Thirteen - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

AlexJ

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thick, viscous black pour with zero light penetration. A thick head of mocha crowns my glass, an impressive sight on a beer that is 13.6% abv.

The aroma is deep and dark, filled with bittersweet chocolate, dark fruits, molasses, and hints of dark rum.

The flavor is right on par, big dark chocolate and rum soaked chocolate cake notes with distinct dark stewed fruit from the Belgian yeast. Warmed there are light undertones of vanilla rum and malted milk. The alcohol makes a presence, but does not detract from the experience.

Body is big, rich, and creamy. A velvet smooth mouthfeel resulting from the marriage of a huge American stout and distinctive Belgian yeast. One of their best!

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2008 22:07:08 | More by AlexJ

jkane101

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

06-09-2013 15:40:54 | More by jkane101

Envelopes

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -18.5%

05-21-2013 05:39:08 | More by Envelopes

brheuer

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +0.3%

03-24-2013 21:07:00 | More by brheuer

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

2.5/5  rDev -37.3%

03-24-2013 19:00:58 | More by wisrarebeer

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev +0.3%

03-07-2013 02:58:55 | More by t0rin0

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

03-06-2013 14:15:58 | More by AlexFields

imperialking

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%

02-13-2013 17:02:03 | More by imperialking

MrVonzipper

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

02-05-2013 03:32:01 | More by MrVonzipper

Budinetz

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +25.3%

01-16-2013 20:37:42 | More by Budinetz

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

12-17-2012 17:52:22 | More by stereosforgeeks

daryk77

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +0.3%

11-30-2012 16:48:17 | More by daryk77

acurtis

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +0.3%

11-10-2012 16:24:35 | More by acurtis

harrymel

Washington

4.23/5  rDev +6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer sure has grown up since I last had it (early 2011).

Pours black with a solid sheet of tan foam. Smell is pretty fucking acceptable. Dark molasses, prune, brown sugar, oats, chocolate, globs of caramel and nougat. When I dome this beer I know I'm in trouble - it's really tasty. I was scared the belgian yeast would murder the fucking hips out of the foundation, but this beer really just plays along with just a hint of vinous character, but then the rest is sweetened, dark, oral face sex. Medium on full bodied with low carb and a dry finish. I really enjoyed this one. Time did a good thing here.

Original review: 3/3.5/3.5/3.5/4
Thanks to yourefragile for this extra. Cheers!
A: Pours a dark coffee brown with only a sheet of mocha foam which dissipates very quickly. Surface has several whirls of foam left. No lacing to speak of.
S: graham, nougat, malts, black cherries, cola, caramel, hint of molasses. Fine whisps of cocoa. Slight alcohol scent at the back. Overall quite pleasant. Based on smell alone, could use another year in the cellar.
T: Roasty plums, figs, coffee, licorice, black malts. nearly port-like profile. Again, some grahams, sweet molasses. Sweet and alcoholic. Black cherries in here once again too (particularly on the finish).
M: Viscous, low carbonation. Slicks my tongue and makes the roof of the mouth a bit slippery as well.
D: The beer is very nice, wouldn't advise drinking more than one in a sitting. Think the beer could use another year in the cellar before drinking.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 05:55:57 | More by harrymel

GRG1313

California

4/5  rDev +0.3%

08-15-2012 02:34:42 | More by GRG1313

JTSbeerislife

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Vintage 2008, traded for 2010 DFH WWS to Sean T., thanks!
Has “rested” in temp controlled condition for 9 months or so.

Poured into a DFH Signature glass

Pours a thin head, dark tan in color with no retention or lace, probably to be expected of Ale of this age.
Black opaque color and has dropped a good amount of sediment.

The aroma has no noticeable hops, but does have a huge, exceptionally deep, rich, roasted, nose of vinous black malt, hints of anise, cocoa, vanilla, spicy, and I get oak/wood. Very complex!

The malt is what hits the palate, big bold, extraordinarily rich flavors of dark unsweetened chocolate, roasted malt, vinous, distinct yeast, black farmhouse bread, cocoa, hints of aged bourbon and vanilla wood. Again very complex!
Still has a nice crisp acidity, very full body, viscous, and superb, balanced, fine carbonation. There is just a hint of sweetness but not overdone.

Exceptionally long finish of yeasty, vinous, aged, roasted black malt, that lasts forever.

Wow! What an experience! More akin to drinking a fine aged Port than Ale. Very complex flavors envelope the palate, change with every drink, and just will not let go. The over 13% ABV is not at all noticeable. Hard to believe that this is 4 years old. This was my only bottle, but I suspect that this Ale has several more years of life left.
A privilege to drink. Again thanks Sean!

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 23:50:08 | More by JTSbeerislife

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pitch black. Very still. Head is khaki and drops to a thin collar almost immediately. So very still. So very black.

