Daniel Boone - Olde Hickory Brewery

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.94/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Many thanks to Onenote81 for sending this beer up the East Coast to my doorstep.

A - Pours a dark burgundy mahogany color with very little carbonation and a toffee colored lacing ring, looks thick in the glass. The lacing eventually dies down to absolutely nothing.

S - Toffee, caramel, bourbon, vanilla, figs, brown sugar, molasses; aroma is soft and not overly strong. This beer smells more like a barleywine than a brown ale.

T - Bourbon is up front and it's not shy followed a wave of oak, followed by caramel toffee, vanilla, subtle brown sugar, before morphing back into an oak bourbon finish.

M - Thick and full bodied, viscous, and sticky.

O - This beer is a bourbon bomb and tastes way bigger than 8.5%. IMO, this beer is far better than the overall score.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 01:51:06 | More by jzeilinger

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.96/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

22oz, bottled on 3/13
Unmarked tulip

A: Pours a murky deep orange, brown color. Didn't get a ton of head. Basically turned into nothing but a collar of light tan around edges. There is carbonation but not a ton.

S: Getting a nose of more of barleywine. Smell that barrel for sure. Soft vanilla. Toffee. Some caramel. Some dark fruits: raisin and fig for sure.

T: Really mild bitterness on tip of the tongue. Sweet malts in that mid-palate. Taste that delicious bourbon aging. Also those dark fruits. Not overly tannic. Lingering sweetness. A touch of warmth down the throat, but not hot at all.

M: Big medium, but not overly chewy and thick.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 14:46:45 | More by inlimbo77

Chaney

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The wife muled this one back from Raleigh for me this past weekend. Win!

Served in an Olde Hickory glass.

A: Poured a fairly murky, red-brown color. Not much head, but I guess this is a bourbon barrel-aged beer.

S: Nice. I got the standard coconut bill commonly associated with this style as well as some hazelnuts.

T: Fairly one-dimensional, yet still quite tasty and the brewer's (s') intent on this was most evident. The bourbon kill the brown sugar and graininess I usually don't like in this style.

M: Low carbonation and lacing. This was a very sweet brew, but it was more of the candy variety.

O: I'd drink this again. Hell, at about $7-8 per bomber, I'd definitely drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 02:47:39 | More by Chaney

sommersb

Tennessee

2.74/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Tasted On: 03-08-2013
Freshness: Bottled 05-2012
Packaging: 22 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Wellington
Purchased: Single from Duckworth's, Charlotte

Pours a clear and dark brown color capped by a small tan head that fades fast. Lacing on the glass is good.

Aromas have sweet malts and woodiness, but then I get smells of sour cherries and vinegar.

The taste confirms the idea that this beer has some sort of infection problem. The sweet caramel malts are countered by a vinegar-like sour aspect. I really don't get any kind of bourbon or whiskey elements either. The taste isn't bad, but seems far off from the intended style/mark.

High carbonation and medium-bodied in the mouthfeel, with a finish that is semi-dry and malty, but also has more vinegar tartness.

If this was sold as a wild ale it would seem appropriate and I'd give it better marks. It's not bad per se, but does fall flat as a bourbon-barrel aged imperial brown ale. Granted my bottle is 10 months old, but I don't think that would be the cause for an infection.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 04:00:18 | More by sommersb

brentk56

North Carolina

3.04/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: Pours a cloudy ice tea brown color with a modest cap on top; a few strands of lace hang around

Smell: Caramel, vanilla, oak and Bourbon, offset slightly by a sour tone

Taste: Oaky caramel, up front, with the Bourbon competing with a sourness that winds up dominating the finish

Mouthfeel: The body is thinner than expected with higher levels of carbonation; I think this may have been caused by the slight infection

Overall: This had the makings of a nice beer but the infection, though it adds an interesting dimension (for those who like sours) , leaves this beer far from what the brewer intended

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 00:16:54 | More by brentk56

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.48/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Found this review tonight... from about 6 months ago.

Received this as an awesome extra in a already great trade from
Commis.... Thanks Matt!!

Poured into a standard pint... Tannish head with lackluster lacing...
decent cap... the brew is clear walnut brown... No real head or lacing
to speak of.

The nose is thick with brown malt... and pretty much straight
bourbon... not really any wood or expected complexities... brown sugar
and hot caramel with warmth..

Flavor is interesting ... great malt notes are accentuated by vanilla
and the barrel presence.... tons of toasty malt.. nutty notes and a
very light cocoa.... a bunch of bourbon doesn't really jive with all
the maltiness... but I still dig it.. too assertive bourbon and barrel
on the finish.

Body is surprisingly light for such a big ABV brew... not a bad thing.
Carbonation and bubbles are cool...

If I had this one available locally, I would certainly buy it often if
it was in the $7-8 area... While it is interesting as for me as a
one-off, I find it a bit boring in the long run.

