Sixteen - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

RyanGoodman

Bolivia

3.8/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Tasted alongside the oak aged version. Stood up quite well, although I preferred the oak.

Deep chestnut brown, nearly opaque.

Smells of brown sugar/molasses, malty, and alcohol is detectable in the nose. Not in an off-putting way though.

Taste instantly made me think of honey, appropriately. Candi sugar, plums are there too. Slightly tart at the end. AND bread! Finally, I have detected breadiness! Maybe now I'll know for future beers.

Appropriate carbonation, but mouthfeel is a little thin for my tastes. This is made up for in the oak version.

My first braggot. Thank you Weyerbacher for introducing me to this style. I wish I could say it is a beautiful representation of a braggot, but since I haven't had others...
Either way, kudos!

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 23:00:30 | More by RyanGoodman

Mora2000

Texas

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

Bottled shared at bu11zeye’s 10,000th rating tasting.

The beer pours a medium brown color with a white head. The aroma is heavy on the honey and spices, with some caramel malt thrown in. The flavor is more of the same. I get a ton of sweet honey and assorted spices, as well as some caramel malt, a hint of leather and quite a bit of alcohol. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 03:46:30 | More by Mora2000

herman77

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Dark amber/brown with a bubbly khaki head. Decent retention and nice spotty lacing.

S: Sweet malts, honey, rasins and molasses. It has an odd metallic like smell in the background, not sure why or where that is coming from. The more I smell it the more I think its actually the alcohol

T: Sweet, but not overly sweet, but its getting to that point. Lots of honey mixed with sweet, bready malts. Raisins and plums come up near the finish.

M: Medium to fuller body. Lower carbonation. Nice and smooth feel to it.

O: It's well done for sure. Not the best drinkability and the abv is hidden pretty well.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 23:42:43 | More by herman77

SPLITGRIN

Kentucky

4.48/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I really didn't know what to expect from this brew or this style in general. I have had other braggots but have not been impressed by any that come to mind. I will not forget this one.

Pours with a deep very dark brown body that is almost black. Head is a biscuity brown foamy cream that fades in just a couple of minutes.

Nose is full of complex sweet malty goodness. Honey, short bread and sugar cookies come quickly to mind. A soft hint of spice is also noticeable. Very attractive nose.

With first sip you imediatly see how well the honey plays in the flavor profile of this beer. The mead feel really comes through nicely. So often this style is to thick, and while this one thick it is very well balanced. The body had a consistant sweetness with a bready, slightly spicy backbone.

Mouthfeel is rich and zesty. I could drink this brew quite often. I wish I had picked up more.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 01:38:18 | More by SPLITGRIN

BMoney575

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Sampled on 3-18-12

Appearance: a cloudy, dark brown color that lightens around the edges. Almost no head, with only a few bubbles that stick in one place.

Smell: all sweet malt, lots of alcohol, and lots of mead-like honey character. There's some hops at the very end, balancing out the sweetness a bit.

Taste: much more even than I expected, with earthy malt flavors right up front. The booze comes in next, followed by a sweet hit of honey. Very warm, with a little hop bitterness on the finish. Spicy and hot, but very well made and enjoyable.

Mouthfeel: very nice, not too thick or thin, allows the different flavors to work together.

Overall: Better than I expected and definitely worth picking up.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 18:33:16 | More by BMoney575

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first braggot and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I’ve had other beers that use honey but none that have made it so much the central ingredient and flavor. Certainly none in memory have made the honey flavor as delicious.

Sixteen pours nearly clear, maple syrup-colored, with a small head that sinks down pretty quickly. Strong lacing up and down the glass.

Lots of honey in the nose, as well as caramel and toffee, continuing in the taste. Full-flavored honey with touches of spice and dark fruits, plums, brown sugar, toffee. Sweet and delicious. Alcohol has mellowed a bit and remains in the background; very little burn at all. Full-bodied, creamy and smooth, moderate carbonation. Really tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 16:29:25 | More by tobelerone

merc7186

New York

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this beer poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Deep Mahogany Hue, Passes Almost No Light, Mild Off White Head, Some Lacing

S: Raisins, Plums, Honey

T: Raisins, Honey, Sweet Bread

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium to Heavy Bodied, Sweet, Mildly Dry

Overall, a solid Braggot Ale that tastes very similar to a sweet quad, good beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 00:05:49 | More by merc7186

muskiesman

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

bottle poured into tulip

An enticing dark plum molasses coloration. Barely a finger of fine cream bubbles but leave excellent lacework

Ripe fruits and faint grain. The nose is tickled by booze and cherries. Smells like a sweet syrup.

