Schlafly Special Release Bourbon Barrel Ale

Brewed by Saint Louis Brewery
Style: American Strong Ale
Maplewood, Missouri USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Pours amber / brown with a large off-white head. The aroma has lots of bourbon, caramel, vanilla, light spice and an English yeast - seems like a junior version of a barleywine. Medium body that’s smooth and has some sharper carbonation. The flavor starts with smooth caramel malt, light toast, vanilla, some bourbon and cream. The finish adds a bit of spice and some warming alcohol. This was much better than I expected and had well balanced flavors.

UPDATED: JUL 2, 2010 This beer pours an amber-copper color with a medium and somewhat fluffy white head that recedes steadily. Sticky rings of lacing on the glass. Aroma of oak and vanilla plus some hops. Medium body with flavors of bourbon-infused malt, vanilla and hops. Some fruity notes as well. The finish is malty with a slightly boozy aftertaste. Above average overall.

Bottle. Pours a nice amber with a little bit of a head that dies to a thin film quickly. Aromas are sweet apple juice concentrate, oak, a little peat and earth and booze. Flavor is pretty sugary... lots of apple juice concentrate, maple syrup, a bit of a creaminess to it, and a bit of peat/oak in the late, late finish. Decent, but pretty unintriguing

bourbon, vanilla, maple, honey.... This is good stuff, every time I get it I am amazed!

I live in Missouri and never saw this until I was in Louisville. Pours a nice ale color. Taste is of vanilla and coconut. Some bourbon in the nose and a bit lingers in your mouth. Little bit of sugar and sweet mixed in. Nice.

Bottle from a trade with phaleslu. Pours clear dark copper with cream colored head. Aromas of vanilla, oak, bourbon and malts. Flavor is lots of bourbon with vanilla and sweet caramel malts. Medium body with moderrate carbonation. Thanks Peter.

Bottle from Party Source. Pours a cloudy deep amber with thin, lasting head. Flavor has caramel, apple, oak, and raisin. Might be a little too complex for my palate, but it tastes pretty good.

Bottle from the Party Source. Poured clear brown color with an average to large frothy light brown head that mostly lasted with good lacing. Moderate to heavy bourbon, malt and wood aroma. Moderate to full body with a smooth slick texture and soft carbonation. Medium to heavy sweet malt flavor with a medium to heavy bourbon sweet finish of moderate to long duration. My expectations where met with a complex beer.

Coppery amber body with a thin head and sticky streaks of lacing. Big yet calm aroma of bourbon as well as a hefty dose of caramel followed by sauteed nuts, vanilla and wood. Creamy and really mild compared to my expectations. Rich and smooth, very soft and enjoyable. Sweet vanilla and oak flavors with plenty of barrel goodness. A faint citrus backdrop became more evident as the beer progressed. Lots of roasted and caramel malts. Extremely solid brew, thanks to Louis for sending this up my way.

Aroma of almonds, caramel, roasted toffee and milk chocolate. Appearance was translucent and murky brown with creamy head that never dissipated. Flavor matched the nose. Palate was bubbly, with a full, chewy mouthfeel. A top notch beer brewed by a company that is on the rise.