Unplugged Bourbon Barrel Bock - New Glarus Brewing Company

levifunk

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

note: didn't actually have this on tap, I only say that to log a separate review.

Had this for a second time at a small tasting recently. Reviewed from notes.

a - light brown/red. low carbonation and head.

s - bourbon, very tart smell. the tart fruitiness and bourbon is resemblant of the new R&D BB Kriek.

t - bourbon, tart fruit, caramel, vanilla, and some booze.

m - medium body with lower carbonation.

I was very confused why I was picking up tartness from the beer...a bock. I didn't pick it up when I had it earlier this year. I looked up the description on NG website and read this "Wild Brett yeast sings in harmony to the tune of Bock." Now it makes sense. I'd say the Brett is kicking in. If you have a bottle, you can expect that this beer is becoming more wild and the bourbon/caramel flavors will be taking a back seat from here on out.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2010 18:35:03 | More by levifunk

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

4.66/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

In my cellar for awhile, thought it time to see how this one's aging.

A: copper color, slightly cloudy, some head but thin veil
S: deep rich bourbon and vanilla, but not overpowering with malt base, deep and rich
T: somewhat thin in body but good, surprisingly light for 20 plato, malt, no oxidation, good vanilla and bourbon with ever so slight brett, well-made beer
M: incredibly smooth and mellow, well-balanced
O: unique and a pleasure to drink

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 16:20:37 | More by wisrarebeer

cliff1066

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%

12-22-2012 22:43:04 | More by cliff1066

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

11-23-2012 00:24:05 | More by t0rin0

Duff27

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A- Quickly disipating head on a red body. Some lacing left behind.

S- Sort of a sour bourbon aroma.

T- Tart cherries. Bourbon is still there but is muted until the end of each sip.

M- Medium to medium-thin mouthfeel. Below average carbonation.

D/O- Yum, a sipper and great. Has held up if you ask me. Worth seeking out inf you're dedicated to the series. Thanks ruizjoseph!

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 23:05:57 | More by Duff27

EasyReader

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +0.8%

01-22-2012 21:00:24 | More by EasyReader

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy dark ruby/chestnut brown color with mahogany edges and a half finger off-white head that quickly settles into a thin ring. Spotty lacing.

Complex aroma with a prominent barrel character that doesn't overpower the sweet and roasted malt notes. Hints of toasted oak, vanilla and bourbon along with some caramel sweetness, chocolate malt, toffee burnt toast and hazelnut.

Medium bodied with some soft carbonation up font and a well integrated barrel presence that lingers throughout with becoming a booze bomb. Dry toasted oak along with some vanilla and coconut smooth out the sweet bourbon flavor and there are plenty of sweet and roasted malt notes underneath preventing it from becoming one dimensional. Hints of toffee, caramel, hazelnut, dark fruit and choclate as well as some dry, roasted coffee bean. Complex yet very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 03:05:12 | More by corby112

brandoman63

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

11-30-2011 03:21:18 | More by brandoman63

nmann08

Maryland

4/5  rDev +0.8%

11-28-2011 23:07:12 | More by nmann08

dksl16

California

5/5  rDev +25.9%

11-25-2011 20:55:23 | More by dksl16

Photekut

Azerbaijan

5/5  rDev +25.9%

11-17-2011 01:21:18 | More by Photekut

HopHead84

California

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

6/24/2011

Another bottle thanks to Jason.

A: A dark orange color with a white head that's fast fading.

S: Nice caramel and toffee presence with a pleasant amount of bourbon. Bread and a little vanilla. Oxidation is evident but not inappropriate for a near 4 year old beer - faint paper notes with sherry. 

T: Rich toffee with trailing caramel and a nice bourbon presence. This has held up quit well. Smooth and malty with low bitterness.

M: Moderate carbonation and medium body. Mouthfeel is sticky and smooth. 

Overall: This has aged well and is pretty damn good.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 18:00:54 | More by HopHead84

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into snifter.

Pours very little beige head. Color is a clear golden bronze.

Aroma: Bourbon, vanilla, oak, caramel malt. Very warm. Lots of barrel aging shows. An awesome bock.

Taste: Warm bourbon with oak. Vanilla and toffee flavors. Sweet and boozy, but well done.

Mouthfeel: Warm, smooth, and creamy. Medium bodied with a lower amount of carbonation. Ends dry, warm, and malty.

Overall, one of the best bocks I have had. A ton of great flavors and the bourbon really adds a nice layer to it. Pretty drinkable as well.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2010 03:39:19 | More by mothman

GIVEMEBACKMYSON

Alaska

4.13/5  rDev +4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Amber/light root beer color, with clarity and a lively albeit quickly dissipating head, minimal lace.

