Charkoota Rye: Brandy Barrel-Aged
New Holland Brewing Company in Holland, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸
Smoked / Rauchbier Rotating Out of Production|
Score
7.13
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Charkoota Rye is a Smoked Rye Dopplebock. An homage to all things Pig, including Porkapalooza and the age-old tradition of Charcuterie, Charkoota Rye’s malty backbone is derived from a blend of rye and four other malts, including malted barley smoked over cherry wood.
Its smoke-forward body is balanced with tones of deep mollasses and caramel, with a crisp, clean lager finish. Delightful by itself, Charkoota is best served with its succulent counterpart, Pork.
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Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, 2012 vintage. Pours nearly opaque dark brown color with a 2 finger fairly dense tan head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big wood smoke, chocolate, caramel, toffee, toast, brown sugar, brown rye bread, raisin, plum, cherry, brandy, oak, light char, and oak/smoky earthiness. Damn nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/smoked malt, brandy barrel, and dark fruit notes; with good strength. Taste of big wood smoke, chocolate, caramel, toffee, toast, brown sugar, brown rye bread, raisin, plum, cherry, brandy, oak, light char, and oak/smoky earthiness. Slight smoke/roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of wood smoke, chocolate, caramel, toffee, toast, brown sugar, brown rye bread, raisin, plum, cherry, brandy, oak, light char, and oak/smoky earthiness on the finish for a while. Damn nice complexity and robustness of dark/smoked malt, brandy barrel, and dark fruit flavors; with a great malt/barrel balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very smooth, moderately creamy, and lightly slick mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a light warming present after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice barrel aged smoked doppelbock style. All around great complexity and balance of dark/smoked malt, brandy barrel, and dark fruit flavors; and very smooth to sip on for the big ABV. A very enjoyable offering.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8.5
On tap at Fat Heads in the Burgh. Pours a deep dark brown color with a small white bubble of head. The aroma is big brandy and smoke. The flavor works out quite well: a base of rich lager, smoke, sweet dark fruit, big brandy barrel. Very sweet and warm. Enjoyable and a nice take.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
22oz bottle paired with Jims Meat Market Chicken Cordon Bleu brats. Heaven. Deep opaque brown, a hint of burgundy. Thin, glass rimming beige head. Sweet chocolate, a touch of smoked meat. Wow. A really well done, chocolaty Doppelbock, further accentuated by the mellow brandy barrel tones...more oak than booze..nice. Odd, but also quite spot on. A unique beer, well worth seeking out if you are a Rauchbier aficionado.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Location: 22 oz bottle from Oak Tree, 12/2/12, Aged in Brandy Barrels, 9.35% ABV
Aroma: The smoked malts dominate the nose, and there's some booze and roast as well
Appearance: It pours a dark brown color with a red hue, a small beige head, and light lace
Flavor: The taste has lots of smoke and meat, with some wood and boozy flavors as well
Palate: The body is pretty full, it has a thick, chewy, and meaty feel, and a lightly boozy finish
Overall Impression: This beer is quite smokey and meaty, maybe even more so then you'd expect in the style. The booze are there, but pretty well hidden. This is some interesting stuff, but I can't imagine wanting to drink large quantities considering how meaty and thick it is.