Bluegrass Bourbon Barrel Wee Heavy

Brewed by Bluegrass Brewing Company
Style: Scotch Ale
Louisville, Kentucky USA

Serve in Thistle

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750 ml bottle from The Party Source, purchased in mid-late 2011. Pours a cloudy amber-nut-brown color with a medium beige head. When I first pour it, I get a nice bourbon barrel aroma balanced by the peat character from the Scotch ale, and thought BBC had nailed it - warm bourbon, toasted oak, caramel, vanilla, peat, and earth. But after a few minutes, that all seemed to fade and this became considerably weaker and fruitier. Same with the flavor. The first few sips reveal big Scotch peatiness, wood, bourbon, toffee, and toasted brown sugar; the rest becomes overripe fruit with backing oak. Medium-bodied, with medium carbonation and a quick finish. What happened? Did this not do well after several months in the bottle? Is it just 5 minutes of exposure to air that kills it? Either way, this seemed so promising when we opened it and then just vanished.

750 ml bottle. Served in a nonic pint glass, the beer pours a reddish/chestnut brown color with about a half inch light tan head. The head doesn’t stay around for very long, and there’s a decent amount of lacing on the glass. Aroma is pretty nice, it smells like bourbon, vanilla, toffee, and a bit of dark fruit (raisins, figs). Taste is pretty much the same as the aroma, except that there’s some peat flavors noticeable too. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it’s a bit creamy and smooth with low/moderate carbonation. I think it’s a solid overall brew, and definitely worth trying.

Bottle shared by Dogbrick. Clear copper pour with no head. Aroma of apple cider (caramel, apple, spice) and booze. Bourbon and apple flavor with a bit of tartness and spice before a bourbony finish.

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.

Bottle from Liquor Barn. Deep amber red with no head. Caramel, toffee, and bourbon aroma and taste with a grassy vanilla and oak finish.

Draft. Poured a clear dark brown color with a moderate frothy brown head that mostly lasted with good lacing. Medium to heavy toasted malt and bourbon aroma. Medium to full body with a smooth texture and flat carbonation. Medium to heavy bourbon sweet flavor with a medium to heavy sweet finish of moderate to long duration. A smooth complex brew.

Amber pour with tan head and lace. Aroma of sour mash whiskey. Sour malt and medium whiskey semi sweet. Medium bodied with good carbonation. Nice beer