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

birchstick

Missouri

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

A - pours a copper color with a nice white head

S - sweet oak and vanilla from the bourbon, caramel malts and toffee

T - the taste off with sweet caramel malts that segues into oakey vanilla bourbon deliciousness. No real hop character is present. It tastes a lot like their barleywine aged in bourbon barrels instead of straight up oak.

M - full creamy mouthfeel - great body

D - as mentioned, this is like their barleywine aged in bourbon barrels - awesome beer for bourbon barrel lovers. I have been really wanting to try this for a long time. I wish they sold this in St Louis (considering that's where it's brewed) because I would buy this everytime I went to the store. Solid stuff.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 03:32:57 | More by birchstick

despainmakesbeer

Kentucky

4.08/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very hazy, medium brownish orange color. No head, very thin ring around edge. Very oaked aroma, with nice toastedness from barrel. Highly carbonated. Very toasty oak flavor. Sweet oaky finish, some sweet from the bourbon on the finish. Some smokiness picked up in the middle of drink. Not much else in flavor to pick out, pretty oaky all the way through. A little dryness on end, but pretty smooth, hides alcohol well.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 16:15:49 | More by despainmakesbeer

orbitalr0x

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A blend of their barleywine-style ale and their pale ale aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels. Pours into my glass a nice deep red orange with a half inch of eggshell head on top that leaves some sticky lacing. Aromas of rich caramel and a mix of fresh fruits. Toffee and loads of malty goodness. Vanilla, oak and bourbon are all well integrated. Bit of hops lingering the background. Nice!

First sip brings smooth caramel malts with fruit, toffee and brown sugar. A nice underlying sweetness carries warm vanilla, oak and a nice ribbon of bourbon as well. A touch of hoppiness on the way down with some bitterness in tow. Well balanced overall and the bourbon accent is just perfect in my opinion.

Mouthfeel is smooth with good carbonation. A bit on the lighter side but that is kind of nice as it makes it more drinkable. Overall, a well blended barrel aged brew. Everything works well and achieves a good balance. Tasty stuff I'm glad I was able to find this one!

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 20:08:27 | More by orbitalr0x

rembrant

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Looks- Pretty. a hazy translucent reddish ale with a nice 2 finger head fading to less than 1 finger,but substantial. off white.

Aroma Caramel, vanilla,something like fresh bread,a touch of nuttiness,but not much of bourbon or barrell.

Taste- The first 2 sips I got a nice caramel-walnut start shifting to a classic hop bitter finish with a bit of lag. I sensed the bourbon more in the throat than on the palate.

I tried to hold the next sip in my mouth a few seconds..and that's when the real show began. First the Caramel-walnut lead,then the hops kick in and then, here's the bourbon to finish. Impressive (and quirky) how it takes 2-3 seconds to display the whole spectrum. Maybe limits this as a "pound down a few" type but once unleashed the bourbon does pick up a bit sooner.
This brew needs you to slow down a bit.
Rather nifty. Bourbon Barrell is not typically done with a red or brown ale. This works because there's body enough,and a contrast from the sweet malts into the bitter hops. the Bourbon lurks as a surprise that's more evident as you drink. It's almost a beer with a built in Bourbon chaser.

I think the oak probably helps the malt side do some nuttiness in the flavors.

Mouth- While this is not really dark malts,whatever was used was enough to give real body,and that 1-2-3 tastebud adventure would probably have floundered if the brew was too thin.
There's proper carbonation to keep good beerness without being a distraction.

Drinkable- Somewhat I have not checked on ABV,seems it could be on the high side. That however,may be more the Bourbon flavor than the actual %. Tasty. Like most Bourbon Barrel Ale or Stout, a bit much to do many in a sitting. Two? Sure.

All in all an interesting and creative take on the barrel.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 17:27:35 | More by rembrant

domtronzero

California

3.28/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Murky brownish orange, big but short lived and quickly dissipating whitish head that quickly fades into a thin ring around the glass.

S - Sweet malts, caramel and toffee. Very toasty. Fruity esters of apricots and other light stone fruits. Oaky.

F/M - Caramel, sweet toffee malts, fruity esters reminiscent of plums and raisins and apricots. Oaky and a little alocholic. Slick and oily full bodied with medium-low carbonation. A little astringent and quite warming in the finish.

