

Pours a slightly cloudy tannish/amber color, nice carbonation, tiny fizzy head, some sticky lacing around the edges. The nose is malty, slight vanilla, spicy, and caramel. The taste is malty, slightly sweet at the beginning, spicy, hot/tangy/bitter, and some caramel. Medium body, complex brew. Drinkable, another very tasty brew from Weyerbacher, glad to have had a chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2007 21:39:44 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a one-finger white head that fades quickly leaving no lace. Clear copper amber color. alcohol and oak nose. Light-medium carbonation and heavy bodied. Flavor is sweet, alcohol, woody actually complex. Clean finish. Very warming. $8.00 for a 22oz bottle from Tully's Beer & Wine Wells, Me.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2007 23:18:29 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a chalice)

A- This beer has a bit of a dense body that glows brown in the sunlight, showing of a red hue. Strands of tiny bubbles glide to the surface supporting a bubbly light tan head. The head last for much of the beer.

S- This beer has a pretty clean smell with note of light caramel sweetness and some faint vanilla and cream coming through. There was a fusel alcohol smell at the finish that was of hard alcohol in the barrel.

T- The soft floral caramel sweetness had vanilla notes with a light marshmallow quality to it. The finish was soft wet wood with a fusel bourbon quality to it.

M- The light mouthfeel finish with an alcohol that seems to increase with each sip.

D- This beer has a nice blend of beer and barrel but they both bring their fusel flavors to the party. Surprisingly it didn't bother me and started to balance with the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2008 03:44:08 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Blind Tier Ale Hse in NYC a few weeks ago and reviewed from notes. Pours cloudy darkish, smoky almond, minor light tan head and leaving a tiny bubble film and fine light lacing. The nose here is boldly of crisp spicing and alcohol. One sip and its obvious that this a strong, heady and complex brew. Notes of currents, rum, brandy, burnt grains, alot going on here, not for the faint of heart/palate, not for quaffing, and not for fans of pissy yellow beer. Fine night capper/late night sipper.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2007 14:14:05 | More by Billolick

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

About 2 years old.

Pours a slight fizzy head, hazy darker peach maroon brown color, murky and a bit milky.

Nose explodes with bourbon, whiskey and oak, a bit if booze still, plenty of sweet malts reddish and brown, crystal malts, caramel, brown sugar, molasses, toffee, a slight nougat, candy, hints of dark fruits like brandy soaked raisins, all surrounded by the nice bourbon and oak.

Taste starts again with sweet malts, a nice aged soft malt, crystal, caramel, molasses, candy, a light nougat and toffee, a bit of booze cuts through, following closely is the bourbon, a nice juicy sweet bourbon, another whisky flavor as well, a bit if a toasty oak flavor with that, buttery and light vanilla oak. Again a light fruit kick. Finishes a bit sweet with lingering malts, brown sugar, candy, hint of bitterness, little sticky, done bourbon, a bit of booze left behind.

Mouth is heavier bodied, fairly rich and complex, some booze and lower but decent carb.

Overall great beer, nice bourbon and whisky flavors, nice oak rounding, great malts and sweet syrups, and hint of fruit and bitterness, a nice aged taste too. The aging did this very well as the booze quieted down, the malts aged nicely, and the bourbon stayed a nice flavor but not too hot.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 00:20:56 | More by jlindros

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle purchased as a single from Julio's, Marlboro, MA.

Poured into a Rapscallion glass, formed a 1/2" beige head over the slightly cloudy orangey copper brew. Head fades gradually down to a skim of froth, with plenty of sticky lacing. Aroma is sweet, with vanilla and tart composing a large part as well. Taste follows along, sweet upfront, strong vanilla and tartness in the middle, and then it all closes up nicely with vinous alcohol, heavy on the warmth. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, and the drinkability is very nice, although a little hot, which of course is to be expected at 11.8%abv. I think this is my favorite of the BA Weyerbachers.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2007 00:35:17 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle. I've got a few more of these aging...
Apepars a semi-transparent dark, caramel toned amber with plenty of bubbles rising to the top of the 2 finger, off-white head that fades into a mild layer of film with a thick collar. Scattered webbing is left around the glass.
Smell is of vanilla, oak, caramel, coconut, brown sugar, raisins, prunes, and a touch of cocoa.
Taste is of raisins, rum cake, vanilla, sugar, coconut, and oak.
Mouthfeel is chewy, meaty, cake-like all in a full body that's sugary, hot, yeasty, oaky with dark fruit lingering along the palate. It's yummy now but I think the best is yet to come with some age under it's belt.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2007 20:54:30 | More by weeare138

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks to DrJay for sending this my way for BC2.

