Rocky's Revenge Bourbon Brown - Tyranena Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Bottle thanks to the generous jpm30. Rich brown colour, but unique to get it that way. White head that lasts a while. Bourbon aroma, and bold bourbon taste. We Canadians are not normally into bourbon, but a good effort at it. Sourish by-product, well malted.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2006 06:15:35 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

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

Dark bronze with a glass-filling crimson sunburst when backlit. The creamy beige cap is several fingers in height and displays a moonscape surface of variously sized craters. Although the head doesn't appear to be overly tacky, it deposits quite a bit of lace in hugely holey sheets.

It's a decent brown ale nose, but that's as far as it goes. For starters, I'm disappointed in the lack of bourbon aromas. Any beer with the word bourbon in the name ought to at least smell like that spirit. I can appreciate modestly roasted barley, some cocoa... and not much else of note.

It's better on the palate, but Rocky's Revenge isn't the bourbon-flavored brown ale of my dreams. The malt backbone, while acceptable, could be bigger. Unfortunately, there's a sourness present that I also remember tasting in this brewery's Chief BlackHawk Porter. It wasn't all that appealing there and it isn't all that appealing here. I don't mind a sour tang in most beer, depending on the style of course, but this one strikes a discordant note for some reason.

The flavor is lightly chocolate-like with an unsweetened cocoa powder bitterness and a moderate undertow of whiskey. I'm finding it hard to identify the whiskey as bourbon per se, since there's very little vanilla, brown sugar, etc. I do pick up a fair amount of woodiness, but it isn't all that appealing in and of itself. The light-medium body leans toward medium without quite getting there.

Rocky's Revenge Bourbon Brown is a disappointment, but that's only because my hopes were sky high. It's still good beer, even if the pint of Bourbon Barrel Porter that I had at my local Rock Bottom last month is its clear superior. I'm not sorry that I bought a sixer, but no tears will be shed once I've finished the last one.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2005 21:04:09 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another very nice extra I received in a trade recently. I had not yet sampled this one from Tyreana but was thrilled to be able to get the chance. Served right out of the fridge into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 07/31/2008.

The pour was very nice. A rich looking brown, with nice clarity and some reddish tints to the sides and bottom of the glass. Light carbonation could be seen trickling up from the bottom. There was a decent sized, maybe three quarters of an inch of off white foam that came across the top and hung for the remainder of the session, creating some nice ripples of side glass lace.

The aroma was light, lots of nuttiness and light grain in there. Faint hint of vanilla and some light cocoa as well. Maybe a touch of figs way in the back mixed in with an earthy roasted malt. The flavor was very smooth with a nice medium bodied brown ale that still served up very well in the carbonation department. Initial flavor was of caramel and hazelnut, with a touch of oak and bourbon. Nothing really overblown here at all which led to it still being amazingly session able. Light aftertaste of roasted nuts and caramel with hints of vanilla and a very slight bitterness to it. Very nice and solid brown ale here.

Overall I have to admit this was not bad at all. I was really impressed that the bourbon tones were not overblown, but were in fact nicely put together as more of an accent to a already solid beer. Really a very well done brown ale that I would be happy to try any day!

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2008 15:10:24 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours brown with a bit of an off white head. The pint shows a bit of lacing on the way down. Nose brings brown sugar, caramel, bourbon, and some sweet malt. The taste is somewhat sweet with some boozy bourbon notes and some light caramel and bread. A bit of a nutty characteristic. Medium body with good carbonation and integration. Drinks quite well and is a nice low ABV brown ale, considering all that goes into it.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2010 01:58:40 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a cola brown color and a sturdy little head that sticks as a ringlet but coats the glass

Smell: Just a hint of the barrel wafts above the brown bread and caramel base

Taste: Opens with a bready, caramel flavor that adds oaky bourbon subtlety by mid-palate; after the swallow, a bit of cocoa powder sweetness joins the profile, with good persistence from the other flavors

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation; rather creamy

Drinkability: A bourbon beer that is not over the top; nicely balanced

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2008 01:21:57 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a deep burgundy color ale with a small foamy head with average retention and great lacing. Aroma is dominated by vanilla and bourbon with some light alcohol ester also discernable. Taste is also a mix between some vanilla and some bourbon. Medium body with Ok carbonation and some alcohol was discernable. Probably one of the most complex and satisfying brown ale I ever had if you can truly categorise this beer as such.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2009 20:57:27 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.98/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Without having a lot of Boubon aged Brown ales, I always thought this would be a very good idea. This beer is a good example of why. The beer looks... ...well, brown, with some ruby highlights mixed in, and a slight haze. Low levels of carbon dioxide release a dainty foamstand, that did last the duration and laced well up front. The aromas give a solid chocolate malt scent with some emphasis on sweetness in the range of caramel, vanilla, and a little lactose. Tastes give much the same with a higher emhasis on the vanilla notes. A mild wood flavor eminatats through the sweetness and balances well with the timid hops and toasted grains. Any boubon flavors remain light and come through late in the finish / aftertaste. The body feels a bit heavy (due to lighter co2), but offers a velvety, milky texture. A really good beer, on the verge of being great. Thanks again Nathan15.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2007 02:48:04 | More by BEERchitect

