Three Floyds Bourbon Behemoth with Cherries

Brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Munster, Indiana USA

Serve in Snifter

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On tap 12/30/07 at the brewpub. On the way back to NC, decided to make a 2nd stop during a 3 day trip. Good for me. When we pulled in on the night of the 27th, this was not available. However on the 30th she magically appeared. Though it was noon and we had an 11 hour drive ahead of us, I immediately ordered this beer upon seeing it on the chalkboard/taplist. Hell, we just drove by Soldier Field and the kickoff to the Bears game happened to be on the big screen, so what the hell? On to....the beer (finally)....This poured from the tap with no head whatsoever. Needless to say, I am very excited to try this beer. Aroma is of bourbon, carmelized cherries, big alcohol and toffee notes. Taste is that of the regular Behemoth accentuated by the bourbon, tartness of the cherry and an almost Jack Daniels-kind-of-sour whiskey. The warmth of the oak/alcohol and tartness of the cherry linger pleasently. Really interesting. Not very well balanced, but still, somehow, smooth and easy-drinking (for a sipper). Who am I to criticize? Though I was priveleged to try this, believe me, it shall not inhibit my rating....Lies!!!

On tap at the brewpub: It pours a cloudy, murky (reminds me of the retention pond near my boyhood home) brownish red in color. The nose is porty showing off brandy macerated cherries, caramel and plum. The palate showed just a hint of alcoholic heat toward the end. While this may sound "off" the whole thing worked, overall. While I prefer the "regular" Behemoth this was a nice change of pace.

On tap at the brewpub. Pours murky, muddy brown, with trace amounts of off white head. The nose features wood, light burbon, and a scant amount of syrupy cherry. The flavor is some woody dryness, bourbon heat, and a bit of cherry sweetness. I think I get some of the original hops here as well. Fuller fody. Medium carbonation. Dry warm finish. Really good stuff.

Draught at FoBab ’07. Molasses, bourbon aroma similar to Goose Island Imperial Brown Goose. Virtually no head. Cloudy, reddish amber; excellent color. Somewhat salty. Fruit is evident, but doesn’t improve the beer. Some caramel notes. Not as good as the standard Behemoth.

On tap at FoBAB 5. This beer poured a murky brown color with a thin, creamy, beige head. The aroma of the brew included caramel, vanilla, bourbon, and tart cherries. The flavor followed suit, delivering strong notes of slightly sour, tart cherries, followed by subtle bourbon and vanilla, while being held together by a strong caramel backbone. The mouthfeel was full-bodied and slightly oily with minimal carbonation. An interesting spin on the Behemoth. Quite tasty!

On tap at FoBAB ’07. Dirtybrown with smal tan head. Bourbon, cherry aroma with big malt and caramel. Vanilla and cherry flavor, earthy, big bourbon, too much. Medium to light body, sticky, syrupy. Too much bourbon, not as much finesse.

UPDATED: SEP 23, 2009 FOBAB ’07.... appearance: reddish brown and pretty muddles. thin head....aroma: strong bourbon component and heavy on the caramel malt....taste: bourbon was a little too forward for my taste. sweet candied malt and a soft and subtle cherry accents. wish the cherries came through a little more. overall a bit too sweet overall

had again at the brewpub on 9/23. Overall opinion is thatthe brew is just too sweet and syrupy for me. Almost on a medicinal note for me.

FoBAB 2007. I didnt even rate this because i didnt think anybody would make a new entry for it. i kinda thought this was a letdown. really thin and clearly based off the weak 2007 behemoth. the cherries dominated, surely, but it was kinda messy and there was hardly any balance or purpose. sorry guys.

On tap at FoBAB 2007. I’m glad to see this one. Pours a murky orange red. Fruit, alcohol, malt, oranges, cherries. Some sour notes to go with the sweet ones. Caramel malt is the base. With cherries, fruit, piney, alcohol, and a sweet syrupy flavor. Sticky palate. Too much alcohol, and cherries for me. But still enjoyable.

I could see settling down for the evening with a few snifters of this one. Not pretty to look at, a headless, cloudy, near murky brown... but what aroma and flavor. It smelled warm, if possible, with scents of sweet cherries, pale malts, vanilla, and a touch of booziness. Very smooth drinking, warm with a light bitterness filling the mouth. It tasted of toffee, cherries, vanilla, soft nuts, oak, and alcohol, all skillfully blended together. This should have come in tops at the festival.

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