Wooden Hell - Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery

Crosling

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Light brown colored ale, with an outstanding nose and quite a bit of depth. Bourbon soaked wood, vanilla, coconut and interesting traces of the original beer as well. Taste packs a nice punch, with an array of layered flavors. Everything I look for in a barrel-aged beer. Heavy mouth feel, balanced but bold flavors of the barrel, but the base beer delivers quite a bit as well. I like it a lot, but I like sweet barrel aged beers.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2008 14:54:33 | More by Crosling

JDV

Texas

4.13/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark brownish to burgandy and is opaque. Smell is oaky and strong with welcomed alcohol and rich complex malt. Smooth oaky, creamy caramel richness in the flavor. Good rich body and dark red fruity and dark sour cherry notes as well. One of my favorites of theirs, and there were many good beers on...

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2008 19:51:31 | More by JDV

SPLITGRIN

Kentucky

4.22/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this one the night before Darklord day.

Body is a ruby brown that hosts a shore skim of light tan head. Nose is laced with raspberry tart and wheaty red licorice. Includes a slight hint of sherry. First sip greets you with dark over ripe fruit notes and warming alchol. Smooth and thick mouthfeel is spawned by the dark chocolate candied dominence. Cough syrup meets chocolate liquer is the palate tone you get here, but in a good way. Drinks nicely even as it warms. Alchol content is high, probably around 10%, but doesnt show in the taste. A nice sweeter after dinner beer. To bad it was a one and out.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2007 20:16:21 | More by SPLITGRIN

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A snifter glass served at the brewery on the day before Dark Lord.

A: The barleywine is very dark, a deep ruby red that could easily be mistaken for black (and therefore a stout). Only the whitish colored head confirms that it is in fact not a stout.

S: The nose is incredibly sweet, thick with malty wetness. Candi sugar emerges, but unfortunately not a lot of bourbon character does.

T: The mouth is just as thick as the nose would lead you to believe. The malts are concentrated such that they are fruity sweet. Some darker fruits emerge to provide sweetness that is brushed with a hint of candi and brown sugars. Even in the mouth, the bourbon does not shine as much as I'd want it to. Perhaps it is just blending into the overall sweetness of the beer. Oh yeah, the alcohol is quite evident.

M: The mouthfeel is a good drink, full of flavor with mere kisses of bourbon.

D: A very good drink. Dinner at Flossmoor turned out to be a brilliant idea.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2007 16:08:24 | More by akorsak

mcallister

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another barrel aged beer on tap for the night before Dark Lord. Am I happy I went here:)

Muddy brown opaque glob of a mess. A tan head has good retention and lacing considering the ABV.

Sweet bourbon, with toasty big vanilla and oak. A candied sugar of the brown variety bordering on mollasses helps things balance. Sweet puree of fig, rum soaked raisins, prune and freshly tapped maple. Alcohol is showing but leaves the mind wondering what this toffee infused caramel roasted beast will bring forth.

Very balanced, complex, and even more delicious. Bourbon and toasty oak are integrated to perfection. The paste of gid is raked acrross the palate. Brown sugar, cane sugar, and bordering mollasses fill things out. Candied roasted pear, with rum soaked raisin, and various nut varieties.

Neverending finish and drinkablility.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2007 17:12:40 | More by mcallister

jbuddle

New York

4.09/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Mike for providing this one I've been hoping to try for a long time. 4/17/13.

Pours a bit muddy and opaque with a small amount of head that quickly falls apart. Aroma of caramel, burnt sugar, touch of oxidation and some sweet malt. Just a hint of vanilla. Taking a sip brings to mind a very well crafted barleywine with just a touch of sweetness and well integrated barrel notes. Fairly subtle and nuanced with a touch of oxidation on the back end. Very light notes of barrel aging with some vanilla and booze, but it drinks very light for the ABV, and nothing really stands out. Slick and medium bodied.