D - Ok, but after a few sips I can tell I won't want another after this one. 1 bottle is great, but 2 bottle is too much.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2010 06:51:20 | More by domtronzero

wspscott

Kentucky

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle in Sam Adams glass
bottled on 12/16/09

A: Dark copper/orangish color with a very fluffy, off-white 1-finger head. THe head never completely disappears, and there is a huge amount of lace left behind as it drops.
S: Bourbon, wood, vanilla, no obvious hops or malts, seems somewhat one dimensional.
T: The bourbon is definitely there, but it is not as overwhelming as other bourbon beers. The wood character really comes through. There is a hint of bitter hops, but they are buried far in the background.
M: On the crisp side, lots of carbonation, a nice change from some of the under-attenuated bourbon beers that turn into a sweet mess.
D: A beer that is hard to characterize, the label says a blend of their pale ale and barleywine, not sure what I would call it, but I like it, don't love it. A nice change of pace if you want something with bourbon characteristics, but not a RIS. Not exactly a summer beer, I could easily see reaching for a 2nd if it was fall and I was in front of a campfire. Glad I have a couple more left, at the same time, I am not sure I would buy again. Worth trying if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2010 20:21:14 | More by wspscott

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, bottled on 3/23/10. Pours a slightly cloudy reddish copper color. Off white head fades away pretty quickly, leaving just a thin ring and no lace.

Wonderful nose here. Bourbon, oak, vanilla, caramel and toffee. A bit of ripe fruit comes in as a subtle note.

Very light caramel malt character up front. A bit fruity, mainly ripe, darker fruits. Nice subtle bourbon flavor with minimal heat. Some oak and vanilla. Some citrusy hop notes shine through in the end.

The only knock I have on this beer is that it is thin. There is a good amount of carbonation. Still, this is a very nice beer, and I love the blended idea. Curious on how this will age. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2010 00:49:31 | More by Bierguy5

Beerbythepool

Missouri

4.18/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle to snifter.
I initially tasted this beer in August 2009, but did not review. Put rest of six pack in cellar and got a better result this time.

Nice head of 2.5 fingers and light lacing.

The color is orange to amber with a thunder cloud in the middle of the glass and sediment settling through to the bottom.

Smell- leather and fruit

Taste- leather, vanilla and bourbon is on the front, but oak and wood on the back end.

Mouthfeel- full, coats the mouth, but has some fizz.

The finish is short and I wish it would hang on a little longer.

This was much better than my first taste of the beer and I would say that it is aging well. I will check in on it in another 6 months. Pick some up if you can find it.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 03:33:22 | More by Beerbythepool

JoePat

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque redish brown with an off white head that leaves some lacing behind as it disipates.
There's not a lot of smell to this some bourbon but not a lot.
This beer has a great balance of flavor with nice smooth malt, bourbon, vanilla, and even a little coconut I think.
It has a pretty thin mouth feel but it really is a drinkable beer especially for a bourbon barrel ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2010 02:01:03 | More by JoePat

WeezyBoPeep

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a standard pint glass.

A: Looks like liquid caramel with a light tan head.

S: Amazing sweet caramel malt, floral hops, whiskey and an earthy, woody quality.

T: A hoppy, caramel body is surrounded by less than subtle hints of bourbon whiskey and oak. A light alcohol burn in the finish gives way to a linger, butterscotch tingle all through the mouth. No bitterness at all.

D: Hard to say if I could venture to consume more than three of these. It's just a powerful brew. Went down easy, but not quickly!

Thanks to gemutlichkeit for this awesome extra.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2010 16:32:10 | More by WeezyBoPeep

kels

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Beer pours into my tulip a nice honey-hued amber, like the color of cognac. It is only slightly opaque, and light, delicate carbonation runs throughout. There's only a tiny bit of white skim swirling along the surface of the beer, and little spots of lace barely cling to the walls of the glass.

The aroma has a notable caramel malt. Following that is a distinct copper penny metallic aroma and a bit of honey sweetness. That's about it.

Gotta let this beer warm to really enjoy it. There's a depth of syrupy and caramelly, yet still toasty and crunchy malts and grains that doesn't really present when it's too cold. There's a bit of dark, pruney sweetness and a dry bitterness that comes from the alcohol and the oaky aging from the bourbon barrels. A bit of sweet vanilla and the char of the barrels sneaks out in the aftertaste.

For the style this beer is actually immensely drinkable. The carbonation is very high - almost too high - so that the beer is incredibly light on the palate. The finish is slightly sticky, and holds the flavors well.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 22:59:25 | More by kels

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance - nice caramel amber color. A thin off-white head but with lots of lacing, covering probably two-thirds or more of the glass.