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Rocky's Revenge pours a slightly hazy chestnut brown body beneath a creamy head of antiqued-ivory froth that holds well and leaves some very nice rings of lace about the glass.

The nose is cocoa-ish, nutty, and a touch toasty.

In the mouth it's surprisingly creamy with a dextrinous, medium body and moderate carbonation.

The flavor is surprisingly complex as well, considering it's a brown ale. It starts sweetly cocoaish with a note of vanilla; a touch of yeasty fruitiness; and a mild, dark-roasted chocolatey edge. Occassional flashes of Bourbon appear, but they're limited. Some nuttiness follows along with some more vanilla, a bit of toastiness, and even an occassional note of cocoanut. Once it crosses the palate it dries quickly, partly due to its firm bitterness, and partly due to its drying, woody edge. Still, some more cocoa and nuts remain, as well as a swirl of dark dried fruit, and a long lingering, dull and semi-mild bitterness.

Interesting, enjoyable, and not overdone with bourbon-barrel character.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2005 21:52:30 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

I had to snatch this away before it was sniped by a buddy of mine. (Don't get me wrong, sharing is awesome, but I wanted this bottle for my very own.) It pours a dark ruby-tinted brown topped by half-finger of glowing off-white foam. The nose comprises oak, bourbon, dark wheat, and some watered-down roasted malts, with a kick of alcohol looming in the background. The taste lightens the bourbon, adds a healthy helping of walnuts and greens, and continues the watering-down of the roasted malts. The body is medium, with a light carbonation and a liquid-y feel. Overall, a decently solid bourbon brown, but it falls a bit too short for me to really get excited about it.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2010 19:04:44 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A bourbon barrel brown, eh? About time, I've had it with the whiskey-fied stouts and barleywines...feh! Time for a change!
Clear, bright red/nearly brown color, with a slim, fuzzy tannish head.
Nose shows the whiskey right off the bat, rustic, leathery, roasted nuts, fermented fruits,oak and vanilla, slick, wicked, delicious, and deep.
Poweful mouthfeel, smooth and substantial, but overly felt. Feels rather light, but maintains a significant presence. So, what am I trying to say here? Let's luxuriate in it for a moment and consider a more cogent summation...
Medium bodied, with a long,fruity, nutty finish...this is exactly what it ought to be, and utterly unique: a light, yet fully flavored, smooth-drinking brown ale, with a whisper of whiskey-ness filling out the edges, and occasionally floating on top.
Certainly the greatest bourbon barrel-aged brown ale named after a legendary lake-dwelling dinosaur, known to man!
Much thanks to cokes for the bottle!

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2004 10:28:18 | More by feloniousmonk

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Exiled for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a clear light brown color with a tan head. The aroma is grain, caramel malt and little wood. The flavor is caramel with some chocolate and toffee. I don't get much bourbon in the aroma or flavor. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2010 04:16:10 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

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

A - Poured out a dark burgandy color with a soapy, white, one-finger head that left nice lace.

S - It smelled of malt and a light grassiness. It also smelled of hazelnut.

T - It tasted very nutty. It also had a great malty character. There was a little oakiness, too.

M - It was crisp and sharp. A medium-bodied beer.

D - This is a very good American Brown. I really like the nutty/malty flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2008 03:08:48 | More by zeff80

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.73/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this one from Sebletije, cheers Seb!

Pours a crimson head chestnut with a finger of tan head. very good head retention & good lacing

S: Toasty malt & vegetal odor

T: Toasty malt, a bit of baker's chocolate & some oakyness up front. Dryness, leafy hops & more nuttyness as this warms. Finishes dry, nutty & with some caramel

MF: Medium bodied with low carbonation, pretty smooth & well balanced

Easy drinker, pity about the smell, a nice brown otherwise..

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2008 23:30:23 | More by russpowell

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A 12 oz bottle courtesy of CH3CH2OH.

A: The brown ale is just that - brown. When held to light some brighter amber colors are revealed. The head is fairly restrained on pour and does not lace much.