Smell: Chocolate malts in abundance. Milk chocolate. Touches of leather and dry, very dry red wine. Some oak. Mild yeast. Roasty and slightly burnt. Age has tamped down on almost everything. Some lingering char.

Taste: Leather and baker's chocolate. Lingering cocoa bitterness. Some dark red wine. Mild oak in the back. Roasted, burnt, and charred, but it's all vey mellow. Some lingering spice from the yeast. Minerals and chocolate. Some clove.

Mouthfeel: Creamy, smooth, and soft. No carbonation. Very heavy and thick.

Overall: 4 years of age makes this so smooth it's stupid. Very mellow and easy drinking. Lots of flavor, but I'm glad for the age.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 03:30:03 | More by Goblinmunkey7

TK5150

Maine

4.48/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle.

A- Pours black with a brown head that recedes to a ring around the glass. Alcohol legs appear when swirled. A nice looking beer.

S- Lots of chocolate and estery cherry.

T- Syrupy chocolate and estery cherry/pitted fruit come through in the taste just as in the aroma. Sticky and sweet, but yet it still feels balanced with the estery presence. No burn from the 13.6% at all.

M- Full bodied and very smooth. Light carbonation, but still quite evident even after 4 years in the bottle. Feels just as I would hope for a big stout.

O- This beer has aged very well, and was worth the wait. The 4 years have really rounded it out. The flavors mesh very well and are bold, yet mellow. This is what you hope to get when you age a beer. For my money, this is peaking/close to peaking. The 13.6% does not really present itself in the flavor, just as a warming sensation going down the esophagus. I really enjoyed this. Wish I had more bottles.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 02:38:20 | More by TK5150

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a Bell's tulip.

A- Dark brown with a 1 finger tan head. Very little to almost no lacing remains on the glass.

S- Big abv notes, dark fruits, chocolate, slight smoke.

T- Dark chocolate and dark fruits dominate this beer.

M- Medium body and carbonation. Has a nice big mouthfeel that rounds this beer out nicely.

O- Very good stout that's very smooth for the abv and what you would have thought from the nose.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 17:01:32 | More by kawilliams81

Duff27

Illinois

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

Dark mocha head. Leaves a collar. Some alcohol legs.

Aroma sets the tone. Real dark. Is this barrel aged?

Harsh but not over the top. Not finding many Belgian qualities.

Very full mouthfeel., thicker. Good carbonation.

Enjoyed this one a lot. Held up great so far. One of the better aged stouts ive had recently. Thanks kawilliams81!.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 02:54:03 | More by Duff27

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

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

Received in trade from MeadMe, thanks for the opportunity. Glugs out of the bottle a thick black color with a smallish tan head that shows some staying power. Smells of dark caramel, licorice, burnt sugar, chocolate, with hints of smoke and alcohol. Taste is Thick and burnt with lots of licorice, chocolate, and caramel. Long lingering earthy ethanol burnt sweetness. Thick body with a light level of carbonation and chewy vinous burnt mouthfeel. This is a big thick sweet monster of a beer and I enjoyed it till the end.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 01:19:20 | More by johnnnniee

chrispoint

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -24.8%

02-18-2012 08:47:34 | More by chrispoint

ithinkimasofa

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

02-13-2012 07:31:07 | More by ithinkimasofa

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a snifter. This is from 2008 in case you weren't paying attention.

3.0 A: Black color. A little over one finger of frothy light brown head. Retention is poor, but at 13.6%, what do you expect. No lacing.

4.0 S: Rich nose full of supple roastiness, tons of sweet chocolate, molasses, and loads of caramel. So incredibly well integrated; time has done this well. Booze is extremely well hidden.

4.5 T: Follows the nose for the most part. Powerful, but soft roastiness. Big hits of chocolate, molasses, and caramel. Sweet without being too sweet. Rich and wonderful. The booze is hard to taste, but it does give a nice warming on finish.

4.5 M: Heavy body. Good moderate carbonation. Good creaminess and super smooth.

4.5 D: Delicious beer. Drinking great now.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 04:37:51 | More by DavoleBomb

Greenplastic615

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

My "gateway" beer into big stouts three and a half years ago. I finally found a bottle at Capone's in Norristown, so I had to buy it and revisit what started it all.

12oz bottle poured into tulip glass.

A - Pours oily black with a one finger tan head. Almost a red hue around the rim of the glass.

S - Dark fruit and alcohol. I thought I remembered another component to the smell, but it has faded after 3.5 years in the bottle (or I have a bad memory).

T - More dark fruit, alcohol, and raisins. Thought the alcohol presence would've subsided by now, but it's still very much there. The taste doesn't linger like a lot of other beers of this style/strength.

M - Actually very smooth. Almost too smooth. Extremely drinkable for 13.6%.

O - Not quite the magic I thought it was, but certainly a nice way to revisit what got me into big beers in the first place. Still love Weyerbacher for all they do.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 03:15:39 | More by Greenplastic615