Real Heavy - Real Ale Brewing Company

elNopalero

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on draft. Pours a rich, luscious caramel color. Malty aromas and a big malt profile. It’s chewy, with a nice finish that leaves me wanting more. Heavy? Not necessarily, but definitely a big boy of a beer. (Update: it's stronger than I realized--but it hides it's alcohol well. I had no idea it was nearing 10%) A limited release that I wish I saw more of.

12/2011 update: After a year’s aging a vanilla sweetness comes out that wasn’t present before. A nice surprise.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2011 17:33:43 | More by elNopalero

JeffSuttonTX

Texas

3/5  rDev -22.9%

03-10-2013 20:56:48 | More by JeffSuttonTX

FrizWhiz

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

01-23-2013 04:30:03 | More by FrizWhiz

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

12-17-2012 01:12:02 | More by t0rin0

JohnBender

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.8%

06-04-2012 21:18:28 | More by JohnBender

Texasfan549

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.8%

03-01-2012 07:48:21 | More by Texasfan549

Kornoms

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -10%

03-01-2012 04:38:17 | More by Kornoms

akmcc

5/5  rDev +28.5%

02-11-2012 20:49:11 | More by akmcc

Stoffel

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.8%

01-06-2012 20:15:54 | More by Stoffel

duff247

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.8%

12-18-2011 07:14:47 | More by duff247

drummermattie02

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

12-07-2011 23:19:34 | More by drummermattie02

kjkinsey

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

12-04-2011 23:09:45 | More by kjkinsey

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

hickory brown with a very cloudy and hazy consistency to it. Not bad overall, I could see some carbonation, barely making it out through the haze. Very nice looking indeed.

deep malty backbone was starting to push through. Lots of sweet notes taking over on this one, with hints of caramel, vanilla and nice earthy grains starting to come to the front. Definitely, some wood somewhere in its history as the aroma of oak was huge on this one. Lots of caramel and vanilla starting to take shape here, really lightning it up and make it that much sweeter

Serving type: growler

12-04-2011 05:00:11 | More by mikesgroove

bbadger

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.8%

11-28-2011 03:52:01 | More by bbadger

bentwookie

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.8%

11-14-2011 17:33:00 | More by bentwookie

StoneBrewFanatic

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap @ Uncle Billy's in Austin

A - Pours a cloudy amber to dark brown in color with just a thin head that dissipates quick and almost no lace.

S - Deep caramel malts, butterscotch, raisins, scotch whiskey, dark cherries and spice.

T - Deep malts, caramelized sugars, molasses, butterscotch, scotch whiskey, bitter hops, spice, and a touch of booze.

M - Well rounded and nicely balanced.

D - I could drink plenty of this and was a little sad it was served in a mini-pint class.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2011 23:40:01 | More by StoneBrewFanatic

Mora2000

Texas

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

Sampled on tap at the Freetail-Real Ale barrel-aged festival in San Antonio. This was the 2009 version. I don't believe the regular Real Heavy was brewed in 2010. Only the barrel-aged version, The Highlander, was brewed this year.

The beer pours an amber color with a white head. The aroma is sweet caramel malt with some alcohol. The flavor is caramel, dark cherries, brown sugar and a little of alcohol. I remember this beer being more boozy so I think the year of aging helped mellow the beer out, which is good in my opinion. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2010 00:53:02 | More by Mora2000

glid02

Georgia

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

On-tap at the Flying Saucer in San Antonio, TX.

Pours a hazy chestnut brown color with a one-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of deep caramel malts with good amounts of spiciness and hints of brown sugar and butterscotch. As the beer warms the caramel malt influence increases a bit and the aroma sweetens.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Sweet caramel malts with hints of toastiness kick things off. Quickly joining in are mild amounts of spiciness along with hints of nuts and butterscotch. The nuttiness and butterscotch carry through to a mildly bitter ending that manages to leave a bit of sweetness lingering on the palate.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with grainy carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall I continue to find that this is not my favorite style by a decent stretch but I could certainly appreciate one this well done. Worth a shot, especially if a fan of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2010 02:13:17 | More by glid02

jwillcourt

Texas

3.65/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap into a goblet pint glass.

A - Cloudy, golden caramel color. There is a 1/8 inch, fine, white head with good retention. It settles into spotty foam after more than five minutes. There is little to no lacing.

S/T - Smells strongly of sweet malt, toffee, and whiskey. Taste follows the smell. Lots of sweet malt up front. It tastes a bit like salted caramel in the middle. The finish is only slightly bitter and very boozy.

M/D - Medium- to full-bodied with soft carbonation. It feels honeyed and sticky. The alcohol is more prevalent in the nose and taste than the mouthfeel. This is on the sweeter side, and the alcohol is not hidden, so it isn't something you would keep drinking all night. It is a nice sipper, a good dessert beer, and very pleasant on this cold winter night.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2010 01:22:57 | More by jwillcourt

johnnytfresh245

Missouri

4.15/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured a nice rich amber color with little head that didn't stick around for too long. The smell is really nice with a comforting sweet carmelized sugar thing going on. The taste is a little o. The sweet side and to be ideal it would have a bit more bitterness to balnce it. The mouthfeel was nice and thick which adds to the cold weather appeal for me. I would love to have one of these with footof snow on the ground and no place to be.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2009 21:20:23 | More by johnnytfresh245

DeathbySexyBT

Texas

3.8/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Murky brownish leather color capped by a khaki head and very little lacing.

