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

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

mrfrancis

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

06-18-2013 14:25:58 | More by mrfrancis

zillo043068

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.4%

06-16-2013 03:39:40 | More by zillo043068

Rdc67

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +4.4%

06-06-2013 01:01:02 | More by Rdc67

barczar

Kentucky

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy medium brown with reddish highlights and a dense half inch cream head that lingers.

Nutty, toasted malt dominates the initial aroma, with caramel and boozy notes complementing vanilla and butter.

Flavor reveals vanilla and burnt sugar sweetness, leaning on a toasted, almost roasty malt backbone. Underlying fruity/amber malt notes counter the oaky, bourbon character.

Body is moderate and creamy, with moderate carbonation and significant alcohol warmth.

More fruity and toasty than I recall. The nuttiness dominates. It's a bit hot, but will likely benefit from some aging. A tad cloying, I couldn't drink more than one in a session.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 03:44:47 | More by barczar

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-24-2013 03:11:18 | More by AlexFields

klingenator

Michigan

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-22-2013 03:34:51 | More by klingenator

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