Highland Bourbon Barrel Aged Gaelic Ale - Highland Brewing

bigrzman

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I bought this in a six pack in South Carolina.

Pours out nut red/brow with an off white head that is thick and creamy. The beer has little carbonation.

The beer has an aroma of black and caramel malts, grass, and citrus.

The beer has a caramel and earthy fuggle hop front with a back note of grass, lemon rind, and other citrus oils.

The texture is oily and silky and is overall drying.

Very pleasnt easy drinking beer. It leaves good lace in the glass and looks great. The taste is complex but i wish it had some peaty notes. Good beer all aound.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 16:05:44 | More by bigrzman

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A surprise tap offering at the Highland Tasting Room - shared with a motley crew that included my extra exclusive VIP hostess.

A: The Gaelic, normally a tawny red color, doesn't lose a step in the barrel aging. If anything, it picks up a bit of darkness but not enough to change the complexion. The biggest eye-draw is the relative lack of carbonation - not much head here to console me.

S: Sweet bourbon overruns the full caramel aromas that normally exist. Vanilla and coconut, a bit of booziness, and firm oak are the stand-outs, a rich environment that transforms the Gaelic into something nearly unrecognizable.

T: The bourbon strongly influences every aspect of the ale, adding sweet vanilla and strength to the caramel base. The wood aging adds a rich, buttery flavor that draws out more of the vanilla. Despite the aging, the ale doesn't feel big (at least until the second pint, yes these beers were served in pint glasses). Instead the sweet booziness is comforting, not in your face. A real treat to find this on tap. I'm sure it didn't last the weekend.

M: Smooth, bold mouthfeel. I ended up with two glasses - a win-win at the time but nearly horrendous the next morning.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2012 21:22:28 | More by akorsak