S: A part of the beer has been aged in bourbon barrels and that comes through in the nose. There is a slightly sweet bourbony character that mixes well with the nuttier brown ale malt.

T: When cold, the bourbon character in the ale really stands out. It provides an immediate buttery alcohol component that spices up the nutty malts of the brown ale. I like that only a portion of the ale was aged in bourbon barrels, it prevents the sweetness from overtaken the ale entirely. The maltiness manages to sneak out periodically, providing a balance to the bourbon. The one thing that I can't really find in the ale is a hoppy profile.

M: I am really impressed with the restraint of the bourbon character. While I can appreciate the all-out strength of a good bourbon-aged beer, I really like how subtle this one is.

D: Few bourbon beers are as drinkable as this one. The soft bourbon buttery notes are very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2007 03:10:36 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

You have to appreciate a beer like this at least a little for just plain being different. I certainly don't know of any other bourbon browns out there.

That said, this might not be the best beer to be bourbon aging. The bourbon dominated the aroma and flavor, yet wasn't that strong. Sure there was a little vanilla and oak in there too, but this beer was surprisingly low-flavor. That's not to say it isn't tasty or highly drinkable, because it is, it just has a lot of potential in my mind that it doesn't live up to.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2007 12:18:38 | More by tempest

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a perfectly clear amber with a brown hue on there. Head is tan. Flavor is interesting. Kind of a tangy, earthy and sour edge on there. Inky a bit too. Get a slight burn from boozy tones. A nutty edge seems to be peeking from around the corner. Feel has nipping carbonation and the liquid is thick enough. Interesting to drink. The flavors don't seem to be meshing all that well as there are some unusual things going on here. But it's not undrinkable. Interesting enough to try once I guess.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2009 00:17:10 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

2.98/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: Poured slow, boring and dark brown with some reddish highlightss. Small white head quickly fades to a ring around the glass.

S: Light vanilla, toffee, caramel malt and hints if bourbon

T : Sweet malt flavor and caramel with a nice bourbon flavor evident on the finish. Not an overpowering flavor of bourbon. Perhaps I would like a bit more of the bourbon showing. Some nuts, light vanilla and toffee provide some flavor but this beer was rather muddy.

M: Medium body with a light carbonation, not okay for the style.

O: Not impressed, not bad but probably would not drink again. Besides the poor carbonation and muddled flavors it was not bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 15:00:02 | More by barleywinefiend

Wasatch

Utah

4.38/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks goes out to Monsone for this brew.

Pours a nice clean/clear dark brown color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy brown head, which does leave some nice sticky lacing. The nose is malty, nice little touch of bourbon for a 6% ABV brew, with some caramel. The taste is slightly sweet, big malt flavor, bourbon (very nice), with some caramel. Medium body. Very drinkable, this was a treat to drink, very nicely done. Love the brew's from Tyranena.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2008 01:16:05 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a tall white wine glass)

A- This beer has a walnut brown body with a slight haze and a creamy head that is a bit thin. There is a good strong carbonation.

S- This beer has a light bourbon note with a faint dried fruit note.

T- There are flavors of oak with a light wet wood note that blend with the brown malt flavors. There is a faint note of caramel malt that has a hint of brown sugar that is not overly sweet. There is a faint hop bitterness in the finish.

M- This beer has a medium light mouthfeel.

D- This beer has good depth, nice oaky flavors and some good sweetness also.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2006 23:49:11 | More by rhoadsrage

mdfb79

New York

4.16/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From 01/19/13 notes. Had a bottle of this at Lou Malnati's in Chicago. 12 oz. bottle poured into a pint glass, bottled on 12/17/12.

a - Pours a deep mahogany brown color with one inch of white head and low carbonation evident.

s - Smells of nuts, caramel malts, chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, toasted malts, and roasted malts. Bourbon is there but not overpowering; I like it quite a bit.

t - Tastes of sweet vanilla and chocolate, caramel malts, toffee, bourbon, oak, nuts, toasted malts, roasted malts. Taste is nice and sweet with more vanilla than the nose had; a slight step up for me.

m - Medium body and low carbonation; very smooth and easy to drink.

o - Overall I thought this was a really good BA brown ale; the bourbon comes through but doesn't dominate it, and give the taste a lot of vanilla and sweetness. Lots of flavor and easy to drink, would love to have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 19:42:31 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
To shoot off the legs of his rival

So anyways, thank this one quite a bit to erric (BA and Reddit) for a Bourbon barrel aged Tyranena that I can almost guarantee I will enjoy.

