John Henry 3 Lick Spiker Ale - Cold Spring Brewing Co.

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BA SCORE
83
good
-
256 Ratings

rAvg: 3.69
pDev: 14.63%
Reviews: 149
Hads: 107

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Cold Spring Brewing Co.

Minnesota, United States

Style | ABV
American Strong Ale | 9.10% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (145), on-tap (4).

Notes:
Three Lick Spiker Ale is brewed with three different roasted malts creating chocolate flavors and full body taste. After fermentation has been completed with our top fermenting ale yeast we infuse our brew with bourbon oak aged chips and let the extended aging process take over. Hints of bourbon and vanilla from the oak come through the aroma and flavor.

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Reviews

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Reviews by JamesMN:

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.74/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Black with decent clarity even though you can't see through it because of the color. Thin light brown head with some nice froth around the edges.

Aroma: A lot of nice characteristics here, all slightly subdued. Vanilla, oak, roasted malt, char, caramel, and a touch of pineapple.

Taste: Starts with lightly roasted malts that really aren't all that special. The special part of this one is all in the finish. Right away after each sip there is a warmth on the palate and then a smokey flavor emerges that is quite interesting. A mix of smoked oak and alcohol. Not getting too much bourbon flavor. Very moderate bitterness here. I think I'd file this one more under Imperial Brown Ale.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly thin for 9.1% ABV but that lends to an ease of drinkability. The effervescence can be a bit much. I would not session this as one is plenty.

Final Thoughts: For what it is and the price point ($8.99 for a four pack) it's not a bad deal. It would work well as an introductory beer for someone just getting into oak aged ales. However, it doesn't pack the bourbon punch that was expected and lacks in body. Would I drink it again? Let's put it this way, I wouldn't seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 20:06:57 | More by JamesMN

More User Reviews:

ColdWaffles

Pennsylvania

3.5/5 rDev -5.1%

05-15-2013 16:30:03 | More by ColdWaffles

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5 rDev +1.6%

05-14-2013 21:14:02 | More by InspectorBob

BMart

Pennsylvania

3/5 rDev -18.7%

05-13-2013 17:04:39 | More by BMart

BucannonXC5

California

4.21/5 rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Type: 12-oz. bottle
Glass: Firestone restaurant pint glass
From: Cherokee Market Beer & Wine in Normal Heights (San Diego), Calif.
Price: $9.99 for a 4-pack
Purchased: May 11, 2013
Consumed:May 11, 2013
Misc.: N/A

Poured an almost pitch black color with two fingers of pillowy tan head. Not as much lacing as I’d thought there would be, average with sporadic spots. Very nice retention of tan foam all the way down.

Smelled chocolate, toffee, caramel, oak, chocolate milk, faint coffee and bourbon. Very malty.

Tasted similar to the nose, just so smooth. Got toffee, caramel, tobacco, oak, chocolate, bourbon, chocolate milk, vanilla and faint coffee beans. Touch of bitterness, but smooth.

Medium-to-full body. Slick texture. Average carbonation. Long, warming, smooth finish with just a tad bit of bitterness.

A very good beer and I think a great price at $2.50 a bottle. Would love to try it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 06:50:50 | More by BucannonXC5

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.6/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle purchased as a single from somewhere localish.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/2" light brown head over the cloudy brown brew. Head recedes gradually, with lasting lace. Aroma is sweet and oaky.

Taste starts chocolatey sweet with a touch of fusel upfront, creamy in the middle, with a lightly boozy close and a lingering aftertaste, . Mouthfeel is pretty smooth, and drinkability is alright. Doesn't quite all come together as well as I would hope, but not too bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 01:39:36 | More by ppoitras

jabo134

Illinois

3.75/5 rDev +1.6%

05-06-2013 01:56:08 | More by jabo134

CaptainNomihodai

Illinois

3.5/5 rDev -5.1%

04-27-2013 05:09:58 | More by CaptainNomihodai

aaronblain22

Michigan

4/5 rDev +8.4%

04-27-2013 00:43:44 | More by aaronblain22

jdkitchi

Wisconsin

3.75/5 rDev +1.6%

04-27-2013 00:35:03 | More by jdkitchi

kguard

Iowa

4.25/5 rDev +15.2%

04-25-2013 04:04:33 | More by kguard

bulldog91

Illinois

4.25/5 rDev +15.2%

04-21-2013 04:01:05 | More by bulldog91

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

4/5 rDev +8.4%

04-18-2013 20:22:26 | More by browniewithnuts

jniagar1

Pennsylvania

4/5 rDev +8.4%

04-14-2013 00:36:58 | More by jniagar1

schoon

Iowa

4.25/5 rDev +15.2%

04-08-2013 00:10:26 | More by schoon

oneeyedhoolie

Maryland

3.75/5 rDev +1.6%

04-01-2013 20:38:50 | More by oneeyedhoolie

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3/5 rDev -18.7%

04-01-2013 12:11:15 | More by TheSevenDuffs

t2thebro

Iowa

5/5 rDev +35.5%

03-28-2013 23:09:33 | More by t2thebro

Cameron89

Iowa

4.95/5 rDev +34.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Great beer from start to finish. Fully body beer especially for being a 9.1% alc/vol. easy drink ability an great to have with steaks or other food parings depending on your food preference. love the idea of aging on bourbon oak chips. Plus it being Minnesota brew scores more points in my book. Love all three varieties that Cold Spring Brewing offers!

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 03:14:05 | More by Cameron89