Stoudt's Barrel Aged Old Abominable - Stoudts Brewing Co.

rallison

California

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Highly carbonated with a 3" tan head on 1" of reddish brown beer.

Nose is full of vanilla and whiskey notes. So far, nice.

Sweet vanilla, whiskey and dried fruits in the taste. Dates and raisins. Some brown sugar. Pleasant alcohol heat at the end.

Super carbonated mouthfeel. Swirl this a few times and then a few more times so that you can actually appreciate the flavors present.

Nicely done whiskey barrel aged beer. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2010 07:10:45 | More by rallison

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.8%

05-13-2013 18:45:10 | More by Slatetank

IPAchris

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.8%

04-05-2013 22:25:29 | More by IPAchris

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

02-25-2013 04:48:43 | More by t0rin0

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

01-18-2013 01:47:07 | More by yourefragile

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%

01-13-2013 22:38:28 | More by spycow

Robdrinx

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%

11-21-2012 23:41:48 | More by Robdrinx

JohneHoodlum

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.8%

09-01-2012 19:49:09 | More by JohneHoodlum

nmann08

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-24-2012 19:13:09 | More by nmann08

JohnK17

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -16.7%

04-02-2012 01:38:48 | More by JohnK17

gigoat

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

03-02-2012 18:13:08 | More by gigoat

shamrock1343

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I have had this bottle since Xmas 2010. Stoudts is a great stop after going to Hershey.

Nice copper color with a great nice white foam head.

A nice barley smell.

The barley at first with a nice hop finish.

A nice smooth mouthfeel

This is a great English Barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 00:30:29 | More by shamrock1343

noel2977

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -28.6%

01-13-2012 02:03:08 | More by noel2977

mdfb79

New York

5/5  rDev +19%

12-15-2011 16:55:56 | More by mdfb79

MaltRoomAssoc

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.8%

12-11-2011 15:15:01 | More by MaltRoomAssoc

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.72/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

dark brown color with some light highlights of orange and red around the edges. Small off white head rises up and settles quickly with only minimal lacing and a bare top is left after only a few minutes. Aroma is rich, caramel, toffee, light hops and hints of oak all coming through fairly easily. Nice balance here but not getting that overwhelming barrel aged aroma I was hoping for. Warming does not do much now either as it just seems to bring in more of the hop and hints of boozy alcohol. Light carbonation masks the medium body and leaves the flavor to work its magic now. Smooth, even malts are stealing the show. Rich caramel and earthy tones round out a lightly hot flavor. Almost a popcorn like flavor coming through for me mid palate, buttery and creamy with a boozy finish that was slightly dry

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 06:26:38 | More by mikesgroove

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -4.8%

11-25-2011 19:55:50 | More by JAHMUR

CrellMoset

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL corked and caged bottle courtesy of urwutuh8, vintage unknown - 2007, perhaps? Thanks! Poured in to a snifter.

Appearance: A foggy, smoky ruby, crystalline, not hazed but dark enough that it's practically impenetrable. Direct light - you know, like, with a flashlight - reveals numerous streams of dancing bubbles, lively and frisky, racing up with such an energy that they don't even bother following the path of least resistance up the sides of the glass, instead zipping straight to the surface with the utmost haste. Lacing on the sides of the glass leaves a little to be desired, clinging in only a few places and then only halfheartedly.

What's most remarkable about this beer, however, is the height at which the head levels out to and how long it stays at that height. From an initial peak of about two inches, this one began to gurgle and foam downwards, and I assumed it would fade quickly in to oblivion as so many high-abv%/barrel-aged barleywines do. Not this one. Settling down in to a gorgeous one finger of sandy, raw ecru, the surface of the crown is fine and uniform but not without its imperfections, sort of how a freshly fallen snowfield looks on the coldest of mornings. I presume it's being continuously replenished by four years of pent up carbonation in a thinned out body, but: 1) I can't tell due to the opacity of the body, and 2) who cares? It looks great.

Aroma: Plums, raisins, cherries, all glazed in an abnormally springy brown sugar and macerated with 30-year-whiskey. A very cola-like nose, equal parts prune juice and Dr. Pepper, with hints of vanilla, cocoa, stone fruit, coconut, and cinnamon oil mingling with herbal hops and wet cardboard oxidation.