I've heard there is significant bottle variation at this point, but this one was one of my top barleywines to date and an absolute treat.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 13:10:42 | More by jbuddle

BucketBoy

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

One of the better bottles of Wooden Hell I've had, and my last. I'm finally reviewing this beer. Pours a golden flax flecked walnut, almost clear in my glass with some sticky foam on top. Very nice-looking. Smooth nose is sweet molasses, burnt brown sugar. Perhaps even a bit of cream of soda, vanilla, bourbon, oak - just beautiful sweetness to the English barley wine. The flavor at this point is still very fragrant, just perfect sweetness and toast balance with nuanced layers, still nice barrel presence that provides a lovely vanilla and a touch of oak. Smallest hint of aged English hops that are just enough. Layers and layrrs of flavor wash over my palate. Great flavor; a superior barleywine. Mouthfeel is smooth, just enough carbonation, slick, viscous, and a hint oily to coat my mouth. Lovely! The last bottle I opened was very underwhelming, boring even. This bottle, however, was fantastic, especially as rated by style.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 20:54:09 | More by BucketBoy

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.38/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks metalgdog for sharing this!
The beer pours a dark brown with thin halo of a white head. Its nose is woody, caramely, with a faint touch of warming alcohol. As expected the taste is smooth, sweet with wood sugars and a hint of alcohol. The beer's mouthfeel is perfectly smooth and sweet with a touch of oak and alcohol. This beer is highly drinkable and is just plain well made.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 01:31:51 | More by ThePorterSorter

dogfishandi

New York

4.18/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Huge thanks to metalgdog! Brandon is the man! Never in a lifetime thought I would taste this.

Pours out a cloudy reddish, orange, brown color. Murky looking in a way. A light beige colored head, decent retention.

Aroma is a bit off from what I expected. Seaweed and very earthy. A sweet caramels bourbon BW base is lost somewhere in the back.

An exceptional taste, different complexities come with each sip. The seaweed and earth from the aroma is there, perhaps from oxidation, but compliments the beer much more nicely. Lots of sweet caramel/ burnt sugars, tons of oak and fig like dark fruits. Just a bit of bourbon, but whatever booze was there seems to have mellowed very nicely with age. Sweetness all over.

Very smooth and easy drinking for what it is. Fairly thick bodied, and just a bit light on the carbonation.

I'm super excited for trying a beer I never thought would even be a possibility. But I had it, and despite the whale status, I'm a bit underwhelmed. The seaweed earth aspect, especially in the aroma, wasn't very welcomed, still the taste was pretty amazing. So happy in got the opportunity, thanks again Brandon!

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 05:40:02 | More by dogfishandi

merc7186

New York

4.38/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Metalgdog

Bomber into tasting glass.

A: Brownish Hue, Passes Mild Light, White Head, Mild Lacing

S: Honey, Bourbon, Sweet Dried Fruit

T: Bourbon, Sweet Fruit, Bready

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Semi Boozy, Mildly Sweet

Overall, a really decent bourbon barleywine with a nice balanced taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 02:11:33 | More by merc7186

jethrodium

California

4.38/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle generously shared by cpferris. Huge thanks to Chad for sharing this rarity. Pours a dark copper brown with no head, just a couple of bubbles at the edge of the glass and no lacing. The aroma is lots of bourbon, vanilla, and oak. There is also some caramel and toffee as well as a hint of some oxidation and some light alcohol. The taste is sweet with toffee and caramel. There is also a lot of bourbon, some vanilla, oak, a bit of cherry and some plum. Just a hint of oxidation present. The finish is smooth with just a bit of alcohol and some lingering bourbon and caramel. Medium body. Low carbonation. This was quite good. All the flavors are well integrated. Certainly one of the better barley wine I have had, but there are a few others that are just as good.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 21:57:10 | More by jethrodium

dtmets84

New York

4.05/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Consumed on 7/28. I am always hesitant to put the BA name of the person who was grateful enough to let me enjoy this said tick but thanks!! I was told the night before that history was going down. Let us get on with the show.

A: Minimal to know head except for a tiny ring of head that appears if it was swirled

S: figs? Maybe some oak but nothing too crazy

T: on first taste I thought eh this is good but nothing to write home about but as it warmed up more notes pulled through.

