Conflux No. 1 (Collage) - Deschutes Brewery

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

355ml bottle poured into tulip 3/5/13 cheers Rutager for the bottle

A darkest of amber with enough clarity to see the other side under the foam, finger of light tan head quickly falls to a thin film but manages to leave lots of random lace

S sour bruin notes hit me first, all sorts of wood, confusing as all hell to be honest, fortified wine, loads of caramel, fruity berry notes, spicy earth, faint funk, a little booze, unlit ciggy tobacco, rum raisin/Christmas cake, complex to say the least. I could drink this every day of my life and even if I lived to be 108 I don't think I'd figure it out

T more booze, less bruin, still slightly sour but not as much as the nose, fruity caramel works well but its just missing just a little something the nose has going for it. still quite complex but the nose was blowing me away

M thick and syrupy with a sour note, soft carbonation, a little heat but its felt in the chest more then your throat, slight tannins and a mild numbing effect, finish is sour caramel and slightly one the lips

O Crazy strange blend that's working well on so many levels, I love a brew that confuses yet impresses at the same time, did I mention that an 11.6% beer should never go down this easy

I sniff, sip repeat, before I knew it my glass was empty. I never figured this one out but I had a great time trying, now I'm buzzed but I think I'll manage. I'm liking the "Best After Date" and I can only wonder how much its improved since last week, really though this ones worth looking for

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 06:05:29 | More by wordemupg

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.89/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Finally got to the 4-30-13 "Best After" date, and I just finished my second to last undergrad final....let's do this.

A- Pours sort of thick and syrup-like. Body is a murky, very deep amber to brown color. Some light gets through the edges, revealing a little more of the red color in it. Small, .5 finger head forms and sticks around as a very thin lace for a good while. Lacing is pretty good for the small head.

S- Some booze and tart notes up front from The Dissident. Tart note is slightly fruity, but very Flanders Red in scent. Complexity after that is huge. A mix of bourbon and oak are the main characteristics, although dark fruits and some semi-sweet malts are in there too.

T- The most complex thing I've ever tasted. Like the scent, starts with a slightly tart bang of a Flanders Red. Moves quickly into more bitter oak and bourbon flavors, but neither are strong like in a BBA stout. Dark fruits make a cameo right after the barrel notes and taste like a combo of the port and The Stoic's quad flavors. Ends with some alcohol bite and a slight return of the barrels and tartness.

M- Surprisingly high in carbonation. Feels most like a Flanders Red, rather than a barrel aged strong ale. Rather drinkable with the hint of alcohol heat towards the end being the only thing holding it back from being quaffed quickly.

Overall, I should have bought a bunch of this. Terrifically complex, yet refreshing for a beer with so much barrel aging and high alcohol content. Too bad this was $9/bottle, because that's about the only negative thing about it.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 23:55:44 | More by boilermakerbrew

Igotmypistola

California

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

First review on here, decided to go with something i have moderate to high hopes for.

5/1 - 1 day after best on date. should be cash $$

Taken out of cellar at 48 dgrs. Poured into cognac snifter.

Wonderful deep ron burgundy red. Like a rich wood mohogany.

Gettin that dissident tart right off the jump. TANG. Mellows quickly in with that wonderful malty, bready, quadish attitude you expect and love. now in for the kill..

Complex as all get out, silky sweet and sour. Not overbearing, rich and mellow, lingering acidic. the kind that makes your tongue curve. stays on forever. It is a little less thick than i thought it would be. drinks like 8.6 instead of 11.6. Dangerous brew! easy easy drinking.

So.. not quite as aggresive as i thought it would be. but im into it. like a sour rochefort. in a good way. a little light but the flavor is there. still not as good as the parts that make it up. but nice pricey lil brew

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 04:34:53 | More by Igotmypistola

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

4.06/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle thanks to SebD. Thanks man. Best after 4/30.

A - Deep amber and cloudy with a two finger fluffy light brown head. Good carbonation. Spotty chunks of lace and a finger of retention that champs it out.

S - Vinous, port, cherry, dark fruit.

T - Complex for sure. Sweet dark fruits, more port and vinous notes. Great sweet depth. Sweet malt definitely dominant. Barrel aging is there and adds obvious complexity. Honey maybe too.

M - Good carbonation, medium to full body and a sweet finish.