Wonderful mix of the sweet honey fruits cut by mild roasty malts and a sharp finish assumed from the hop. Cherries raisins and warm bread slight spiceyness, maybe cinnamon all very nice and Very Warming

Extremely smooth but lighter than expected a real. I expected this to linger in the mouth and take its time but did not

Recommend this braggot!

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 20:49:38 | More by muskiesman

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - has a good-looking dark caramel and ruby coloration. A finger of light mocha goes to a partial cover but maintains a solid collar.

Aroma - some average grainy sweetness at first, even a touch metallic. It settles to a faint grain and sweet smell. Warming begins to open up some caramel and syrupy sweetness.

Taste - grainy malty sweetness, cola and light anise flavor in support. Some fairly hot alcohol on the swallow, whew, hot stuff! The aftertaste melds the roastiness of the grain with the estery heat of the 10.5%, the best work of this high octane brew.The finish is warm for sure, but also has a nice lingering grain sweetness that isn't overly sugary or 'malt liquoresque'.

Mouthfeel - semi-big in body. A measure of smoothness, wouldn't mind a little more even. Carbonation is prickly and crisp for such a big style.

Drinkability - excellent sipper on a cold January evening, at least for the sweet tooths in the room. Should be an interesting one to age.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 02:45:57 | More by brewdlyhooked13

Phelps

Arizona

3.7/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Sent by seeswo during the Blind Beers BIF, this was poured into a tulip and reviewed blind.

From the bottle, the beer’s a light caramel, but it becomes a deep, clear mauve inside the glass. One finger of dense, fizzy dark tan bubbles pop away to nothingness within a few seconds.

Aroma is deep and sweet. Alcohol, caramel, some apple, toasty biscuits, sugary prunes.

The flavor’s a little less well-put-together than the nose. I get the same toasted biscuits, caramel and apple sauce, but they’re not as vibrant as in the aroma. The ethanol note is bigger here, though.

Moderate carbonation pinches the tongue and breaks the brew into just a hint of bubbles. The body’s a velvety medium. Alcohol is pretty burly, flaming through the nose as I sip.

Tasting it blind, Sixteen threw me for a loop. It’s got big booze and clean, toasty/fruity flavors that remind me of a doppelbock. A tasty brew, if not the most memorable. The bottle went quickly.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 23:23:42 | More by Phelps

FightingEntropy

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Digging into a couple of six packs of singles from the Ale Jail, and pulled out a braggot. For those not up to date on your medieval drinks, braggot is a combination of mead and beer--both honey and malt--and generally has spices added. From the BeerAdvocate description, braggot tends to be high in alcohol as well. Sixteen matches exactly. GABF Gold Medal in 2011 according to Weyerbacher and second highest rated on BA for braggots. The beer comes with some credentials. Let's see if it lives up to the accolades.

Had to pour hard down the center of the glass to build up an 1/2 inch head that fell before I could get it in the picture. Taking the initial sips, I see legs slide down the glass, which confirms the potency of this ale on the label: 10.5% ABV. Looks dark brown in the glass, but serious ruby highlights when looking through the edge. Drinking it slow to let it warm, a big spice is emerging on top of a sweet, fruity malt. Clear fig, raisin, dark chocolate and cherry, peppery hotness from the alcohol, maybe some cinnamon and tumeric. Honey in the nose is so strong that it reminds me of a Sioux Bee honey from my childhood. On the tongue, more fruit and malt, and the honey and spice is more subdued but not completely tamed. Surprisingly dry finish that lingers. Complex and well balanced beer that is a pleasure to drink, but it's a pretty small category. Not likely that I'll go out and buy a bunch to drink or age, but this one was a very good departure from the usual.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 02:55:24 | More by FightingEntropy

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a lovely braggot. Pours dark brown like a Belgian strong. Lovely spider lacing. The spices mainly nutmeg supersede the honey aroma. Above average mouthfeel. A fine creation,good balance, and "only" 10.5% abv for this braggot, which aids drinkability. Also cinnamon, a drop of ginger, and drop of turmeric. worth seeking out as a good representative of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 03:06:35 | More by northyorksammy