3/3.5/3.5/3.5/3.5

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 03:50:57 | More by JohnGalt1

jsanford

Georgia

3.7/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Pours dark mahogany with a soapy white head that fades to a slight ring with lots of sheets of lacing. Malty aromas of caramel and toffee, Bourbon, dark berry, and a touch of sour infection. Damnit. More infection in the taste, touch of berry and vinegar with more bourbon, dark malt, and roasted nut. Not bad, but I wish I could have this as it was meant to be. Smooth mouthfeel, with a medium-full body and decent carbonation. Not bad, but not what it was supposed to be.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 01:44:16 | More by jsanford

KajII

North Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -10%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

[Suggested Glassware: Dimpled Mug]

The pour was a murky medium chestnut brown with an average (1-2 finger) light brown creamy head that was mostly diminishing, reducing down to a thin puddled film and medium collar which produced only fair streaky lacing.

It had an aroma that was of toasted sweet dark bread malts and an earthy leathery yeast with notes of chocolate, vanilla, caramel, bourbon and a slight nutty/woody scent.

As for the taste it was sweet and malty with a hint of caramel and a touch of chocolate pretty much throughout, with the finish having a strong vanilla presence and a slightly nutty alcohol ending. The flavor lingered for an average duration proceeding the swallow with a boozy, sweet, nutty, cask taste settling nicely on the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was medium in body and a bit dry in texture with a soft mild carbonation.

Overall this brew screams booze and vanilla towards the end, with the middle having a light chocolate-caramel sweetness and a nice dark roastiness...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 16:33:06 | More by KajII

ButtonBeer

South Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I tasted what I thought was caramelized honey. At first, I found this disagreeable. After a few swigs, I found it excellent and finished that way. I also detected the bourbon. As a lover of bourbon and an owner of many Pappy Van Winkle issues, I am curious as to what bourbon these casks belonged.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 21:36:05 | More by ButtonBeer

koopa

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle received as a gift from beenity thanks!

Appearance: Pours a lightly hazed garnet tinged brown with a 2 finger white crown that displays some retention and lace.

Smell: Vanilla takes center stage with bourbon, figs, mild oak, and a slight soap quality.

Taste: Same as the nose but the bourbon drives it and the soap is nowhere to be tasted. Small hint of solvent like alcohol in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Thin side of medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Needs more body IMHO.

Overall: Fairly sessionable for an 8.5% bourbon brown but lacks complexity and mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 22:10:23 | More by koopa

n2185

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear dark copper with a finger of beige head that recedes into a thin ring with little lacing.

S: Oak, vanilla, caramel, and bourbon dominate the aroma with some slight nutty notes.

T: Similar to the aroma, oak, vanilla, caramel, and bourbon dominate with some darker, nuttier flavors. The finish is dry with a slight alcohol presence.

M: Medium body with mid-low carbonation, this beer is surprisingly light and dry.

O: A solid beer overall, though a bit lacking in complexity. The barrel characteristics are nice and aren't overly sweet or boozy, but I'd really like more brown ale flavors.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 00:41:15 | More by n2185

wcudwight

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a light clear brown with red highlights, thin head that quickly disappears. Smells of burbon and oak with some dark fruits but mostly burbon. This rich flavor or burbon. Burbon almost overwhelms the beer as little of the brown ale is noticable. Taste much bigger than 8% abv. Full mouthfeel with some tingling and a bit of a burn on the tip of the tongue. Good beer, not great. I like it a lot but it could use some more balance.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 04:44:18 | More by wcudwight

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an effervescent chestnut with a sliver of tan head. Below average head retention & lacing

S: Booze/bourbon, figs

T: Sourmash up front, a touch of dryness & brown sugar as well. Booze warmth as this warms, oakyness, a touch of pralines & faint woody hops. Finishes dry, sweet, slightly boozey with oaky undertones

MF: Medium bodied, slight carbonation, turns chewier as it warms, some stickyness too, was hoping for way more body...

This is a bit rough around edges, but not a bad sipper even on a June evening. This was my assesment when I tried it on tap in Hickory. May age into something special, but maybe not

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 04:09:34 | More by russpowell

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.73/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had during the 2nd Annual Redneck Racin’ & Tastin’ while tailgating at the dirt track race! Big thanks goes out to wolfeman007 for this one! Served from bottle into a NoDa snifter. Poured a deep red-orange with a half finger off-white head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, fruit, caramel, wood, and sweet alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, caramel, fruit, wood, dark fruit, and vanilla. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty decent brew. It was really nice to find the dark fruit character in the flavor on this one. While probably having the WORST label in all of craft beer this one managed to impress me with its flavor. The aroma was decent at best as it was very typical of the style when barrel aged, so nothing really stood out to me. The flavor just brought a little bit of a ‘kick’ comparatively. Definitely worth trying even if you have to look at that horrid label while drinking it.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 12:55:04 | More by thagr81us

tdm168

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - amber with a loose, soft, brown cap of head that has good retention