Pours a hazed orange/copper, thin off white head, no lace, settles to a thin ring, unhealthy looking. Smell is caramel, alcohol, fusels, raisin, oak, banana, bit malty, typical Weyerbacher but somewhat appealing. Taste is toffee, oak, raisins, sweet fusel middle, lots of alcohol, solid bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, but feels slightly syrupy, low carbonation, lots of heat. Pretty good for Weyerbacher, lots of fusel but works okay in this one. Thanks Jay!

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2007 20:48:03 | More by Viggo

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

From notes:

Pours a dark, golden chestnut/honey brown color with ruby edges and a half dinger white foam head that quickly fades. Minimal spots of lace.

Boozy aroma with hints of dark fruit, oak, vanilla and sweet alcohol. Hints of dark cherry, plum and raisin but it's dominated by the alcohol and barrel presence.

Very sweet with again, a lot of boozy heat as well as a lot of dark fruit, oak and vanilla. I'm picking up hints of raisin, plum and dark cherries and more boozy heat in the warm finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 03:30:35 | More by corby112

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this beer on tap the other day at Mahaffey's.

The beer pours a very good looking darkish brown color. Very impressive looking beer with excellent head retention and good lacing. The nose is not huge, but one gets a sense of sweet spices and oak on the nose. On the palate this beer is quite sweet with candy, cherries, vanilla, chocolate, licorise and raisens. The alcohol is pretty noticeable in this one, making it not the most drinkable of beers. Definitely a sipper, but a good beer for all that. The beer finishes moderately well; sweet with a bit of crispness/dryness at the end. A very good beer from Weyerbacher, albeit not the easiest beer to drink given the high abv.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2007 12:42:41 | More by johnmichaelsen

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured a dark ruby red color, with a thin fizzy white head that left no lacing.

S: a nice dark caramel aroma with some cherries and raisins. There was also some noticeable alcohol (burbon) and oaky-vanilla hints.

T: The initial flavor yielded huge oaky/burbon flavor with a smooth tartness. Dried fruit, (raisins, plums) and fresh baked bread, and oaky-vanilla tones round out the flavor. I thought the alcohol was fairly well hidden for 11.8% abv, noticeable, yet was smooth and less potent then one would imagine leaving only a minimal calling card behind on the swallow. Finishes dry with spicy dried fruit (cherries).

M: full bodied, syrupy with oaky-alcohol and a light carbonation.

D: Great oak character compliment and adds to their already very good Quad beer. Very much worth a try. A great sipping quad that lives up to is name the next morning if you drink to many of these the night before.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2008 00:21:10 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Hazy caramel orange colour with a thin layer of fine beige bubbles. Solid collar with a bit of spotty lacing. Fruity aroma, some banana, coconut flesh, oak, mild vanilla, and a bit of caramel. Same in the flavour, but with additional oak and sweetness, it's also got an earthy and bready character, plus alcohol towards the end and a lot of heat in the finish. The sweetness really seems to be reigning in the alcohol here, and it's needed. The body is definitely on the full side with plenty of carbonation and a fair bit of dryness. Lots of warmth that stuns the tongue too. This one really seems like a car wreck, but somehow it hangs together. I'm not sure how Weyerbacher pulls that off in some of these big beers, but the result is pretty good here.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2008 02:32:51 | More by DrJay

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First, it was Heresy, now it's Blasphemy! As a practicing Beer Monk (Brother Woody with the Order of Disorder), I find myself taking exception to the naming of some of these beers. Of course, once I begin to sample them, my earlier concerns melt away like the polar ice caps.

It started with a nice, foamy finger of medium-tan head but the retention was so marginal that when I looked back, it had dissipated into wisps. The color had a slight haze, but it was definitely a deep-amber with reddish highlights. The nose was very oak-y, with lots of vanilla, caramel and coconut evident. The mouthfeel, besides being medium-to-full, was really HOT! This beer seems to cry out to be aged. This is what I have deemed a "Now 'n' Later beer" after the children's candy that advised "Have some now, and save some for later." I might have to see about procuring another bottle for cellaring purposes. After the initial heat died down, I tasted a lot of dried fruit - raisins, prunes, even banana along with the sweet caramel and vanilla that I noted on the nose. The finish was still really sweet and coupled with its high ABV, one was plenty on this go-'round. If I can score another, it will go in the basement to await its time.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2008 23:41:49 | More by woodychandler

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Amber-brown, light tan head, very little retention, slight leg/lace.