O: thanks again for M_ _ e for letting me enjoy this. Let the hype train roll on.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 22:54:28 | More by dtmets84

cosmicevan

New York

4.58/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Consumed on 7/28 (THANKS A TON to mike for reaching out to me about this BA Barleywine tasting...truly epic!!!).

a - pretty muddy looking. minimal carbonation. murky to the light. opaque. some swirls of carbonation on the surface. very thin ring of head on the surface. spotty lacing that slid down the glass. swirling the glass kind of brings things to life, but not much. looks eerily similar to idiot's drool (GASP).

s - smells awesome! very similar to king henry (which was opened not all that long after this). wonderful figgy smell. great barrel integration. caramel. wood. some vanilla.

t - really tasty. figgy and caramel. some heat, but wonderfully integrated. as this beer warmed it took on a whole new life and the flavor got a lot more complex. at first it was pretty good, but over time it became quite impressive with big toffee notes and a lot more complexity and fullness to the flavor.

m - extremely smooth. some heat is present, but it is well integrated. soft carbonation and dangerously easy to drink.

o - thank goodness the look didn't mean much on this beer! overall, i never had this before so i cannot comment if it is on its way down, but this beer is pretty bada$$ as it was today. the smooth mouthfeel really brings this one to the next level, but other than that, there are many other amazing barrel aged barelywines around today that are on a similar level. the legend and hype of this beer really adds to the luster. aside from the tick, if you are contemplating letting go of a case of king henry or something like that to attain this, i'd recommend not doing it. don't get me wrong, i'm SUPER glad i got to try it, but many others are on this level (in fact, this wasn't the highlight of the tasting flavor-wise for me, alpine's great took the gold)...this one is more about the tick and, a ticker's gotta tick.

right after this was opened and sampled, we opened a BA old ruffian which i thought was a bit tastier, but as the wooden hell warmed, the flavor changed substantially and rapidly took the lead over the BA old ruff. as it warmed, wooden hell filled out and the flavor profile got way more complex with strong fig notes...and in general just a thicker warmer taste...the entire group agreed that it was a different beer cold and at room temp. unfortunately it didn't trump alpine great in the flavor dept.

HUGE thanks to mike for letting me keep the bottle too!

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 01:46:39 | More by cosmicevan

koopa

New Jersey

4.8/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From Notes: Tasting @ Beerloco's house on 1/22/11

Appearance: Pours caramel with slightly reddish honey tinged steaks and folds. Minimal slightly off white (dull buttery) crown. Not much retention or lace.

Smell: Layered deliciousnes - caramel, fig, dates, slightest whisper of oxidation, burnt sugar, brown molasses, and a dash of chocolate.

Taste: Same as the nose and equally as delicious!

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a touch of chewiness....nearly perfect. I'd give it a 4.7 if I could so I'm rounding down a bit.

Drinkability: Quite sessionable for the style. I could and would want to drink this as often as possible!

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 20:00:04 | More by koopa

FosterJM

California

4.75/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

1165th Review on BA
Bottle to Snifter
22 oz- Gold Wax

Yes it did happen-- http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/Fr8train63/3ef330fd.jpg

Thanks to Jazzpatel for this one.

Shared with GuruDel, JazzPatel, MrHirschybar & BdubleEdubleRUN

App- This poured from the bottle a murky dark brown. Great color but wouldve liked a bit more bubble activity from this. A little bit of amber mixed in. Zero cling or lace, a bit more smooth looking then King Henry.

Smell- This was really quite aromatic for being such an older bottle. The flavors are still there and very temepered. King needs a few years. This would be more vanilla, bourbon and temepered booze.

Taste- Holy crap! I never thought this would happen. I will say this lived up to the hype. The bourbon flavors are very mellow and relaxed. Great combination of malt and citrus. The resting of this bottle has left a great beer that is still king of the heap. Well worth the wait and no signs of fading but more mellowing. The beer is just so damn good.

Mouth- Medium bodied and medium carbonation. A good bit of barrel and creamy vanilla remain with more citrus than I wouldve thought.

Drink- A very well done and layered beer. I can see why people will never give this up. Thanks again Jazz.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 22:51:52 | More by FosterJM

GuruDel

California

4.83/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hmmm... Never thought this would happen, but it did.

Bottle poured to Bruery Tulip.

Many thanks go out to Jazz, Steve and James for making this happen.