Aroma - has a malty mashy aroma, kind of expected but still nice. On the lighter side.

Taste - good maltiness at the base, with a fine layer of bourbon on top. The oak and vanilla are very tasty without being hot in the least. Bourbon carries the day, all the way to the finish.

Mouthfeel - smooth, lower carbonation, nicely put together.

Drinkability - I wanted to save a couple for aging...that didn't go too well.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2009 03:32:12 | More by brewdlyhooked13

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

mcbSTL

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Last of a 6xer bought on July 4th on visit to Cincinnati OH, approx $10 for 6pack.

One finger head which dissipated quickly, no lacing. Clear deep brown hue.

Caramel. Amaretto. Burnt sugar. This is the beer's best quality.

Just the right amount of Kentucky bourbon presense. Sweet, but not sticky. That oak really stands out here.

Alcohol could be integrated a little better. But this is crisp and carbonated well.

Got a bump from being so inexpensive for the style. This would be a regular if it were available in STL.

This was blind tested with the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale in Cincy. The KBBA came out the winner, but it was close. Nice effort from Schlafly.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2009 05:16:19 | More by mcbSTL

sjccmd

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Being new to the Kentucky area, this six-pack seemed intriguing

Pours a sparkling burnt orange with a red hue. An aggressive pour yields an inch and a half very light tan head that recedes slowly

Smells of citrus, dark fruits vanilla, brown sugar, maple syrup, and alcohol.

The taste begins the same as the smell but finishes with more bourbon character...some dull woody character in the background...

Initially the mouthfeel is nice and slick with some sparkles but as the carbonation dies down, it starts to feel watery.

The alcohol heat and sweetness creep up a bit and the watery mouthfeel interfere with the drinkability but still decent

Overall an interesting beer...but I'm wondering why they blended their barley wine with the pale ale...the pale doesn't seem to add much besides that watery mouthfeel towards the end...the hops don't come out much either

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2009 22:55:51 | More by sjccmd

nanertak

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured 12 oz bottle into pint glass

Appearance: Amber with hints of gold/orange. 1 finger head, decent retention for barrel aged.

Smell: Malty sweet with hints of bourbon. Bit of alcohol in the nose, but not an unpleasant amount. Sweet vanilla, mildly floral (orange blossom), hints of honey.

Taste: Tastes like it smells. The bourbon's more subtle than the smell indicates, a strong background flavor. Not overly sweet, but I get almost no hops. Light malty backbone. Bourbon finish, very nice. Low and lingering vanilla and honey aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation adds a nice fizz that spreads the bourbon over the tongue. Mouthfeel is great in my opinion. Not overly heavy, but round enough that it feels like you're drinking something with some weight to it.

Drinkability: I'd like this on occasion. It's a balanced beer, good sipper. Goes down easy, excellent aftertaste.

Overall: Not mind blowing, but very balanced. Personally I'd like the bourbon to pop a bit more than it does, it seems to fall a little short of the stronger bourbon flavor I'd like. Good beer though.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2009 00:47:41 | More by nanertak

ltjska04

Kentucky

3.65/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the 12 oz bottle into my snifter, this beer is a dark copper color with good clarity but with a head that doesn't last long. At first the smell is mostly of the English hops but reveals more bourbon scent as it warms. The smell is a bit disappointing; I expected more. The taste is also a bit lackluster. I don't get much bourbon, mostly just some malty sweetness. I'm mostly comparing this to Lexington Brewery's Bourbon Barrel Ale which happens to be one of my favorite beers. The flavors with this one just seem to be muted, even after it warms. The mouthfeel is smooth and slightly sticky and I don't know what the abv is, but the alcohol is not very noticeable. Overall this isn't bad but there's other bourbon barrel ales I'd rather be drinking.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2009 01:34:20 | More by ltjska04

bamadog

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Picked up a bottle of this on a recommendation from beerman207, so here goes. Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Pour is a near perfect copper color with about a one finger, thick and oily looking head that fades quickly to a pretty thick and uneven skim floating on the surface; body is moderately clear and shows very slow carbonation creeping up from the bottom; spotty and oily lacing holds to the glass briefly before sliding back into the drink.

Smell: Smell is nice - a ton of caramel or butterscotch malts, hints of vanilla/oak; very rich and sweet smelling, not especially complex but the scents are delicious.