O/D - Tastes good and complex. But doesn't seem structured. More of a big sweet mess that worked, as opposed to a great complex beer that's world class. Quite delicious though, and a pleasure to sip and explore.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 00:42:32 | More by tbeckett

lordofstarside

Nevada

4.83/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Finally hit the best after date, rewarding myself for a paper I just finished
12oz to a snifter. Best after...today (4/30) About twenty minutes out of the fridge to let it warm up a bit

Pours a very murky burgundy with a half finger of foam. Red hues pour out the side when held up to the sun, some rust color up towards the top. High carbonation though the foam has dissipated quickly as expected. Actually some decent lacing and nice alcohol legs

Man this thing reeks of booze. It's sitting about a foot and a half away as I type and I'm catching quite a few alcohol fumes. When I stick my nose in it: bourbon, whiskey, oak, caramel, red wine, toffee, rum, and sherry stick out the most. The subtler aromas include chocolate, tobacco, and some leather. Some tart fruits from the dissident also are buried in there. This stuff is exploding with complexity, however it could come together better. Time may smooth that out, but for now it's the only thing costing the smell a perfect score

Taste is incredible. Chocolate, cherry, bourbon, wine, caramel, figs, dark fruit, toffee, rum, banana, some tart cherry, some spice from the hops, and a hint of alcohol. The thing I pick up on most is the bourbon/whiskey and Fred. The only other beer I've had is Dissident, which is a bit muted relative to everything else. It'd be really interesting to get the blend percentage of all the beers and barrels. All comes together flawlessly

Despite the incredibly boozy smell, the alcohol itself is completely masked. Medium body with little carbonation and a dry finish. This beer is a sipper for sure, but very drinkable

Overall, as far as complexity goes this beer makes my top five. This is probably my longest review because there's just so damn much to say about it. A ton going on, well crafted, and tastes excellent. And thanks to a $10 price tag all my regular stores are still well in stock, and probably will continue to be for months, maybe even another year. This works greatly in my favor- I have five more aging, which I'm hoping will grow to ten or twelve over the rest of the year. I'll be back next year with a re-review

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 00:47:50 | More by lordofstarside

emerge077

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Quick review from written notes, served in a rounded tumbler glass.
Thanks to Dad for this one! Best after 4/30/13, just a couple days short... close enough.

Dark brownish orange color, creamy offwhite foam that has a soft surface texture, and leaves behind a finely textured collar of lace.

Woody barrel aroma that seems to have a bit of fortitude and complexity, but also slightly muddled. A typical "barrel aged aroma", if that makes any sense (wood, tobacco, leather).

Rich malty flavors, slightly sweet with a tangy tart back end from the Dissident in the mix. Dried red currants, tobacco, oak staves. Medium to full bodied with lighter carbonation and palate-coating viscosity. Heavy barrel presence from start to finish. The blend is interesting, and will only continue to develop. Another year might soften the alcohol a little. Overall interesting and worth a try, a good cellar candidate.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 18:55:29 | More by emerge077

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a snifter.
Best after 4/30/13

Appearance
Murky copper with ruby red highlights. Has 1 finger of off-white head that dissipates quickly. Low carbonation.

Nose
Bourbon, sherry, oak, cherry, rum raisin, must, toffee, caramel and vanilla. A lot going on here.

Taste
Different flavors are shooting at me from left and right. Cherry, rum raisin, concord grape and blackberry. Sherry, cognac, bourbon, pinot noir, oak and vanilla. Loads of toffee, caramel and candy sugars. Finishes with leather, tobacco and earth.

Mouthfeel
Full bodied, silky, sticky and warming.

Overall
Tastes like a big, malty Old Ale/Barleywine mixed with the subtler characteristics of a fruity Wild Ale/Flemish Red/Kriek. Huge complexities makes this a nice sipper that hides the alcohol well. Very unique and worth trying if you have the money.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 20:42:40 | More by justintcoons

charlzm

California

3.04/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Consumed April 23rd, 2013 from a bottle labeled "best after 04/30/13". Sue me; I couldn't wait. Poured into a Mother Earth Brewing... goblety-flute glass. Consumed at 50 degrees F.

Beer pours a fairly clear deep reddish brown. A two finger off white head forms and hangs around for quite some time.

