Bull & Bush Royal Oil

Date: 10/11/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, GABF
Vintage: 2005

opaque dark brown, wispy tan head, rich dark caramel malt aroma with earthy hops and a light fruity character, creamy body, sweet dark caramel candy flavor, bourbon sweetness, light earthy hops for balance,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 18/20
Rating: 4.2/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: ****/4

2005 vintage on tap at the brewpub on 10/12/07: Pours an oily nearly opaque dark mahogany with a thin ring of white head. Aroma of complex sweet dark caramel and oaky bourbon with a lot of raisins and brown sugar. Body starts very full, rich and sweet with nice dark fruity complexity toward a dense oaky whiskey finish. Nicely balanced and well-aged with a touch of oxidized complexity.

Boulder Strong Ale Fest 2007. Head is fully diminishing. Body is dark brown. Aroma is moderately malty (caramel), with notes of bourbon, vanilla, alcohol, wood, cardboard, and maple syrup. Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly acidic. Finish is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Medium to full body, syrupy texture, soft carbonation, moderately alcoholic. The alcohol burn provides the bulk of the balance for the sweetness, and somehow it works. The aroma is complicated and mostly attractive, but tainted a bit by the oxidation. A pretty neat beer that has potential.

GABF 2007: Poured a hazey deep brown color with a beige head. Fruity with milk chocolate make up the aroma. Bourbon and vanilla show up but blend so well. The flavor is full of fruit with some more notes of chocolate. Full bodied. This is smooth and warming but the alcohol takes a back seat. Yummy.

(Draught) Pours a mahogany body with a small beige head. Aroma of raisins, brown sugar, caramel, and chocolate. Flavor of maple syrup, caramel, biscuit, molasses, dark fruits, and vanilla with a sticky finish.