S: Very complex smell that grows as it warms. I caught: raisins, scotch, dark cherries, cedar, and hop spice.

T: In light of the aromatic ballet, the taste comes across as a bit of a let-down. Sure you have the burnt sugars, toffee, and bitter hops. The smell versus the taste reminds me of movies where the previews just build you up to expect so much and then you sit through it only to realize it was just another Michael Bay film. Anyways, the taste is good, but not what you expect given the smell.

M: A bit over-carbonated. Crisp and warming.

D: The alcohol will creep up on you. I like this beer. I do not know how to phrase the 'taste' section in a manner that doesn't sound like I am bashing it. I like the taste. I just...well you read it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2009 14:40:36 | More by DeathbySexyBT

jujubeast6000

Texas

3.33/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed 5/23/2009 (Draft at Flying Saucer, Houston,TX):

Pours a darkish brown colored body, amber murky in color. With an average white colored head. Has an alcoholy sweet aroma, fruity like strawberries. Sweet taste, like strawberries. Not a lingering sweetness. Not sickly sweet.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2009 22:46:31 | More by jujubeast6000

wagenvolks

Texas

3.83/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Fairly sure this should be listed as a Scotch/Wee Heavy Ale...Poured on-tap at the Whip-In, Austin (I find myself loving this beer store more and more every time I visit!).

Served in a 20oz. Guinness pint, Real Heavy takes on a crisp, burnt russet hue that fades to copper in the light. A lively carbonation level for sure, but the light tan head isn't much to marvel at. The aroma, however, is phenomenal, with a plethora of sweetened dark cherries leading the way, followed by some tart acidity, wood, scotch, and a hint of citric hops.

Sadly, the flavor is nowhere near what the aroma has led me to expect. Starts off with a hint of toasted toffee malts and brown sugar, quickly giving way to a scotch booziness and bitter, almost acerbic hop bite. Finishes dry and highly-carbonated, even after the beer sits for a good twenty minutes. The crisp, medium body is still a treat, and finishes slightly sticky with a good dose of booze. All in all, a solid Scotch Ale from the good folks out of BLANCO (:D), Texas. Looking forward to Real Ale's other seasonal releases.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2009 23:15:47 | More by wagenvolks

thirdeye11

Texas

2.2/5  rDev -43.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1

Got this at the Dallas Gingerman.

A: Pours a decent looking dark red color, almost no head, and no lacing on the glass. Nothing too special here.

S: Smell is a little molasses, toffee, roastiness, and some other unidentifiable sweet smell. I'm not impressed, but don't hate it either.

T: I really disliked this one. Way too bitter and the sweetness was there to "balance" it but it wasn't balanced at all. It was really just gross. The roast was like burnt toast and I didn't enjoy this one at all. I paid for it, but I drank only about 20% before the waitress took it away at my request.

M: Carbonation was a little light, could use more creaminess, but overall solid.

D: I couldn't finish it so I have to give this the lowest score possible. Too heavy like a syrup, too much roast, too much sweetness, no balance here whatsoever.

Not recommended to anyone. The waitress seemed surprised but I just hated it.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2009 23:13:38 | More by thirdeye11

breity

Utah

4.03/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at the Flying Saucer in Houston out of a tulip glass (the only beer they didn't serve me with a piece of fruit pre-wedged into the glass, thank God).

A: As soon as I saw it in its tulip glass in front of me, I knew I was in for something special. Dark brown transluscence with a nice pinky-width of head. Holding it up to the light shows inviting bubbles. A thing of beauty.

S: As well as the malts, there was a fruity scent I couldn't place, which kind of worried me, since fruit isn't usually something I associate with wee heavies.

T: Ooooh yeah... my worry was unfounded. This is malt all the way with some hop on the end so you don't gag. In other words, wee heavy perfection. There's another flavor in there too, maybe toffee (as others have noted) or heather? It's not at all dominant, but instead provides a nice flavor blend to the malt. After my first drink, I looked down at the glass and chuckled deliciously. This earned me some bemused stares, but I couldn't help it -- this was that good.

M: It's a wee heavy. It coats your tongue, sticks around, and lets you get to know it. It exits your palette as politely as it comes.

D: Well, so long as my brain works, I can't drink more than one or two of these and drive away from the bar any time in the next few hours. However, it is one easy-to-drink wee heavy. It also gives you a nice warm glow, which is where you'll first notice the alcohol. So, quite drinkable, but woe unto those who put back several of these and then try to get up.

Summary: Woo hoo! Now bottle it already!

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2008 19:56:42 | More by breity