Aroma is sweet like brown sugar and sour like lemons. Seems like there's a touch of green olive and must in there as well that kind of almost ruins it.

Flavor: sharp-edged sourness cuts through the syrupy-sweet caramel body. A bit of lemon on the finish. Morphs into white wine vinegar as beer warms. Despite all the component beers and barrel-aging shenanigans, not especially complex. But the flavors ARE intense and the beer has a warming effect in the stomach. I had this when it was first released and it seemed better then.

Mouthfeel is slightly thick and a little creamy with some carbonation to keep it lively.

Overall, this didn't turn out very well. Maybe this was a bad bottle or maybe the off notes in the aroma developed over time, but I wish I had taken notes on the first bottle I had when it freshly released. Aging hurt this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 03:56:55 | More by charlzm

MasterSki

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

A few people brought this to share, so I don't know who supplied the bottle we drank. Served in a taster glass.

A - Lightly tanned foam settles to a thin cap, thick collar, and splotches of lace. Mostly transparent amber body.

S - Very vinous and Flanders-esque. This may have started as an American Strong Ale, but it's trending towards wild ale, as it's quite tart and sour. Sweetens as it warms, with more of the sweet caramel malts and cognac/brandy coming out, as well as some spicy bourbon and oak.

T - The taste is quite similar, with tart green apples and cherries, light vinegar, and wet, vinous oak dominating initially, but yielding to sweeter flavors as it warms up. Letting this approach room temperature reveals raisin, toffee, and caramel malts, brandy and cognac, and vanilla from the oak. Extremely complex.

M - Medium-full body, lower carbonation, sticky and chewy on the palate before yielding to a tannic finish. Alcohol is surprisingly well-hidden.

D - Not bad, but this isn't entirely integrated. The base beers seem to be slightly at odds at this stage. Nice for a few ounces, but not the most drinkable offering. Should age gracefully as most Hair of the Dog offerings do; will sit on my bottle for another year or so to see what happens.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 18:55:12 | More by MasterSki

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks Darrell!

The beer is copper hued with a thin, off white head. The aroma brings wild yeast, wine, oak, leather, cherries. The flavor is really aggressive. Big alcohol in the finish. Lots of wild yeast and funk with strong white wine character and a touch of grape skins. Pretty tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 02:30:13 | More by Huhzubendah

chanokokoro

Illinois

4.44/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Deschutes Brewery branded teku glass

Pours dark amber with golden accents capped by an off white head that dissipates fairly quickly. A bit of lacing that disappears fairly quickly as well. The nose is incredibly complex, hints of vinegary sour cherries compliments of The Dissident, red wine, bourbon, caramel, cognac,, and pleasant sun-warmed oak. Caramel, toffee, hint of cocoa powder, sour cherries, bourbon and sherry notes, plum, dried fruit including apricot, dates, prunes, and raisins. Finishes with pleasant warming alcohol, caramel-covered sour cherries, and warm oak. Smooth and syrupy, higher level of carbonation, especially for a barrel-aged beer. This is a great blended beer. I'm very happy to have three more bottles in the cellar to see how a bit of age allows the four base brews to fully integrate, but this beer is already fantastic now.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 03:59:30 | More by chanokokoro

Immortale25

Florida

4.51/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Greatly appreciate this bottle provided by SatlyMalty! Poured into a Saint Somewhere wine-style glass. Label says Best After: 4/30/13

A- Pours a murky reddish dark brown color with a 1/4 inch tan head that soon dissipates to a thick rim around the edge of the glass and a light sheet of surface foam. Full sheet of non-sticky lacing slides quickly down the glass.

S- Holy booze fumes, Batman! I can smell the oak and the sourness of the Dissident amid the intense amount of alcoholic, band-aid-like astringency that stings the nose. Also some notes of sherry, brandy and raisin. What have I gotten myself into?

T- Are you kidding? Almost nowhere near as intense as the aroma. Lots of raisin combines with the oak and sherry-like sweetness. The tartness comes through in the finish to round out the perfect balance. The booze begins to creep up as more sips are taken and the beer warms. Some dark fruit characteristic also starts to shine through, no doubt from the Stoic part of the blend. Way too easy to drink, given the ABV. The band-aid taste finally comes in near the end of the drink but is hardly noticeable up until that point.

M- Sticky and oily with medium-low carbonation and a fullish body.

