Thomas Jefferson's Tavern Ale (Bourbon Barrel Aged) - Yards Brewing Co.

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Brew Works' Bourbon, Beer, & Bryson Fest...
Appeared a hazy, light amber with a small white cap that slowly fades away. Tiny speckles of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of bourbon, vanilla, notes of applewood, biscuit, caramel, toffee, and a tiny bit of citrus.
Taste is of the aromas with standout bourbon explosion...possibly from the aging on a used Woodford Reserve barrel? A nice caramel, toffee, and lightly spiced apple flavor found in the finish.
Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied, warming, and very good as an after dinner sipper for a nightcap.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2010 21:06:16 | More by weeare138

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on draft at Liberty Taproom, poured into a 10 ounce goblet.

A: Golden honey brown colored body, fairly clear with only a bit of haze. Atop sits a small white head that did dissipate quite rapidly, leaving behind a very thin cap and ring. For not having much of a head it does leave behind really clingy, sticky lacing on the walls.

S: Bourbon, yeast, wet wood, peppery spices and faint pale malts. Well, it's not very aromatic that's for sure. I think the bourbon definitely is the most dominate but there's nothing else here to really break it up.

T: Huge warming bourbon from the front of the palate all the way into the swallow. It lasts through and through, and unfortunately overshadows the other flavors trying to come through. What does appear are some woody notes again, hints of vanilla and a spicy yeast element. You better like bourbon if you're going to drink this beer.

M: Quite bubbly with active carbonation, medium-bodied. Finishes quite hot in the throat from the bourbon notes.

On the one hand, I really like this beer because of the big bourbon presence, but on the other, it doesn't taste like it's done authentically. To me, this tastes more like they poured in some straight bourbon to the beer instead of actually barrel aging it. I would have loved more of a rich, complex flavor profile you normally get with barrel aging (vanillas, tannins, wood). Don't get me wrong, those were present but the brash alcohol from the bourbon through the nuances to the wind.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2011 13:58:09 | More by ShanePB