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice to see another Braggot available. This one pours quite dark, a chestnut brown, with a a fairly slight head, but a little bit of lacing. Wonderful aromas of honey, some breadiness, and some dates. The honey, especially, just explodes out of the glass. The taste starts a bit sweet, but there is a bit of alcohol and even acetone notes here, but very slight. The rich honey tastes come through strongly on the finish, with notes of leather and flowers and a burst of sweetness. Quite an interesting choice for 16, and one of the better Braggots out there.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 04:10:03 | More by Georgiabeer

harrymel

Washington

2.2/5  rDev -43.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Thanks Clint.

Dark brown with a solid sheet of peanut foam. Smells like honey (as the label says), and profoundly so; there are some nougat and raisin notes in the nose as well. There are some nice things going on with the malt here, some graham (again, in the nose).

Tastes sweet and...makes my face twitch. Whew, way too sweet with nasty acetone and alcohol flavors. The raisins in the nose come thru here with a fury, and with brown sugar and granola. I really don't dig this profile.

Thin with heavy carb. Semi dry finish.

This beer is substantially more disappointing than I had expected. I really am hit and miss with Weyerbacher, but this is not appropriate for my mouth.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 09:25:59 | More by harrymel

alkemy

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Out of a 12oz. bottle…

A- Dark brown with some ruby highlighting. Virtually no head, but does leave some sticky lacing down the glass.

S- Strong with candied cherries and grapes. Also smells of brown sugar, toffee, and molasses. I’m not really getting honey in the nose.

T- Wow, the sweetness is almost overwhelming at first. However, the bitterness kicks in to help balance things out. Also quite nutty in the middle with some caramel. The honey really sticks with you after the swallow. It really dominates following the swallow.

M- Medium body with carbonation just south of medium.

D- While the alcohol isn’t overbearing, the strong sweetness and overall richness of the beer make it a one bottle per sitting beer for me. Good nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 21:57:32 | More by alkemy

perrymarcus

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle served in a snifter.

pours a mahogany tone while yielding a 1" beige head that fades somewhat quickly into a thin cap, collar around the glass. some patchy lacing.

malt-forward nose offers notes of fruit, roasted malt, and honey.

flavor comes through with caramel malt, some roastiness, and honey. big honey presence strong throughout, easily the most honey i've ever picked up in a beer. medium bodied mouthfeel with average carbonation.

overall, it's a good braggot, as far as braggots go... in my limited experience with braggots i'm seeing that i'm not especially fond of them. still, it's a decent brew... won't seek it out again but wouldn't refuse one, either.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 05:31:09 | More by perrymarcus

horshack7

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: This one is very dark brown with a head that is off white to beige.

Aroma: Mint, honey, faint licorice. A slight bit of of toffee, brown bread, twinges of pepperiness. Raisns towards the back.

Taste: At first sip certainly has honey in the front with raisins tossed in. Brown bread makes it self known amongst the flavors. The mouthfeel is a little bit chewy. At the end there is quite a rush of black licorice to top it off.

Notes: An incredible beer such a great style oh did mention this beer is dam tasty. This one is a very good pick up and very drinkable. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 00:37:25 | More by horshack7

tewaris

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Lucifer snifter.

Pours the clear garnet color of a Quadrupel, with a moderate bubbly tan head. Good retention, medium lacing. Smells strongly of honey, and I like it. Drinks sweet with hints of dark bitterness. Definite notes of honey and yeast.

The finish is mildly tannic, and the booze is present. Richness of dark fruit and dried peel --- frankly, this reminds me of Rochefort 10, say what you may! Either my palate is shit, or this beer is way underrated. I read some reviews and the major complaints are off-putting booziness and unwanted esters. Classic "fermentation gone wrong"? Well, I don't get any of it. In my very humble opinion, except for 6, 8, and 10, this is the only beer I have had that evokes similar feelings as Rochefort does!