O- I wasn't too keen on the aroma, but the flavor is to die for. Super smooth and enjoyable with just about every aspect of each beer contributing to the profile. This is the perfect beer to sip on during a cold February night next to a fire...too bad I'm in blazing hot Miami, so I gotta drink this quick before it gets too warm. That being said, be careful with this one! Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 01:00:28 | More by Immortale25

FremontBar

Arizona

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: A very pleasing cherry brown color with virtually no head.
S: Sweet and boozy, definitely some bourbon, oak, raisins, and some vanilla.
T: Really boozy at first but settles down, love the sour aspect, get some sweet raisins and dark fruit, subdued finish but bourbon lingers
M: Lightly carbonated, creamy, really works for this beer
O: Going in I had no idea what this beer was about but interest definitely peaked after that first whiff. In a way there is almost too much going on but as it appears it is meant to be aged I will check it out again in a couple years see what happens. Overall an interesting beer and I'm glad I tried it but wouldn't seek it out again until it has a few years on it. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 02:31:53 | More by FremontBar

thebigredone

Wisconsin

3.81/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Hmm, interesting beer. A few too many competing flavors (in a bad way) for me to enjoy this. Starts out like an oud bruin, and then Adam's leathery, chocolatey flavors take over. The finish is an unpleasant acetic, slightly coppery tang. Interesting and complex, but the flavors just don't meld.

Edit - After having it for a second time at a tasting, it did seem a bit more harmonious, so I increased my rating. Still prefer the individual components to the blend.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 01:27:15 | More by thebigredone

scottfrie

California

4.14/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into AVBC snifter. Best after 4/30/13 (I couldn't wait).

A: Pours a lightly opaque deep burgundy with a thin light tan head that quickly faded into a thick collar. Wispy lace.
S: Very sweet notes of sugary fruits, deep roasted malts, caramel, molasses, brown sugar, honey and toffee. I get a few lightly tart notes in there as well, definitely reminiscent of Deschutes contributing beers, and some spicy hints of whisky and bourbon. Sweet, tart, sugary and fruity smelling. This beer is all over the place, in a good way of course.
T: Tastes just like it’s described. Sweet and rich dark ale flavors of the HOTD beers are lighten and lightly soured by the Dissident and Stoic. Sherry, spicy rye whisky, smooth bourbon, chocolate, cherry skin tannins, dry vinous oak, raisin, caramel and toffee all blend and combine into something rather unique. The finish is boozy with hints of vanilla, and the aftertaste is full of dates and other dark fruits alongside a lingering mashed fruit sourness.
M: Full body, bubbly carbonation, and a very interesting sweet sugary mouthfeel that has a drying tannic finish. There’s a boozy quality to the beer but I wouldn't necessarily call it boozy. There is nothing hot about the alcohol, but its presence is known.
O: An interesting blend, definitely unique. Sweet dark ale flavors mixed with a splash of sour cherry, bourbon and wine barrel. If you’re a fan of these breweries other beers this is definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 17:13:26 | More by scottfrie

Resuin

Massachusetts

4.74/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Re-review. Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Westvleteren Goblet. I've had this bottle for about 6 months, but it is still well before the Best After Date, which is 3 months from now.

Appearance: Pours a deep cherry, raisin color. Very little head, well less than a finger and the head is off-white in color

Smell: Chocolate and cherries are the first aromas to get to my nose, and it is a mouth-watering combination. Some bourbon, figs and malts as well. Terrific smelling beer, very complex.

Taste: Matches the nose very well - chocolate and cherries. Bourbon, cognac. Very complex, malty, figs, even a tad bit of sourness in this one. Alcohol finishes this one off and ties all the flavors together seamlessly. Absolutely fantastic.

Mouth-feel: Despite the lack of a head, some carbonation is definitely detected and it helps lift this beer up. This is a fantastic beer to chew a bit and has a nice medium-bodied feel to it.

Overall: This one just keeps getting better with age. This is an extremely impressive brew - very different from most beers I have tasted, it's almost in a genre of its own. The chocolate and cherries which have the greatest presence in the taste are so well balanced with all the other flavors and the carbonation keeps this one from being too heavy or thick. This beer is a wonderfully crafted "collage".

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 05:11:45 | More by Resuin

oline73

Maryland

4.14/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from the bottle into a snifter.