A: Dark golden brown, like liquid caramel, little bit of bubble from the pour but no head at all.
S: Amazingly complex, vanilla, bourbon hints, oak and sweet caramel. The nose on this beer is amazing, the group sat around and smelled it from 5 or 6 different glasses, each was unique but still fantastic.
T: There was no oxidation, no off flavors at all, it was pure awesome in a glass. Sweet caramel, oak, vanilla and a hint of booze but in the best way possible.
M: This was basically a still beer with no detectable carbonation, but it was still fantastic. It was not overly thick or sticky, but it still coated the whole mouth.

Again many thanks to Jazz, I owe you one.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 15:13:50 | More by GuruDel

trodersark

California

3.55/5  rDev -22%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle Poured into a Tulip.

A: Pours a hazy light amber, with no head whatsoever.
S: Smells of caramel, light vanilla notes, some oak, and slights hints of bourbon
T: oxidized. oxidized. I can't really taste the bourbon anymore. I taste some caramel, a touch of spice, some vanilla, toffee, and definitely a lot of oak.It tasted really similar for a really old bigfoot. There was definitely a lingering aftertaste that stuck with me long after every sip.
M: flat, no carbonation whatsoever, though drinkability is quite smooth, not hot at all.
O: overall, I thought it was a good beer. Do I think there is good reason for the hype? hmmm. I definitely do believe that if I had tasted this beer a year or two ago, my review and thoughts would have been quite different. If you have a bottle of this, drink it, trade it, do what you will, but it definitely does not need any more time. In fact, I feel as though this beer is definitely on its downhill curve. But don't get me wrong, I am very thankful for getting a chance to try this whale, and I definitely think it's a brew you should 110% try if you have the chance. I just don't quite think it lived up to the hype it still holds.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 09:08:49 | More by trodersark

vissai

California

4.47/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

***TroDersak's review above is based on a hand bottling of Wooden Hell and was drank 4 hours after bottle was opened***

Wow like most people, I didn't think I would ever get to try this. Never say never I guess.

Thanks Alen!

Had this along with the BA Hi-Fi Rye and Brandy Barrel Aged Dark Lord.

Poured 7 ounces directly into a lost abbey tulip.

A: Rusty copper brown, a little cloudy with no head in sight. Had to give the glass a little twirl to create a quarter inch of froth. Body looked pretty typical to its style.

S: The smell was my favorite part, a perfect balance of oak, vanilla, dark fruit dipped in caramel and a little spice at the end.

T: Taste follows the nose with same flavors and coats all parts of the mouth with a very very long lasting finish. I think the lingering taste is what set this beer apart for me. I would take one sip, sit back and enjoy the flavor for 5 minutes to follow.

M: From previous taster of Wooden Hell, he said the beer had thinned out. By no means was it thin but a little more body would have been magical. Its definitely the age that has caused the thinness. Alcohol was not detectable what so ever.

O: I can see where the hype comes from this brew, but if you have one drink it asap as it is thinning out and i am certain age will do no benefit to this beer. The group consenus was that BA Hi-Fi Rye at this moment is a better beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 18:01:45 | More by vissai

hopsbreath

Oregon

4.58/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Well, I guess it's about time I reviewed this. Review taken from literally three lines of notes tapped out on my BlackBerry. Thanks to HoppyMeal for bringing a bottle of this to the pre-Hair of the Dog bottle share earlier this month. He committed to bringing this and a J&J Blauw and suddenly the bar was instantly set. An insane tasting and a great time.

A: Pours a hazy prune/tan with a small beige head that quickly recedes to a glass ring. Moderate legs show the heft of the body. 4/5

S: Brewbro000 said something along the lines of "I'm going to give myself a nose bleed because I'm sniffing this so hard". That about sums it up for me. Warm vanilla, rich toffee, and mellow bourbon. 5/5

T: Sweet caramel, creamy fruits, and smooth bourbon. The richness was only barely delved into from my small pour, but it had great depth. 4.5/5

M: Moderate body with a silky texture. No alcohol burn. 4.5/5

O: This was a superbly aged bottle. Its equal I've never experienced. I'll likely never get the chance to drink this again but at least now I see what all the fuss is about. Worth whatever it takes to trade for a bottle. 4.5/5

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 09:53:33 | More by hopsbreath

Kaydogg

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thank you very much Dan!
couple oz pour

A. Pours brown rust color almost a bronze. no head on my pour

S. Spicy sweet smell almost like a cookie of some sort, bourbon, vanilla, and oak.

T. pretty complex stuff, Subtle sweetness with characteristics of bourbon, spice, oak, a touch of vanilla. Low carbonation. Decent body but i feel its too thin.. I wonder if this is starting to move past its prime.