Taste: Much like the smell, there is a blast of those sweet caramel/butterscotch malts, hints of oaky vanilla, , very mild hoppy bitterness and a definite presence of alcohol that manages to come across a little bourbonesque -- not overpowering or overly alcoholic in flavor, a really nice blending.

Mouthfeel: Warm and tingly in the mouth from the alcohol that has a slightly drying effect and there is a mild stickiness left throughout; belly is left especially warm

Drinkability: Very nice flavors and a nice mouthfeel with a taste that isn't burning my throat out, so it's got that going for it... Sadly, the ABV is apparently unknown but I'm definitely feeling it, so I don't think I could sit through too many.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2009 21:52:27 | More by bamadog

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle. Served in a snifter, the beer pours a dark copper color with about an inch off-white head. Head retention is decent, lacing is good. It smells like caramel malt, vanilla, oak and a little bit of hops. The bourbon aroma isn't as strong as I thought it would be. Luckily, the bourbon comes out more in the flavor. I can taste oak, vanilla, caramel malt, toffee and a bit of dark fruit. There's also a lingering bittersweet fruity and bourbony aftertaste. Even though the label says the beer is a blend of barleywine and pale ale aged in bourbon barrels, I didn't pick up a lot of hops in the aroma or taste. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit creamy and has good carbonation. Drinkability is good, it's easy and enjoyable to drink. All in all, I think this is a pretty decent brew. I'd buy this again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2009 23:40:32 | More by bluejacket74

hooliganlife

Missouri

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

pours deep copper with thin white head that retains well. light lacing

mostly bourbon up front with sweet vanilla and caramel malts.

bourbon is very noticeable up front and smooths out. malts are very dominant with caramel and vanilla flavors mixed in. sort of a sweet bourbon aftertaste

decent body although id like to see a bit more carbonation. has a bit of a syrupy feel. other than that, its great.

this was fun and i am excited to see schlafly try something new. i was not expecting the bourbon to be as strong as it was, and that is not a bad thing!

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2009 23:42:20 | More by hooliganlife

Beejay

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A nice copper/oak color, some good head at the pouring, but it has since dissipated.

S: Oak, whiskey, a bit of alcohol.

T: Definitely Bourbon aged. The bourbon comes right to the front, oaky and delicious. Maybe just a hint of licorice. Very smooth, not bitter, and there aren't any off flavors.. Very nice indeed.

M: Plenty of carbonation. Refreshing, and crisp.

D: One I would get again any day. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2009 01:50:18 | More by Beejay

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This Bourbon Barrel Ale is already causing a bit of a stir although it has only been on the Lexington market for one day. There is little information about the beer. The website has no mention of it. But the label reads, " Schlafly bourbon Barrel Ale is a seamless blend of Schlafly Barleywine-style Ale an dour Pale Ale aged in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels. The result is a smooth Bourbon character balanced by caramel malt sweetness and classic English hops." Chatter on the forums suggest that the beer is aged in Jim Beam barrels and will only be available for Kentucky distribution. Who really knows?

The beer begins with a caramelly rich pour with deep copper, golden, amber lights. Brilliant clarity and low carbonation allows the appearance to take on a bright glow. Light on legging and no real lacing to mention. Probably meant for a brandy snifter.

Rich aromas of caramels dominate the nose upfront and rides unimbided throughout the aroma. Vanillans, woods, nuttiness, and hints of cherries and dried fruits make an English style impact. Not as hoppy as expected from reading the label. Still bourbony, boozy notes give a true fingerprint to the beer.

Caramel flavor is equally as rich and dominant upfront in the taste as it was in the nose. Vanilla and esters swirl around in the mouth and create a varying complexity of tastes. Near mid-palate the hops come in with a mild grassy, herbal taste. Though pleasant, the hops give an abrupt distraction from the otherwise sweet-focused bourbon and caramel character.

The mouthfeel gives the impression of heavy sweetness, especially since the low-lying carbonation. But the beer is malty and well attenuated and doesn't leave as much residual sweetness on the palate as the taste would indicate. Very warm from the bourbon barrel aging. Also, the alcohol bite hides behind the hop bitterness at times- playing little games with the back of the throat.

This beer reminds me a lot of the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale producted by Alltech's Lexington Brewing Company. Schlafly takes a better balance between the strong malt character and the bourbon aging and is a stronger beer throughout. But the hops struggle to blend with the delicate bourbon character, causing too much conflict rather than balance.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2009 02:48:07 | More by BEERchitect