Taste: Dry and vinous, malty and fruity, spicy and smooth, this is a beer of contrast and dichotomies. This one's all over the place in a good way (that's another way of saying it's complex). First, speaking to style, it's decidedly English - strong fruityness, roasted and toasted malts, and a lightly bitter and herbal hop backing provide a great palette for the whiskey. But more on that in a moment.

The malt base is dry but robust: glassy, dark toffee is halfway between caramel and toast and bookended by both of the aforementioned, along with hints of raw and brown sugar. The fruit sugars are even more fantastic - the interplay between yeast esters, hops, and malt sugars gives suggestions running the gamut and hitting every stop in between. Plum, apricot, cherries, and the slight tartness of figs are some of the most prominent notes, but definite raisins bring up the rear. Sherry-like oxidation weaves in and out of the fruit notes as well as the whiskey and barrel overtones, a masterful if inadvertent side effect of aging this one for what I believe to be about four years now. The barrel adds plenty of vanilla and coconut, though the spice, heat, and burn of the whiskey has certainly faded with age - it's now a well-refined tingle, with the spice mingling well with the aforementioned flavors. It's almost cola-like at points, maybe reminiscent of root beer

Mouthfeel: A little overcarbonated at the beginning and a little undercarbonated near the end for too long, this one spends a little too small a block of time in that nice sweet spot. The body itself is generally not that sticky, fairly well attenuated, with a tad hint of slick oilyness contributed by the hop addition, perhaps. I imagine it's also thinned out slightly by the barrel contribution.

Drinkability: An interesting bag. My one biggest complaint was that - after 4 years - despite what this one had gained in mellow smoothness and maturity, it had lost a lot of its bang, its flavor, its panache. It's at a good point now, though I'm not sure it's at a great one, and I can't tell in which direction it ought to improve (i.e., if it's past its prime or coming in to it). I'm inclined to say past its prime, due to the relative lack of intensity contributed by the whiskey and the slight oxidation and high attenuation of the base beer. As it stands, it's a 9% abv English barleywine - with no hint of heat, and only slight spiciness and hints of estery alcohol notes suggesting its true alcohol content - that's not all about the whiskey, though it may have at one time been. If you got 'em, I'd say drink 'em now - it's likely not dropping downhill quickly (as it's still quite good), but it may get there eventually.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 06:24:11 | More by CrellMoset

rtepiak

Poland

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

a pretty textbook english barley wine. Pour of a murky amber brown brew with a small head. A finger of off caramel head. Nose of bit-o-honey, pollen, malt, and brown sugar. The palate is nice and malty sweet and a nice lemon zest tart. A nice blend that doesn't get separated alcohol/malt liquor.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2010 03:33:46 | More by rtepiak

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.4/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A snifter filled (several times over) from a 750ml bottle; I pulled this from the dusty clutches of the cellar, a bottle saved for 3+ years from one of my earliest trades. Needed a strong SEPA brew to soften the shocking blow that comes with learning that one of my best friends from high school died today (he was killed by a car while riding his bike in his adopted hometown of Philly ~ a toast to Russ).

The goofy 'Abominable' cartoon made me smile on an otherwise somber day...

A: Lovely and leathery, an alluring chestnut/garnet, barely translucent. No signs of yeasty bits nor other fatigue from the years in captivity. Starts with about a finger of fizzy but firm khaki cream. A slow droop, then a small break in the topping, then a crescent ring. Slick speckles of lace.

S: Sweet and nutty, toffee and candied fruit - er, fruitcake. A 'buttered rum' quality, but little notable woody/oaky aroma.

T: The requisite toffee, mellowed fruit form a dreamy, dessert-worthy concoction. A little butterscotch (or creme brulee?). Fruity apple pie, something a little brandy-like. Oak, though tame, still holds a fair vanilla bean and charred woodiness. Very well balanced.

M: Velvet, pure velvet...sweetly coating. Modest carbonation and trace amounts of lip-smacking stickiness. Medium thickness. Easy on the tongue, as they say...

D: Love the beer, hate the occasion for opening it. Definitely worth saving, as it's damn delicious and oh so drinkable. Wish I had another; cherish it while you can. That goes for beer and life, both.

