Schlafly Special Reserve - Bourbon Barrel Ale - Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Tap Room

jdklks

Nevada

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

the bottle claims that its a mix between a pale ale and a barleywine... a strong ale? an almost transparent dark orange body is accompanied by an off-white head that has NO retention, and leaves little trace of its ever having existed in the first place. i think i pour it too cold. the aromas are trapped. the barrel aging is as apparent in the woody smell as it is in the bourbon smell, that is, they are of equal strength, which is quite interesting. There is a hint of fruits, especially green apple, beneath the imprint of the barrel-aged characteristics.

the taste is very interesting, to say the least. good, and interesting. VERY woody. in fact, the bourbon only serves to make the wood flavor much sweeter than it would otherwise be, and it is very sweet. there is, as predicted by the smell, a nice green apple flavor that reminds me of well-made apple cider. This is certainly a good beer. i am just having difficulties figuring it out. interesting.

mouthfeel is as expected. very decent, though nothing particularly outstanding. medium bodied, and well carbonated. i dont think ill be breaking into my other bottle of this tonight because it is much to sweet to stomach more than 12 ounces, but im definitely glad that i get to experience it again. a solid B+, and one the more interesting beers you'll ever try.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2009 05:49:30 | More by jdklks

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-19-2013 04:16:02 | More by williamjbauer

Beertroop

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +17.5%

05-13-2013 23:53:21 | More by Beertroop

Rob315

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-13-2013 20:42:58 | More by Rob315

dalepryor

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-07-2013 21:49:34 | More by dalepryor

BigJim5021

Indiana

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-04-2013 08:38:11 | More by BigJim5021

DavidRose

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%

02-27-2013 18:54:44 | More by DavidRose

jsurfs82

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +11%

02-23-2013 23:57:11 | More by jsurfs82

drummermattie02

Texas

2/5  rDev -47.8%

02-18-2013 03:23:53 | More by drummermattie02

KYGunner

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Tons of carbonation lead to tall head that eventually congeals into a thick creaminess. The color is a perfect pale ale mahogany/red/orange hue.

The scent is simple enough; oakey bourbon, strong but smooth. The taste follows the nose with bourbon tones but a touch of lemon in the end. The bourbon wins out but it's a high quality bourbon barrel, it would seem.

The feel is a little fizzy but it begins to iron out near the end. If your a real fan of this type of ale than this is a must have.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 03:31:45 | More by KYGunner

beer2day

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Neck says special release, a blend of their barleywine and pale ale aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels. Bottled 10/17/12

Deep orange pour with 2 fingers of tan head. Not much retention. Nice lace strands.

Nose is an interesting mix of barleywine and bourbon. Ripe sweet cherries and English hops.

Expecting a strong bourbon flavor from the nose, but actually quite mellow. Bit of that cherry sweetness. The bourbon plays nice against the lighter malt body. Gets a bit syrupy towards the end. Bit of hop bite in the finish, but barleywine flavor really takes over.

Overall, pretty well done and probably worth trying if you are into barrel aged beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 01:32:09 | More by beer2day

neckbracesub

Indiana

4/5  rDev +4.4%

01-27-2013 13:26:49 | More by neckbracesub

chakadrum

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

01-10-2013 03:25:13 | More by chakadrum

Ohiovania

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Apparently its a blend of Schlafly Barleywine and their Pale Ale aged in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels.

Looks a hazy amber. Bourbon and vanilla pour out immediately as it hits the glass. You get some ripe acidic fruits as well as alcohol in the nose too. Kinda clashes a little before becoming cohesive at the end of the nose.

The blend is a success by all means. Very low bitterness but well balanced. The ripe fruits, bourbon, vanilla, and slight alcohol all compact well.

Finishes wet with a subtle dryness.

10.99 a sixer - Party Town - Florence, KY

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 02:13:17 | More by Ohiovania

Oester16

4.25/5  rDev +11%

12-22-2012 15:16:41 | More by Oester16

Robdrinx

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

12-14-2012 22:17:07 | More by Robdrinx

Dapperticus

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +24%

12-09-2012 02:36:06 | More by Dapperticus

MrBoh

Maryland

2.5/5  rDev -34.7%

12-08-2012 06:01:06 | More by MrBoh

Hellblazer

4.75/5  rDev +24%

11-18-2012 16:01:15 | More by Hellblazer

MaseFace

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

11-17-2012 04:55:16 | More by MaseFace

secondtooth

Indiana

3.05/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This blending of barrel-aged barleywine and pale ale pours a murky amber, with a thick head of off-white suds. Lovely wisp of delicate lace, too.

Nose is complex, hinting at the bourbon barrel characteristics (vanilla), but this is dominated by a toffee and caramel maltiness (indubitably the barleywine). Needs more of the bourbony, oaky, vanilla vibe methinks.

Taste is a weird mix, as with the aroma. The boozy bourbon vanilla and charred oak is muted by a fruity character (again, the barleywine speaks loudest here). Though certainly not a bad beer, this one just lacks a more cohesive melding of tastes and styles.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 18:26:55 | More by secondtooth

bzach

Indiana

4/5  rDev +4.4%

10-21-2012 04:48:18 | More by bzach

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

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

12 Oz bottle poured into a snifter

A- Pours extremely hazy brown with hints of orange. A one finger off white head. Some alcohol legs in this one.

S- A lot of light bourbon notes. There is good deal of oak and vanilla. A little caramel. A super sweet smelling beer.

T- A surprising bitterness up front. Not very strong but unexpected. A sugary sweetness sweeps over. There is a ton of light caramel and toffee in this beer. The Bourbon is not too strong but provides nice flavors. There is a good bit of vanilla, rye and corn mash, a slight sourness, not as much wood flavor as I would like to see. Buttery biscuits.

M- Tons of feel to this beer, quite syrupy and smooth. Slight alcohol feel.

O- This is a pretty awesome brew, I may buy more to see how it fares with some age.

Also I don't know how this beer doesn't list an ABV. To be honest im surprised its legal to do so. Judging by the alcohol legs and feel of the beer its between 8-8.5% but who's to say.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 01:29:35 | More by TwelveOunces

Duff27

Illinois

2.63/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Bottles 12/09/2011

A- Short off-white head on a nearly opaque pinkish-hued red colored body. Leaves a collar. Pleasant looking beer.

S- Strange barrel aromas on this one. Fake vanilla, wood, cinnamon, weird fruit smells.

T- Woody cherries, coughdrop-esque. Hops factor in there somewhere. Almost has a wild ale tart feel to it for some reason, hmmm. Would guess this around 9%abv.

M- Medium mouthfeel, medium carbonation.

D/O- Very different. A lot of flavors going on here, I struggle to call this "complex" though. I wonder if this is what Schlafly was shoot for by mixing their barleywine with their bourbon barrel aged pale ale because that sounds delicious. I just didn't care for this one much.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 03:18:12 | More by Duff27

redblacks75

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

09-01-2012 13:06:18 | More by redblacks75