4, 4, 4.5, 4, 4.5

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 10:19:39 | More by tewaris

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #54 (July 2011):

Nearly 1,500 pounds of honey per batch ... “sweet sixteen,” no doubt. Thin tan lacing dresses the top of the dark, inviting brew. Booze-soaked blackberries and cherries, nougat, vinous twang and faint mint show off a pretty complex aroma. Malty with a solid edge of honey. Modest hopping lets the peppery alcohol take a stab at balancing the sweetness. Brown bread, golden raisins and hermit cookies come to mind. Sweet finish, but nothing cloying about it as the taste buds try to break down the complex alcohols. Sip and savor ... let this ale warm up to cellar temperature, and it becomes a treat.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 02:44:30 | More by BeerAdvocate

TMoney2591

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

Thanks to naugros and YaKnowBrady for the love!

Never come across a "dark braggot" before, but I'm definitely huckleberry enough to try one! Just my game... It pours a dark ruby-sienna topped by a finger or so of dark-ish dusty ecru foam. The nose comprises dark wheat, toffee, light raisin, light honey, clove, and brown sugar. The taste brings in more of the same, along with some mandarin orange syrup and a stronger sense of the wheat, leading to a bit of a bready sensation (sorta rye bread-like). The body is a light-leaning medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a lightly syrupy feel. Overall, a very nice brew, one that shows that innovation (even if it's only slight) is still alive and coming out with some fine finished products.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 04:42:49 | More by TMoney2591

coalcracker

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark ruby red to black, nearly opaque in color. Carbonation and head minimal with this pour.
Smell: Fruity and sweet aroma. Perhaps a little honey as well.
Taste: Very sweet and fruity with deep tones of dark fruits, oak, light spice and honey. A bit medicinal- somewhat reminiscent of a Hall's drop. This taste persists straight through to the end of the tasting. Alcohol, while evident, is nonetheless fairly well-hidden for the ABV.
Mouthfeel: Tingly on the palate. Medium-bodied with a dry finish.

Overall: Unique and complex in character- quite off the beaten path. Not bad- definitely a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 02:37:33 | More by coalcracker

kirok1999

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear garnet with a nice, lingering off white head. Smells like overripe apples, cherries and grapes. Tastes much the same. The honey comes through well in the taste, raisins, slight chocolate twinge with a dry and lingering finish. This goes really well with a nice cheddar. Mouthfeel is a little thin.
Overall a nice braggot.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 02:33:35 | More by kirok1999

BigMike

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Black with brown around the edges. Not much head at all.

S: Black licorice. Dates,figs,raisins carmalized.

T: Honey covered licorice. Dark sticky fruits. Molasses, raisins dates. Light coffee notes.

M: Big thick mouthfeel. Coats the mouth with a sticky sweetness. Good carbonation.

Overall: My first braggot style beer. Very sticky and sweet which is what it is. So, going by style it;s not bad.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 21:12:11 | More by BigMike

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a stemmed tulip: Dark-ass body, let's just call it black, with just a few ruby highlights. Just a thin covering of tan head with some tenacious bubbles & a little lace around the rim. Looks promising, for sure.

Richly sweet & fruity in the nose, like cooking apple butter or some other dark fruits with sugar. Honey's very prominent at first but recedes a little & makes way for the fruits. Starts off "damn" & turns into "nice", doesn't hold its awesomeness but still pretty good.

Again, fruits are there in the flavor, moreso prune/plum & a little fig. Some cooked sugar, & I was about to say it hides the booze well, but then in it came - not harsh & hot, but definitely a guest at the table. If I didn't know better, I'd even say there were some baking spices at work here, as it's got that kind of "holiday warmth" element. The more it warms, the more grape jelly comes out.

Surprisingly light-bodied for its flavor & smell profile, which is not to say it's light-bodied. Goes down pretty smooth, a little heat from booze, a little stickiness.

Good stuff here, if not quite as elevated as the first few whiffs seemed to promise. Ended up landing much closer to a quad than I would've expected - not that there's anything wrong with that. I still feel like I haven't gotten a real good handle on the style, as the three examples I've tasted have been remarkably different from one another. Still, a damn good beer & one I'd be inclined to have again.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 18:33:19 | More by OneDropSoup

oberon

North Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

To my best recollection this is only the second braggot style ale I have had.Poured into an oversized wine glass a deep ruby color with a thinner head atop,great rich color here.Like most Weyerbacher "big" beer it smells hot and alcoholic,big caramel sweetness in there as well.Whoo it was hot on the palate,a true sipper with some stone fruit and honey malt sweetness,again hot and sweet.Well for a nightcap it wasnt bad but its to sweet for me to drink much of it.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 19:18:27 | More by oberon