Smells of raisin bread, oxidized wine, biscuits grape jelly and a shotgun in need of cleaning.

The bourbon barrel aging is the first and loudest notion in this bock, although the bourbon-ness itself has slid into something even sweeter. A goodish amount of that vinous notion in the nose has shone through in the mouth. Ideas of some semi-evaporated port wine come forth. Maple sap that is still a couple hours of reduction away from being syrup. Gooey sticky buns. Alcohol is basically not noticeable.

Thick and slick in the mouth, the CO2 has mostly escaped the beer within 5 minutes of pour.

Plenty drinkable. For any folks still holding on to some of this, here is my recommendation: Split a bottle into two snifters and share with a friend after a good hearty meaty dinner. This can step right in there in place of a good English barleywine as a very nice desert beer.
Glad I laid a couple of these aside in the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2010 19:59:09 | More by GIVEMEBACKMYSON

mdfb79

New York

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From 7/9/10 notes. Had at a local DC tasting.

a - Pours a murky, amber color with no head or visible carbbonation.

s - Smells of bourbon, oak, fruit, and vanilla.

t - Tastes of bourbon, vanilla, and oak.

m - Medium body and low caronation. Easy to drink.

d - A very nice beer with lots of bourbon and vanilla to it. Would like to try again.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2010 18:40:25 | More by mdfb79

Beertracker

Oklahoma

3.88/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

New Glarus UBBB pours up with a light carbonation that creates a low tannish white head that barely rings the slightly dull deep auburn-bistre brown body. The nose is quite complex with a wonderfully inviting rich melanoidin maltiness that's reminiscent of freshly baked Tin Vienna bread. There's just a hint of fruitiness, hop spiciness and a noticeable alcohol with traces of bourbon, oak, tobacco, vanilla and oxidation. The flavor is dominated by a rich, chewy melanoidin maltiness that is marked by a light spicy bitterness. The medium full-bodied finish is a touch syrupy with a cream sherry-like consistency combined with a chewy, grainy complexity. This finely crafted limited release offering from New Glarus puts an interesting twist on a continental favorite and comes highly recommended to all malt lovers. My only regret is not drinking a bottle sooner. Here's to live & "Unplugged!"

CHEERS! Beertracker

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2010 06:28:10 | More by Beertracker

tpd975

Florida

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a amberish hue with a small cream colored head. No real retention and no lace noted.

S: Nice big blast of bourbon, vanilla, and sweet candy like malts.

T: Wonderful almost sour like wood flavor up front. Mild vanilla goes well with toffee, and brown sugar. Light chocolate seems to mingle with hints of dark fruit.

M: On the fuller side of medium, light carbonation, smooth.

D: Drinkable, and pretty damn tasty.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2010 14:57:27 | More by tpd975

nickd717

California

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle via trade thanks to badbeer, consumed on the Caltrain on New Years Eve out of a clear plastic cup (hey, I couldn't risk my good glassware). Looks like this bad boy was released in June 2007, making it 2-1/2 years old. The age has done it well it seems.

Pours a somewhat cloudy brown color with a two-finger beige head and good retention.

Aroma is bourbon, wood, caramel malt, and some vanilla.

Flavor is very nice and complex with lots of caramel and toffee as well as some apparent Munich malt, lots of oaky flavors, vanilla, sherry, and of course bourbon. A little oxidized from age, but I think this helps the beer more than it hurts it. There is also a little bretty tartness in there, which works well.

Medium-full body and smooth on the palate with a great long finish.

Drinkability is good for the style and ABV, which I'm guessing is in the neighborhood of 9%. Really like this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2010 20:38:17 | More by nickd717

maximum12

Minnesota

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

Thanks to eyncognito for letting me lift one of these off of him in a great trade...always fantastic to get a couple of beers you're hankerin' for in a single swoop. Thanks Ian!

Split the 12 oz. bottle with the wife. Barely a pop & little swirl in this two-plus year old bottle (I presume). Deep amber. Smells astoundingly sweet with a subfloor of the barrel.

This Bourbon Barrel Bock tastes dandy. A maelstrom of stuff whirling around in the pint glass. Toffee is on top, with the bourbon coming along close behind. Vanilla & a mite tang of brettish cherry round out the morass, giving it simultaneously a smoothness with a remarkable little jilt at the end. Nice. No idea what this tasted like fresh, but at this age the brewe has integrated everything into a smoothly running Bock. Six ounces aren't enough, but this is a sipper.

