Crunkle Sam - Bourbon Barrel Aged
Clown Shoes in Boston, Massachusetts, United States 🇺🇸
Barley Wine - Barley Regular|
Score
6.31
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Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 3.5
Canned 5/23/22, drunk 11/28/22. Clear, blonde-amber, medium-beige head slowly to cover. I get a few hints of well-aged barleywine, but I get a lot of aggressively sweet, hoppy, sugary barleywine, too. Floral and yet not boozey, but with some moderate sourdough-like twang. Strong bourbon spice, sharpness and booze on top of a thinner than is needed texture. Raw bourbon, tannin, dry vanilla and just no comfort from either rich maltiness or what not. Sour, thin, overly bourbon-heavy with no balance. No sense of maltiness whatsoever. Absolutely terribly done. Dumped after two sips.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Can. A- Barley, hoppy, alcohol. A- Burnt orange color, cloudy liquid, off white head. T- Barley, malt, bitter, caramel, grassy. P- Full body, average texture, average carbonation, slightly hoppy finish. O- Kept thinking this was going to be a stout, but the mind wanders. A tad aggressive and definitely an American style barleywine. Got little bourbon influence. Meh.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
A barley wine aged in bourbon barrels, this iteration has an ABV of 10.5%. This time I have a 12 oz can, pkged on 5/23/22, and acquired at Mr. T's, the local craft beer shop. Pop the lid and pour inside of my Cowtown tulip glass. I determine a clear, medium amber body finished by a strong top of fine, tan bubbles that persists. A delightful scent, ripe fruit and alcohol. Time for the drink. Raisins, red plums, grain, malt and a touch of the bourbon. A little thin, unfortunate. A decent barley wine.
Earlier Rating: 12/10/2020 Total Score: 4
I have a large appreciation for Clown Shoes when it comes to their imperial stouts. Other styles, less so, but then I am influenced by my great like for imperial stouts in general. Today I have a stovepipe can of Crunkle Sam 2020, purchased in Ft. Worth on Black Friday at the Total Wine, ready to be sampled. I do see there is bourbon barrel aging involved, normally a positive with me. The Buffalo Bayou tulip glass is engaged for this rating, I pour and determine an orange-gold body topped with a significant near-white head. The scent is rather becoming with grain, a honey sweetness, caramel and a whiff of the booze. Let us move to the drink, okay, this is not bad. Actually one of the better barley wines I can recall. Grain, toffee, syrup, malt, a jolt of bourbon and white bread. I would drink again.