BridgePort Bourbon Barrel Old Knucklehead

Brewed by BridgePort Brewing (Gambrinus Company)
Style: Barley Wine
Portland, Oregon USA

Serve in Snifter

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A vigorous pour into my 25cl tulip glass summons forth a creamy, dense, four-finger thick, nicely amber tinged, tan colored head. The beer is a deeply red stained, dark amber color that shows a brilliantly clear, red dyed, dark golden color when held up to the light. The aroma smells of washed out toasted malt, candied berries, faintly grassy hops are noticeable at first. At first blush the aroma seemed fairly bland, and very tame for a Barleywine. As the beer warms & opens up though some additional complexities start to come out, though it never gets the big aromatic presence one would expect from a Barleywine. Aromas of cherry liquor, some fruity brandy notes, a bit more herbal hops, and biscuit like malt add a little more interest to the nose.

Lightly sweet, with a viscous full mouthfeel that was almost a surprise coming off the week aroma. The beer has a light Bourbon Barrel influence that in addition to the usual notes of butterscotch, vanillin, warming alcohol and lightly spicy wood seems to play up an anise like flavor and some soft brandy notes (including a raisin and grape note). The Bourbon barrel is quite tame here, this is actually at a perfect level as it is just another component of this beer rather than a quite dominant one that many a Bourbon Barrel beer has. There is quite a bit of hop character here as well; nothing on the order of say a Bigfoot, but there is a nice herbal component, flavors of ripe pine needles, some candied citrus zest and a touch of menthol. The carbonation is a bit aggressive, but a quick swirl of my glass gets rid of the excessive fizziness and a touch of the pepper-like carbonic bite. I really like the fruity, sort of brandy like, perhaps cherry-cordial-esque note that this beer picks up; it is subtle, but quite pleasing.

I like that this is pretty easy drinking for a Barleywine (assuming you get rid of the excess carbonation) and the light barrel influence is a huge plus. Having said that the malt complexity is a bit lacking and the aroma is down right, even deceivingly so, weak (though it is decently complex as it warms up). While this started out slow, as I work my way through this 22oz bottle it really starts to come into its own; the flavor ends up really becoming quite well integrated, mellow (this can be a good thing even in a Barleywine), but distinct. A good beer, that is much more enjoyable than I was expecting.

22 oz. bottle. Pours a deep amber/copper color with a medium plus sized beige head. The aroma has sweet caramel malts, bourbon, vanilla, wood and a slight tart character. The flavor is decent overall; caramel, bourbon, vanilla and wood with hints of dark fruits. The bitterness was a little more than I would like at the back.

Well balanced. Sweet caramel, and very light bourbon, which is the way I like it. Sweet aroma.

Boy, this one’s been sitting in the cellar for a wicked long time. I forgot it was there and when discovering it figured it wasn’t going to get any better. Medium copper pour, some carbonation remaining, although it tends to look a bit flat and grumpy. Evident tartness in the nose made me think wrong things. But surprisingly, the flavors are neither infected nor especially over the hill. Moderate wood and bourbon in there to complement what was at least at one point a boisterous West Coast BW. Malty and faded but still decent.

Draught@brewpub (Portland, OR, ABV 9.2 %)
Dark chestnut color, steady brownish head. Malty, sweet fruity, chocolate cake aroma. Medium-bodied. Quite alcoholic. Malty, dark fruits, rye bread, alcohol and late strong hoppyness. Quite hoppy barley wine with better drinkability than ABV indicates.

6th June 209
Cloudy brown beer. Softish palate leading to a dry finish. Inbetween is chocolatey malt with a woddy edge. Sour bourbon underpins. Not bad but some of that barrel vanilla sweetness would not have gone amiss.

Pours brownish red with very little head. Smells of oak, cherries, toffee, and fresh fruit. Taste caramel, toffee, citrus and earthy funkiness to it. Mouthfeel is medium thick and the finish is somewhat bitter.

This pours a murky golden color with a nice thick head. Smells of heavy caramel, vanilla, toffee, chocolate, fruits, and a bit of earth. Rather complex aroma to this. Sweet caramel and strong hops with a bit of chocolate. The finish is a touch bitter as well.

22oz bottle that’s at least two years. Pours a hazy, translucent copper amber with just a little white head. Nose is lots of raisin, caramel sweetness, a little leather, a little oxidation, orange, a little booze, a little bourbon. Flavor is orange, tons of sweetness, woody, leather, booze, vanilla, caramel, not a whole ton of bourbon. Full bodied, still a little hot finish. Bourbon has started to fade but the sweetness hasn’t.

Bottle from blutt59. Dark orange pour with an off-white head. Aroma is alcohol, caramel, licorice, and bitter chocolate. Taste is the same, but less impressive, with woody and boozy flavors as well.

Bottle courtesy blutt59. Cloudy orange color with light carbonation. Aroma is very woody and dark fruit. Flavor is dry and oaky. Finishes sweet and dry.