S: Big alcohol aroma, toffee, nut, slight banana, spice.

T: Woody, caramel, beer nuts, slight spicing, bourbon. Alcohol is fairly assertive, it'd be interesting to cellar.

M: Moderate body & carbonation. Really well-attenuated & dry. Well-crafted for it's weight.

D: Big, but I like it.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2007 02:09:56 | More by Derek

ccrida

Oregon

2.53/5  rDev -35.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bomber bought on 6/07, so at least 3.5 years old. I'd forgotten how bad I thought this was until I looked up the review just now. Decent carbonation, looks fine. Smell is pretty good, really nice vanilla notes, but hot.
Taste is the the same, nice barrel notes at first, hints of bread pudding, and them bam - red hot fusels, finishes like a gulp of cheap vodka. As my palate adjusted, which happened faster then I expected (and noticed happened in my last notes - is it the brew or intoxication), I really enjoyed the underlying oak aged quad flavors - but the burn in my gullet persisted as a reminder this would no doubt be better at 10%, unless they could clean up the ferment at this higher gravity. Would have been fun to age for like 6 years, but in my experience, fusels never really disappear.

---
First review, 09-01-2007, from which it was scored:
---
Poured from a 22oz bomber (thx yobdoog!) into my New Belgium goblet, Blasphemy is a slightly hazed amber with a 2 finger, off-white head, that fades fairly quickly to a steady skim that leaves light lace.

Smell is very rich and sweet, more candi then fruits though, with some yeasty spice and lots of rubbing alcohol fusels.

Unfortunately, the taste is just as heavy on the solvents, not as sweet but very boozy, bourbon with a hint of cherries and black pepper. Like the other oaked Weyerbachers, there's a very enjoyable vanilla presence. Sadly, it's the only pleasant taste, and doesn't mange to hide the plasticy phenols that are running rampant. There is another, more subtle flavor towards the finish that just seems off, like spoiled salted vegetables or something. Not sure what it is, maybe the oak, or diactyl that isn't so obviously butterscotch? After really enjoying Insanity (and Prophecy, albeit less so), this is quite the disappointment. Letting it breath a bit may have helped, but if it wasn't so hard to drink, I'd never have know that...although it went from bad to ok, I'm still hesitent to bump up the score too much just b/c it's getting me drunk in a hurry! Sorry about the low score guys, but what can I say? I'm not impressed!

The mouthfeel is on the thicker side of average for a quad, a little under-attenuated, leaving a corn syrup stickiness in it's wake.

This was not very drinkable. It's super high ABV, tastes super strong, and generally not very good. I'd wager 999/1000 average beer drinkers would take one sip of this and say it sucks. Fans of quads, big beers, and weyerbacher may be more forgiving, but it's probably just the alcohol clouding their judgment after they power through a bottle of this beast! I've actually got another bottle of this in the cellar, from a trip to NY earlier this summer, that I'm now certainly in no hurry to break into. We'll see how a few years treat this. Right now it's pretty rough, like drinking like a sweet/weak brandy, 22 oz at a time! I honestly doubt it will really improve that drastically, but I'll surely forget (or maybe never forget!) about this one long enough that who knows?

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2007 01:21:18 | More by ccrida

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clean deep amber, with an off white head. Aromas that are oaky and a small presence of a dark fruit. In the taste, an oaky plum, alcohol, yet very minimal. A small alcoholic burn, and a alcoholic aftertaste, small oaky flavor left behind as well. Big taste, but it is smooth. Great sipping beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2007 10:43:41 | More by OWSLEY069

jrallen34

Illinois

2.65/5  rDev -32.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

I drank this from a bottle into a chalice.

It pours a medium brown, almost a dark tea. There is light tan finger head high, lasts about 1 minute with good lacing.

The aroma is light with sweet malts, caramel, and banana.

The taste is so-so kinda of similar to Rochefort but a Rochefort that has kind of gone bad.

Mouthfeel is ok, ok drinkability. Check that 5 sips in I have to dump it. Not good.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2009 21:52:46 | More by jrallen34

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Poured into my Stoudt's Y2K Ipa Tulip glass. Fleecy but massive head that evolves into a moderate 2 finger head that allows a decent skirt of lace. Brilliant deep garnet with a copious amount of bubbles that rise and settle into a band of pin sized globular bodies. A smooth tan head adorns the liquid resembling frosting.