O. Overall the beer was excellent...no doubt
live up to the hype? Gonna have to say no. Again maybe this beer is starting the down hill trip. Dare I say I prefer Mother of All Storms...I dare. Thanks again for this rare treat..

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 19:28:25 | More by Kaydogg

RodneyX

Missouri

4.9/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had to give up half my cellar to land this one, let's hope it's worth it.

It pours a little red amber color with just a tiny bit of head. Smell is sweet, the barrel is great barrel with bourbon that has calmed down over the years. The taste is just a stunning example of a bourbon barley wine. Vanilla from the barrel is there but it is not too much. Good brown sugar. Drinks quite smoothly and I was sad when the bottle was exhausted. Will now start search for second bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 15:19:35 | More by RodneyX

seeswo

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks Cam!

Pours a nice light brownish color with a very minimal tannish head. Smell is really nice - well integrated bourbon/vanilla/oak and caramel malts. A touch of toffee and caramelized brown sugar. More reserved, balanced and integrated than in-your-face. The bourbon in the taste is absolutely perfect, with strong identifying flavors or vanilla and oak, but not over-the-top or dominant over the base barleywine flavors of caramel, brown sugar, toffee. Unfortunately, this is the sad part of this review. This particular bottle had clearly started to descend. The oxidation was past the peak of aging for a barleywine, and as such, the base barleywine flavor had begun to retract from what I imagine it would have been a year ago. While the barrel still carries this beer nicely, and the flavor still comes together pretty well, this is definitely not a beer I would keep aging if I intended to drink it at some point. This is made even more substantial of a problem due to the relatively thin body in this beer, such that there is a combination of thin body and thin 'barleywine' flavor that will eventually make this beer mediocre at best. That said, this beer is very good right now, extremely drinkable and really shows off the best of barrel aging (bumping the taste to 4.5 from 4.0 based on this).

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 20:43:59 | More by seeswo

brew3crew

Ohio

4.55/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to Cam for this once in a life time tick. When he texts you "get over here now or you will regret it forever" just do it,

A-maroonish in color with no head whatsoever. Looks very inviting

S-bourbon vanilla and oak melded perfectly together

T- follows the nose almost perfectly. Very rare.

M-medium body and oh so smooth

O- this has held up remarkably well and is a very good beer. I tried to take the rareness out, but that is very difficult

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 15:22:44 | More by brew3crew

ColdPoncho

Ohio

4.58/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Well, thanks for this Cam. Even though you did serve me Hellshire telling me it was Wooden Hell. My memory of this beer is forever tainted with onions. Notes/memory from tonight

A - Clouded dark reddish brown body, with no head by the time I got to it. Very nice color, however.

S - Lots of bourbon, some light notes of wood and vanilla, and a good dark fruity aroma. It's a good smell without a doubt. Not sure I'd ask for more.

T - Well, This is pretty good. Again, I think the bourbon is the strongest thing here, but with a nice balance of caramel and toffee malts. My notes are mostly for the Hellshire and I didn't get too much of this one, but it was just really well balanced, very good malt profile.

M - Nice and thick and smooth. A touch dry. Really quite good.

O - well, this is a good beer. I'm not sure how it compares to the hype, since all I really know is that it is hyped, but not necessarily what the hype is all about. Definitely one of the best beers I've had, but when you get into that upper tier, nothing really blows anything else away.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 02:10:43 | More by ColdPoncho

Urbancaver

Ohio

4.68/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Side by side with sheol

Both pour a rusty hazy brown. Yellowish tint. Almost no head. Smells incredibly smooth and vanilla heavy. Some nice oxidation and raisiny notes. Tastes similar. Vanilla heavy. Some light oak notes. The beer is incredibly well balanced. The oxidation is very nice. Definitely much smoother than sheol. Very rich thick mouthfeel. Low carbonation but still bubbly and enjoyable. Overall this is definitely one of the best beers I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 22:57:42 | More by Urbancaver