Bourbon Barrel Wee Heavy

28th February 2011
Very hazy brown beer. Ghost of a white head. Light palate. Low carbonation but does have a slightly crispy feel. Surprisingly watery flavours here. Slightly sour woody malt. Trace of vanilla and bourbon. Minerals. Semi dry finish. Curious beer - was expecting much bolder flavours.

This beer is a murky dark brownish-amber color with a medium light tan head that lasts awhile. Rings of lacing on the glass. Bourbon aroma with notes of bready malt and fruit behind it. Full-bodied with a boozy character and flavors of peaty malt, hops, caramel and vanilla. The finish is lingering bourbon and earthy malt. Above average overall.

Beer #21 at GTMW ’09. I’m happy to patronize some of these brewers who’ve come such a long way. Nice reddish brown, thick head kicked by the narrow glass. Just a nice beer smell, shielded by the head. Not too much scotch or alcohol, despite being, I believe, 8.3% abv. Not a lot of peat to it either, until the end of the glass. A very decent beer taste adds up to a very understated but good ale.

Draft. Clear ruby brown body with a tan head. The aroma is full of bourbon and oak with notes of sweet caramel and vanilla. The flavor is moderately sweet and lightly bitter. It finishes lightly to moderately sweet and lightly bitter. Tastes of sweet bourbon with a slight smokiness in the finish. The bourbon and wood overshadow whatever character the scotch ale brings to the beer, but not overwhelmingly. Light to medium body, watery texture and lively carbonation. Very nice.