Thanks to zrrbrrt/jyoungsbcp, aka Josh for sending way back when...

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2010 03:26:13 | More by msubulldog25

AgentZero

Illinois

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

A - Dirty brown with a little reddish tint. Big head with left a little bit of lacing behind.

S - Caramel, toffee, sweetness. The barrel aging is evident in some vanilla notes.

T - Woody barrel influence comes through strongly with strong vanilla and bourbon taste comes through and then is mixed nicely with the caramel and sweet malts.

M - Medium bodied with good carbonation. Feels a little sugary.

D - Fairly drinkable, although I find barleywines get hard to do fast.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2010 03:30:01 | More by AgentZero

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.53/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

750ml bottle into a mini-nonic; shared at a tasting.

A: Cloudy brown body with a moderate off-white head that sticks around for a while, eventually forming a nigh-solid cap.

S: Malty and spicy, with caramel, ginger, and raisins. Simple and delectable.

T: Starts out smooth and sweet, gets slightly hoppy, then finishes with smooth spice. Awesome.

M: Medium-full with ample carbonation.

D: Amazingly easy to drink for a barleywine.

Notes: Great beer, but where's the barrel? I didn't get any oak or whiskey at all, try as I might. This fact was only highlighted by drinking a Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Barleywine in the same tasting - both great beers, but you couldn't get farther apart in terms of bourbon influence. Big thanks to Knifestyles for bringing this one.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2010 13:13:24 | More by woosterbill

nickd717

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by someone - don't remember who - at DLD. Thanks to whoever it was.

Pours a clear medium reddish-brown color with a small off-white head.

Aroma is very nice: sweet caramel malts, brown sugar, oak, whiskey, and slight fruity notes.

Flavor is also great. Way better than the non-bal aged version, but then again, what isn't? Barrel aging is the best invention since...I don't know...the Sun or something. Sweet caramel malts and toffee - but not too sweet - with brown sugar, candied dates, coconut, oak, whiskey, and vanilla. Very complex. Just the right amount of barrel.

Medium-full bodied with a smooth mouthfeel and medium-low carbonation.

A great barrel-aged barleywine overall. I am impressed, Stoudt's.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2010 01:40:48 | More by nickd717

mikey711

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a monsterous head that has lots of breaks between bottles leaving big gaps. The beer itself is a murky looking brown, but there is some transparency when held in the light. Also one the head settles there is only a mild amount of lacing left behind

S: At first all i could smell was caramel and toffee without a hint of barrel, but as it warmed a bit more there were nice vanilla notes and a touch of smokiness as well as a nice whiskey boozy aroma. A touch of breadiness is also present

T: heavy vanilla note to start that is quite agressive and overpowers but of the caramel and toasted flavors. A very nice whiskey flavor is present as well. A bit more earthy wood presence would have been nice.

M: It has a very nice and smooth feel with no heat present aside from the whiskey. It could be a bit creamier but overall is solid

D: Splitting this bottle is the way to go, but a few glasses would be ok

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2010 23:36:00 | More by mikey711

rhinos00

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Jettanbass9 for hooking me up with this Christmas in July beer! 750mL split amongst four people. Poured into snifters.

A- Pours copper, amber color. Produced a fingers width of off-white, cream colored head. Dissipated pretty quickly. Mild, soap-like lacing.

S- Very, very nice. Combination of various complexities. Big, sweet malt character with hints of dark fruit in the background. A bit of vanilla and toffee come in the mix as well. The whiskey and toffee almost give off a nutty wood like aroma.

T- The taste suffered tremendously from the extremely high carbonation. From what I was able to pick out, the ingredients in the nose were definitely here, just somewhat muted from the carbonation. After 15 minutes of swirling my glass was I finally able to get a glimpse of the full potential of this beer. Had sweet malt background, with a soft vanilla, wood flavor. A touch of whiskey in there as well with some caramel.

M- As stated above, WAY too much carbonation.

D- For such a big beer, the whiskey barrel aspects had mellowed very nicely and gave off nice vanilla flavors. However, the overcarbonation really kept this beer from giving off its full flavor.

Overall, this was a good BA barleywine, but it did have the potential to be great. Sadly, I will most likely never get to find this out.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 16:11:25 | More by rhinos00