Harrington's Breweries Big John Special Reserve

Big John Special Reserve

 

Harrington's Breweries in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand 🇳🇿

  Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy Regular
Score
7.01
ABV: 6.5% IBU: - Ticks: 9
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7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
(bottle) Very dark ruby with some tan head. Rich aroma: raisins with a hint of funkiness. Full bodied with nice but rather subtle carbonation. Flavour is (and this sounds contradictory) rich in a rather restrained way. Nice balance of sweetness with some bitter burnt / dark roast notes. Pleasant undertones of dried fruit, spice, chocolate and maybe a hint of vanilla. Overall a very pleasant dark ale, but not exceptional.
Tried from Bottle on 02 Mar 2012 at 03:41

7.2/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
Pours dark copper with a creamy off-white head.Nose shows lovely oak and bourbon notes with great caramel and light roasted malt providing the backbone. Nice chocolate and nutty hints.Pretty similar flavours but quite sweet. When all mixed together (including the not inconsiderable amount of woody bourbon) it becomes a bit too much.Carbonation is a little full on.
Tried on 11 Mar 2011 at 23:09

6.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 4 Overall 6.5
Bottled. A red-brown beer with a thin tan head. The aroma is sweet with notes of malt and caramel as well as light notes of oxidation, wood, and over ripe fruits. The flavor is sweet with notes of malt, caramel, over ripe fruits, and oxidation, leading to a dry, bitter, and lightly roasted. The body is thin. Old? Thanks Papsoe for sharing.
Tried from Bottle on 20 May 2009 at 14:31

6.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
(Bottle 50 cl) Clear orangey brown with a small off-white head. Aroma of burned caramel and a little smoke. Medium body with notes of burned caramel and some dry and peaty whisky accents. Dry finish. 190608
Tried from Bottle on 25 Oct 2008 at 16:37

7.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Brown with medium off white head. Sweet and yeasty aroma with roasted malt, caramel and chocolate. Sweet flavor with ripe fruits, caramel, roasted malt, chocolate and smoke.
Tried on 09 Sep 2008 at 04:30

7/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 8
Bottle @ Amerikaner blindsmagning @ Papsoe, Bottle #13.]Clear medium red brown color with a average, frothy, good lancing, mostly lasting, off-white to beige head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, caramel, rye bread, chocolate, smoke notes. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. (190608)
Tried from Bottle on 02 Sep 2008 at 02:32

6.9/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Bottle. Papsoes MadsBerg homecoming blindtasting, bottle #13. Pours golden brown and orange with a lacing white head. Mild spiced and breadish aroma. Roasted malt and mild breadish flavour. Light butterish note too. Mild spice note to a dry malt base into a light bodied finish.
Tried from Bottle on 22 Jun 2008 at 07:04

7.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7
Bottled. Clear nut brown. Chocolate aroma. Sweet with some toffee and plenty of buttery malt. Pleasantly warming with near full body and low hop rate. Harrington’s beers are hit and miss, but this is a given hit!
Tried from Bottle on 24 Feb 2006 at 06:49

7.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
Brown; malty, dark cherry aroma; caramelly & fruity palate, smooth oily body. Distinctive.
Tried on 22 Jul 2002 at 08:55