Pours a reddish amber with a nice layer of off white head. The nose is slightly tart with a dark fruit sweetness and a soy sauce like note. The taste is tart but still quite smooth. There is a wine note along with some oak. Quite sweet in the background. Smooth carbonation with a dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 20:47:31 | More by oline73

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Perfectly clear deep copper/brick red. Almost no head. Drops to a tiny, tiny off-white collar. No carbonation.

Smell: Alcohol, all sorts of alcohol. Caramel and vanilla loaded with bourbon. Cognac pulls through. Nice rich oak. Touches of red wine. Toffee, deeply cooked and caramelized malts. Dark red fruits. Some cherry, plum, and grape. Straight up alcohol heat. Almost smells like rum in the back. Leather. Mildly acetic. Vague cocoa and chocolate. Sugary sweetness on the back. No hops.

Taste: First, take a shot of bourbon. Sharp bite of cognac and red wine. So many varieties of alcohol. Sweet caramel malt. Worn leather, touches of chocolate. Bourbon adds some vanilla and caramel and toffee. Backing acetic tartness. Earthy. Some backing char and smokiness. Touches of apple, peach, and orange. Very fruity. Floral. It's a massive hodgepodge of crazy flavor. Vague spiciness in the back. Some biscuit notes.

Mouthfeel: Almost no carbonation. Body is smooth, a touch creamy, and hits a nice solid medium.

Overall: Madness? This is Collage.

So much going on I can't really think through it all. 4 complex beers blended in so many barrels makes for an even more complex beer oddly enough. A bit too much without enough melding to truly be amazing.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 03:48:00 | More by Goblinmunkey7

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.94/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for sharing this beer

Consumed 1/18/13

Appearance: Medium amber with a lot of brown and red - minimal carbonation - small, white head, leaves some nice lacing despite the minimal carbonation

Smell: A ton going on, challenging to know where to start - amber, cooked, caramelized malts with syrupy biscuits and toffee - basically, every type of barrel imaginable - wood, dark fuits, wine, port, vanilla

Taste: Maybe even more complicated than the smell - cooked, caramelized malts - molasses, toffee, amber malt extract - a range of wood and barrels that I can't quite comprehend - some booze - dark fruits like cherry, grapes - mildly bitter - lightly tart - the barrels are interesting, but the malt complexity may be even more interesting

Mouthfeel: On the heavy side of medium, low carbonation, smooth, a bit sticky with a boozy finish (not ideal)

Overall: What... is this?

There's so much going on here, it's hard to make any sense. There seems to be some coherence in the chaos. Despite the number of barrels involved in this beer, it's somehow not overly woody. The malts are interesting. Overall, it's very good, but a bit too noisy.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 03:44:29 | More by angrybabboon

d2daj

4.46/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Cafe Veloce' Kirkland, WA
Poured from 12oz bottle into a tulip
Label best after 4/30/13, but Waitress noted they were out of Supplication and said I would enjoy this.

Appearance: gorgeous rich color, deep cherry color surrounded by lines of ambers

Smell: wafts of a dark cherry cordial just popped open or warmed plum tart, light fruity with notes of kick your arse bourbon scent

Taste: wow, what an amazing and dynamic flavor. (to plagiarize from another review) suprising on all fronts-sweet fruit, bourbon woody notes combined with nostril goodness. Flat feel on the tongue combined with scent and then flavor bursts of sour, sweet, more subtle on the sour. Very balanced. Teeter totter of goodness.

Mouth: subtle carbonation, smooth and pleasant

Overall: Boom pow bang up surprise- its a limited offering so not offended at $15 price tag. What a find and pleasure. Real pleaser for one who seeks a complicated menagerie of flavors.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 01:09:57 | More by d2daj

flagmantho

Washington

4.59/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Poured from 12oz bottle into a tulip. Label says best after 4/30/13, but I just couldn't wait any longer!

Appearance: deep ruby hue with a haze-free body and a light effervescence. Head is a finger of frothy tan foam. I love the richness of the color.

Smell: now *this* is what a strong ale should smell like. The deep, rich malt featuring plum, raisin, and cherry aromas; the vanilla and wood; the tinge of lactic sourness. Truly a mélange to be savored! Wonderful.