Excellent beer. Another great Unplugged, say it ain't so? Is there anything in this series that isn't? Man. Bring this one back, please!

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2009 02:53:20 | More by maximum12

Floydster

California

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle acquired in a trade with mikesgroove, poured into circular bock glass tonight, color is a medium brown, absolutely no head after an aggressive pour, no lacing, a tiny set of bubbles comes up after swirling the glass, aroma consists of bourbon, oak, wheat, vanilla, brown sugar, grains, caramel, and a hint of booze, taste starts off with bourbon, fairly dry but mellow at the same time, some chewier malts in the middle with a bit of sweetness, some mild booze in the finish, almost a bit salty, warms up with some oak in the aftertaste, nice balance of bourbon and malt, dry, slightly sweet, and warming mouthfeel, medium bodied, little to no carbonation, taste lingers a while, liked the way this felt full without being too thick in the body, went down pretty easy and was smooth for the most part, hotness could get to you after a while, drank this bottle and could have gone a little more, not too filling, among one of the better beers from the Unplugged series, not a huge bock fan but this one was enjoyable, from what I have heard about this is that age has helped this mellow out well, would drink again, worth trying

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2009 06:01:28 | More by Floydster

Blakaeris

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours hazy copper with a slight head that leaves a sheet of lacing.

Aroma is bready malt, very herbal with a hint of tartness.

Taste is very bready and tart with strong apple cider character. Definite brown sugar presence, along with vanilla oakiness. Subdued earthy hops. Boozy bourbon finish is tart and a bit metallic.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied.

Worth a try. Bourbon character builds as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2009 01:34:42 | More by Blakaeris

bashiba

Iowa

3.13/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a dark hazy amber with a light tan head.

The smell had a big sweet malty quality with some molasses and cedar.

The flavor is mild with a big sweet and fruity with a bit of oakyness and vanilla, but a bit of an off sweetness and a mild sourness in the finish.

The mouthfeel is a bit thick and oily.

Overall its ok.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2009 01:33:09 | More by bashiba

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a nearly clear, dark amber body with a frothy, off-white head.

Smell: Sweetish, candylike nose with notes of caramel, brown sugar, vanilla sugar. Dash of spice countered with another dash of sugar. Plus, the boozy wafts and fruity scents of dark fruits and maybe a bit of cherry as well give it a schnapps-like zing to it.

Taste: Decidedly sweet taste of caramel candy, dark brown sugar, and toasted grains. Fruity tastes of ripe, juicy plums, cherries, and raisins. Bourbon blessed notes of vanilla and lightly toasted oak along with the merest bit of tannic astringency. Pinch of spice. Very slight Brett quality, but, for me, it's tucked away deep in the background. Earthy hops with just a mere touch of bitterness for the commercial break, then it's back to swimming in deep, sugar-coated malts and bourbony accents. Finishes sweet and warming with lasting tastes of sugar and spice.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium-low carbonation. Smooth, even luscious mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Quite good and an all-around enjoyable sipper that's perfect as a soothing nightcap or even as part of a complete, healthy breakfast! Another hit in the Unplugged series.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2009 18:45:48 | More by ChainGangGuy

bort11

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

another mikesgroove punch in the mouth from the Club Project Mayhem BIF

12 oz bottle poured into a pils glass. Small white/off white head, no real lacing. Color is a dark caramel brown with a nice clarity.

Smell is a very sweet bourbon and brown sugar. Taste is very malty and sweet. No bitterness other than the wood grain. Mild alcohol spiciness.

Mouthfeel is pretty sticky, yet dry. Tasty, yet one I could only do once.

Blipped "Black Bock" by the Melvins

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2009 06:10:53 | More by bort11

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Another one of the fantastic brews received from the super generous Abents. Thanks Adam! Poured into my Chimay goblet.

1/2" head dies quick leaving little by the way of lacing... the brew is crystal clear copper amber.

Nose is spicy.. vanilla.. touches of cinnamon with pronounced toasty malts and only whiffs of caramel.

Malty sweetness up front reminds me of toast... maybe raisin bread toast.. subtle vanilla and maybe some cherry... really rich and well blended.. the body is sooo smooth with a light carbonation... finish is sorta an earthy leathery taste combined with the above cherry essence.

Interesting and certainly difficult to wrap my limited beer vocabulary around... I wish I had more for sure, but I would only ever pull them out to share and challenge the palates of my geek buddies. Thanks Adam for the chance to try this increasingly rare brew.

3.5/4/4.5/4/3.5

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2009 06:23:26 | More by JohnGalt1