An aggressive pour yields a small fizzy head that fades at a med pace to nothing, over semi hazy maroon auburn molasses colored murky looking beer.

nose is actually kinda weird, like a Madeira steak sauce and V8 juice tomato like juice kinda... very weird! Then the typical malts, lots of brown malts, a little toasty with some caramel and molasses, a bit of barrel and woody esters with a little bourbon, the brown malts bring lots of molasses and syrupy like aromas that are what I think relate the weird Madeira and tomato like aromas.

Taste starts with more brown malts, lots of brown malts, bit syrupy, but tons of brown sugar, molasses, and some caramel toffee. Then quickly the bourbon kicks in with a light sweet bourbon flavor, and some barrel flavors. The bourbon adds an almost candy bourbon sauce like flavor. A hint of smoke in there as well. This really makes me think of a nice BBQ meat marinade. As it goes a bit of a juicy like malt flavor comes out, and brings a bit of dark fruits like raisin and date. It finishes drier with more of the lingering malts and light bourbon, and a bit of a bitter earthy hop taste comes out.

Mouth is med bodied, decent carb.

So I've noticed a weird thing happens when you bourbon barrel age a lighter <8% beer. The bourbon seems to take on a new character that is not always great flavoring. This is interesting, but not great, not nearly what I expected it to be. Still tasty and drinkable, some nice bourbon characteristics, some weird ones too esp aroma, nice brown sugar and molasses, caramel, toffee, etc, a nice brown ale, but just too weird.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 03:44:30 | More by jlindros

ppoitras

Massachusetts

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

12oz bottle obtained via trade with CRJMellor. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1" light tan head over the mostly clear reddish brown brew. Frothy head hangs around nicely, and lacing is very nice. Aroma is lightly of grains, but more or less too sedate for me here. Taste is upfront with brown malts, moving into some fruitiness, and a bourbon flavor at the close. Mouthfeel and drinkability are both good. I'm not a real big fan of the extreme browns, which this one seems to almost aspire to, but it's an enjoyable and interesting brew, for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2005 20:53:45 | More by ppoitras

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a tulip glass.

Pours a deep brown (clear ruby lines the edges) with a tight finger of off-white foamy head. Retains with a solid 1/2 finger that stays very frothy in both the retetion and the thick lacing that it leaves behind. The aroma is smokey roast, toffee, and citric hops, wrapped up in notes of vanilla tinged bourbon and the scent of tannic wood character. Overall this is pretty tangy smelling in the nose.

The taste is sticky with sweet malts but also has an extra layer of roasty depth to it, along with a moderately assertive hop presence. Bourbon and lighter woody notes come out in a flush towards the back of the swallow and does a really nice job of blending into the sweeter aspects of the profile. Finishes dry from the barrel but the Brown Ale character isn't forgotton with roast and hops lingering just as boldly. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a bit of creaminess to the carbonation but is overall fairly slick and slippery in the mouth, which fits in perfectly with the sweetness and barrel character that is present.

I enjoyed this. I think that the fact that some of the bourbon aged beer was mixed in with fresh really helped get the flavors across without overdoing it. This was a pleasant one to sip at. I really should have grapped a six pack of this instead of just a single.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2009 18:05:31 | More by Kegatron

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle picked up in WI.

Pours a pretty clear dark red, some brownish highlights, bit of chunky proteins floating around, thick and rocky light tan head forms, slowly settles to a medium ring and layer, good lacing all over the glass.

Smell is nice, sweet and malty, caramel, biscuit, corn syrup, nuts, lots of fruit, some light bourbon and vanilla, wood, brown sugar, alcohol, nice raisiny/date sweetness, bourbon works well with the base.

Taste is nice, very sweet and fruity, strawberries, brown sugar, caramel, peanut brittle, light bourbon sweetness, vanilla, alcohol, wood, raisin, biscuity malt, nice sweet finish, but still balanced, very nutty in the finish.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with medium carbonation. Body could use a bit more beef but the bourbon barrel worked great especially with the low ABV. I think I might have another!

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2009 00:45:59 | More by Viggo

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Deep looking auburn/scarlet red blend. Thin and airy light brown head tops it off and sticks around long enough. Lace is moderate and spotty. Nice aroma of roasted chocolate, vanilla bean, wood and sweet, sweet bourbon. There's a really nice brown ale base to this beer. Roasted malts and dry hop tones. Gives the bourbon something to work with....and work it does. By no means is this a high octane Bourban brew. But the bourbon works nicely in this great session brew. It provides a sweet counterpart to the roasted nuttiness that the malts provide. Body is medium at best and the carbonation ever so prickly. I could drink a lot of these fuckers in one sitting.

Thanks for the splash of bourbon cokes.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2005 03:17:36 | More by Bighuge