Taste: wow, what an amazing and dynamic flavor. It starts off with a sweet, fruity malt; rather like a quadrupel. Then the more traditional sweet and robust American strong ale character takes over, right as the sourness is starting to kick in. As the sourness mellows a little bit, the wood, vanilla and alcohol come together for the dessert-like finish. The tail end is a subdued sourness and alcohol warmth. What a beer!

Mouthfeel: medium-thick body with a relatively low carbonation but a good, smooth and almost silky creaminess. I like it.

Overall: this beer really floats my boat. It's a little bit hot on a few counts to be perfect, but it is a damn, damn fine brew. Even at ten bucks a bottle, it's not overpriced.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 03:12:44 | More by flagmantho

nUgZ

North Carolina

3.79/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12 ounce bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a medium brown color with a half finger head and decent lacing.

S: Sweet and sour. Nice sweet aromas from the barrel aging along with some sour fruit aromas. Oak and vanilla in there somewhere along with some wine.

T: Very complex mix of flavors here. Too much to talk about, but pretty enjoyable even though it becomes quite sour.

M: Medium bodied with good carbonation.

O: Just finished drinking this and read on the bottle that it's best after 4/30/13...oh well. I almost made it.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 01:08:46 | More by nUgZ

lighthabit

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

a holiday gift from my bro . . .

2012 bottle poured into a pilsner glass - hindsight, would better warrant a sniffer

A: average head dies down to a glass-clinging ring of tan colored foam, fairly good lacing

S: not paying attention to the label, i checked the aroma from the bottle and realized i had something barrel aged - yay! as it warmed, the barrel. scent of bourbon comes through a bit more as it warms.

T: just getting into some of the barrel aged brews, so i am a bit of a noob here . . . but compared to others i've tried, this really makes my nose and tongue quite happy. cherries, and the sense this was well stored

O: oh, i like this. i like this a lot. it really carries the barrel aged badge up front and center, but it's smoother and more enjoyable than some of the others. not terribly complex to my uninitiated taste buds, but what is there is quite pleasing. it tastes like i'm drinking something special, and i want to savor ever sip. not something to rush through

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 06:49:52 | More by lighthabit

N3rdM3t4l

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz brown bottle I paid $11.84 for. Nearly a dollar an ounce, this had better be good.

A: looks like cola, hazy cola brown. Not much head, tiny little ring of offwhite head.

S: sweet and tart smelling. The cherry shines through, bits of oakieness. Bit of bourbony smell, might be from the whisky barrels.

T: finishes sour like the Dissident. Opens sweet with cherry. Bits of barrel flavors come through, oak and vanilla. the pomegranate(sp?) Isn't very strong, it gets masked a bit by the huge cherry flavor, but dark fruits dominate for sure. The sweetness reminds me of a barleywine but that could be the quad.

M: medium bodied and minimally carbonated.

O: delicious. Not as stunning as The Dissident alone but a really good beer. haven't had The Stoic.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 04:56:00 | More by N3rdM3t4l

rawfish

California

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a medium cola brown with light garnet highlights. Needs a vigorous pour to net half a finger of tan head with decent retention and spotty lacing.

Spectacular aroma off this, a collaboration of fig, raisins, rich vinous fruit, apple, pear, toffee, coffee cake, oak, vanilla, a bit of tart lemons, pine and hints of alcohol. Rich and complex aroma.

Barleywine and quad flavors off the bat, deep vinous fruit, candied dates, toffee, brown sugar and almost a cinnamon apple sweetness that runs smoothly through half the drink until flashes of lemon, vinegar and tart cherries begin to clash with oak, vanilla, bourbon and alcohol that leads to a very creamy feel though brightly tart. Dries very well. Middle of the drink is a little tough as it begin to evolve towards a sour profile, very interesting and delicious.

Mellow carbonation that is very easy to drink, medium to even a bit bodied and though the hops are gone from this brew it's ideally tart and lifts from the palate. Slight alcohol but doesn't get in the way of the complexity of this beer.

A terrific collaborative beer that is imaginative and complex. Artistic in it's making, all the barrel aging and rotating may make the flavors all mesh into one another but it's interesting to see what infinite combination flavors the drinker will be able to pull out while enjoying this brew. Sitting on this about 6 more month will make the booze fade, a sensory experience in a glass.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 06:47:44 | More by rawfish