S - caramel undertones with big bourbon, woody overtones

T - caramel, nutty, bourbon, woody, earthy, alcohol

M - medium bodied, warm, good carbonation

This is a nice beer. The bourbon definitely takes over. I think if the beer were a little bolder with a heavier malt character it would stand up to the bourbon better. As it is though it's definitely a solid offering worth trying. I was not disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 12:55:53 | More by tdm168

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.3/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Originally reviewed: 5/11/12. The newest of the special-releases OHB is coming out with this year. Bottled just within the last week. Bottle split and shared with a friend. Poured into a pint glass. Pours a dark hazy amber-tinted brown. There is absolutely no head on this at all. Just a thin lacy ring around the edge. Nose is big with bourbon, oak, vanilla. Mouth is moderate-to-full. Carbonation is decent. Big bourbon flavors, that like their last release - Seven Devils, overtake any and all other flavors. There isn’t a lot of "brown" coming through. Vanilla, bourbon, sweet syrupy finish. Slight cola-like characteristics noted as well. This is decent, but the barreling really overpowered this beer. Had higher expectations for this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 12:42:03 | More by Onenote81

maximum12

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to nc41 for sending me a box full of Olde Hickory, which appears in the dictionary beside "under-rated breweries". This came out just before the trade & was a last-minute addition. 22 oz. bottle split, twice. Evenly. My wife becomes angry if I short her 1/4 ounce, so I'm very careful. I bruise easily.

Pour is suitably dirty brown with a tinge of rosee' when held up to the light. Nose is a snoot full of vanilla with a nice base of sweet malts. Promising.

Daniel Boone. Yes. Immediate impression is that the base beer is too wimpy to hold this one up. There's a nice shot of bourbon & vanilla, then...not much. Light malts, singe of roast, bare sweetness. All overwhelmed by the bourbon. And the bourbon, unfortunately, isn't tasty enough to carry this one alone.

Not bad by any means, but really just, well, beer. Perhaps the most bullseye mediocre barrel-aged beer I've ever tasted.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 03:20:59 | More by maximum12

mechamifune

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a deep mahonany brown with the slightest of off white head. Almost no sense of carbonation or lacing. Looks sticky in the glass though the body looks thin.

Smell is tons of bourbon upfront, with notes of vanilla, oak, caramel. A nice enough smell though the bourbon really dominates.

Taste is sweet upfront with the bourbon dominating at first but then settling in with the rest of the flavors. As you get through the glass all the notes seem to blend together nicely. A nice bourbon forward beer without feeling hot at all.

Mouthfeel is the low point for me. Almost "angel's share" level of carbonation. I know this style shouldn't be loaded with cabonation, but the body is just a little too thin for the size of the flavor here. Just needs a bit more cabonation, and I think this could become a great beer.

Overall, this is an interesting beer that I'm glad I tried. Feels more like an old ale than a brown ale (given the abv, i guess this is more an "imperial" brown ale), but I suppose that's really semantics at this point. It will be interesting to see how it ages and how the flavors develop. As it is now, it is one of the better taste profiles I've had in a bourbon forward beer. The body just ultimately makes it a little hard to get through for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 12:37:35 | More by mechamifune

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Deep brown body, no real carbonation. Initial head disappears quickly leaving a small head.

Smell is boozy as hell. Light and slick, still sweet. Hints of roasted malts somewhere in the background.

Hm the taste. Very light body. Lots of woody oak that adds a bit of dryness. More dry than anything, and the malt feels chewy. Full bodied bourbon-like flavors, yet none of the harshness of bourbon itself. I like how they got the flavors from the barrel without the overly boozy characteristics. Very smooth and sweet. No vanilla, all bourbon and oak.

The sweetness is my only knock on the mouthfeel. The sweet bourbon flavors are nice, but its a bit hard to drink at time.

Overall a really good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 23:48:03 | More by VncentLIFE

oberon

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A beer that's starting to attract a buzz in the southeast forum I picked one up at Bestway today here in Greensboro.Poured a rich clear deep amber/brown with a very thin wispy head atop,love the color not impressed with the head.Bourbon and vanilla dominated the aromas,they really took over with only some dark fruit coming into play outside of the barrel.Vanilla and dark fruit flavors on the palate with a bit of sweet alcohol,the vanilla is the major flavor note with the beer a little secondary.I have a problem with over done bourbon barrel aging on a beer,I wanna taste beer not bourbon,I want the bourbon to accent and not dominate the flavor profile.OH is my favorite NC brewery but I have to go against the grain and say this isn't that great...it is pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 23:48:42 | More by oberon