 ChainGangGuy (1602), Kennesaw, Georgia, USA
Jun 7, 2007
I’m oh-so terribly fond of the J.W. Lee’s Harvest Ale, so let’s be a good sport, and give this Lagavulin Whisky Cask-aged version a try.
Appearance: A color reminiscent of sweet, gooey, delicious honey. From very talented, very wonderful bees. A tight, compacted khaki-colored head, with minimal head retention - but that’s to be expected. Slight carbonation, with fat, lazy bubbles working their way to the surface.
Aroma: Holy moly! What a HONEY pot aroma with some sweet malt and butter smells around the edges. There’s a very slight smokey peat smell to it, but only very slight (far less than I would have imagined).
Taste: Wonderful. A good bit of fruit in the flavor, mainly apricots and honey-soaked raisins. Plenty of chewy malt. The Lagavulin adds in a layer of smokiness to the brew’s benefit and makes for a delightful twist on the classic Harvest Ale. A long finish, a graceful finish, and one to simply sit down and cherish.
Mouthfeel: Think, warm and always creamy on the tongue, like so much honey. The alcohol is warming, but not overly noticeable for 11.5%.
Drinkability: A beer you can really drink yourself into a stupor with and smile all the while. True, this one’s a sipper, but I am guilty of taking whole mouthfuls just to really sink my teeth into it. A great barleywine experience!
Thankfully, I purchased more than just a single bottle of this offering, and look forward to enjoying these down the road with a little age on it. I’ll be sure to try Port, Sherry, and Calvados versio-- OWW!! I just got bit by a BEE!!!
tronraner (1434), Maryville, Tennessee, USA
Oct 2, 2008 12 oz. bottle. Pours rust orange with only the slightest off-white head and lots of floaties. I can already smell whisky as I start pouring it. Also in the aroma is caramel/raisin, vanilla/oak, some faint char, and fig. The flavor is sweet fig and caramel, vanilla, and raisin bread. The finish is oaky and sweet, and leaves a whisky-like aftertaste. Ok.
CaryTheDude (282), Ripon, Wisconsin, USA
Oct 1, 2008 Jakebra crush. Smoky sweet nose. A little too much molasses in the flavor, little too sweet for me, but the finish doesn’t last long, so that helps.
couchand (138), West Amana, Iowa, USA
Sep 22, 2008 2k7 Bottling.
Clear, thick blonde, some off-white head.
Big malty smoky nose.
Thick and malty, big peatiness, strong smoke, tastes of meat.
Playful alcoholic notes.
Almost cloying, not quite.
AmEricanbrew (1009), Swamp Shreveport, Left Coast, Louisiana, USA
Sep 22, 2008 2006 bottling. Clear amber with no head. Big malty sweet, yeasty bread aroma. Medium body. Sweet malty flavors of pit fruits with citrus and caramel, didn’t pick up much peat or cask flavors as advertized. A little better than the Calvados.
kosko20 (143), Bemidji, Minnesota, USA
Sep 21, 2008 So I was not sure how I would like this and it just bombed. Aroma is decent. Whiskey is prominent with a dry wine background. Appearance apple juice colored with a thin lacing but then has suspended particles in it. I think its the yeast but not sure. Flavor is pure alcohol of the whiskey. Palate is alcohol. I can’t drink this because the alcohol really comes out.
|