Aroma - Subdued at first, the smell over overripe bananas and caramelized sugar is evident. Boozy, slightly woody sweetness pervades.

Taste - Estery, creamy and spicy roundness in the first sips leads to a relaxed smooth maltiness. Creamy and syrupy as oak seeps from the nose of this fine ale while it begins to warm. Slightly sour cherry acidity, and somewhat tannic qualities with hints of light brown sugar. A tinge of saltiness is felt along with alcoholic warmth in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Chewy, round, warming booziness. Mellow spiciness with a subtle creamy quality. The alcohol is evident coating the mouth with a sugary dryness. Incredible feel with above average carbonation to match the strength.

Drinkability - A blend of sweetness and booziness dominate this fruity and slightly spicy quad. A subtle woody effect and pleasant mouthfeel allow this strong ale to unleash the vigor and suppleness in equal measure. A very drinkable beer that lets you know it is a contender up front.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2007 05:27:48 | More by Slatetank

dirtylou

Washington

3.43/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz single, no BS

appearance: poured into my de koninck chalice, clear amber body, beige bubbly head with little retention

smell: thick caramel malts, sweet alcohol, soaked cherry, a touch of oak, pretty much just a mashup of malty sweetness

taste: my god is this beer strong. thick layers of spicy alcohol, huge malty sweetness, thick caramel, spicy with a big burning/tingling sensation. heavy carbonation, oak provides a splintery edge but i typically like the oak a bit smoother.

mouthfeel: thick, chewy, spicy

drinkability: man, tough

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2009 03:19:44 | More by dirtylou

twiggamortis420

Texas

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500th review here, thought this would be somewhat appropriate. This bottle is the 2008 vintage. Pours a very hazy, bright orange color with an initially fat tan head that fades ridiculously fast to near nothingness. Lacing is minimal. Not much of a looker here as it is very light colored for a quad and head retention is very poor.

Ahh, the smell makes up for the poor visual aspect...it is phenomenal! Vanilla, oak, alcohol, cotton candy, almonds, brown sugar and an elusive fruitiness that I cant put my finger on...perhaps some pears and red grapes? Nonetheless, this is an outstanding nose.

Barrel aging is very evident upon tasting, as is the alcohol. It is rummy and even a bit like whiskey. Could cellar for a while longer, for sure. Light bodied for a quad and drier than most, but it still retains some sweetness typical of the style. There is a nice bready, yeasty characteristic, but not quite enough. To me, it almost seems like a tripel and a half, as it needs a bit more body-adding malts and the alcohol is a bit rough...but that is being a bit picky, I am very glad I brought this out for my 500th. Great beer and I am sad that Weyerbacher has discontinued the brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2009 01:40:09 | More by twiggamortis420

tpd975

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to Joey R. This came from the first bottling of this brew.

A: Pours a nice light bright amber red hue with a nice bubbly head. Good retention and some lace noted.

S: Tons of bourbon to start. Lots of booze, oak and vanilla. Beneath the barrel lies some dark fruit and molasses.

T: Flavor is big on the bourbon. Tons of booze and oak up front. The dark fruit does come thru as does caramelized brown sugar. Lots more bourbon burn in the finish with a touch of the vanilla showing thru.

M: Full in body with nice carbonation.

D: To be sipped slowly.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2008 13:01:02 | More by tpd975

LilBeerDoctor

New York

2.03/5  rDev -48.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Bottle. Pours a cloudy orange with a small white head. Aroma of bourbon and sweet malt, but strongly bourbon. Flavor of candy corn, sweet malt, and LOTS of bourbon. Very boozy and hard to get through. Ick. This is bad...not reminiscent in any way of an abt/quad.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 14:42:43 | More by LilBeerDoctor

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml caged and corked bottle, 2011 vintage. Served in a Dogfish Head Signature glass, the beer pours a murky brownish/red color with about a half inch off-white head that went away quickly. Not much lacing at all. Aroma is very nice, it smells like dark fruit, bourbon, vanilla, caramel, sweet apples and some brandy. The taste is pretty much like the aroma, the brew tastes like dark fruit (raisins, plums, figs), caramel, bourbon, vanilla, oak, booze and candy sugar. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's coating and thick with low carbonation. I think this is a good beer overall. And for just $7.99 a bottle, I'd definitely buy this again, it's certainly a bargain for the price.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 23:14:25 | More by bluejacket74