Fraoch Vintage Cask Collaberation No. 22
Williams Brothers Brewing Company

Fraoch Vintage Cask Collaberation No. 22Fraoch Vintage Cask Collaberation No. 22
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From:
Williams Brothers Brewing Company
 
Scotland, United Kingdom
Style:
Gruit / Ancient Herbed Ale
ABV:
11%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.05 | pDev: 14.07%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
51
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 24, 2022
Added:
Jan 14, 2013
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  7
No description / notes.
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Ratings by mendvicdog:
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Rated by mendvicdog from Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%

Apr 12, 2014
More User Ratings:
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Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.47/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
750 ml bottle with a very special and resealable plastic cork (never seen that before), Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 11%. Bottle No. 02932 out of 12000 bottles. Clear amber colour, pours very fizzy with a low off-white head that dies instantly. Strong aroma of raisins and peated whisky, hints of fusel alcohols, heather and myrtle.The flavour is medium sweet with distinct notes of peated whisky and oak, notes of raisins and heather again. Low bitterness. The peat becomes a bit too dominant for my taste, but this is still a fine brew, well worth sampling.
Jul 24, 2022
 
Rated: 3.88 by taospowder from New Mexico

May 30, 2017
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Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

4.26/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Fraoch Vintage Cask Collaboration No. 22 doesn't look especially 'fresh' after its time ageing in Auchentoshan barrels and subsequent 5 years spent in the bottle (brewed in August 2011, bottle #6058 of 12,000 is being consumed October 2016). Still, despite the cloudiness and lack of carbonation, a pleasant peachy hue persists.

The aroma showcases the full triad: floral heather, peaty Scotch whiskey and caramelly barleywine. It is a very complimentary blend that actually has a lot of overlap; the perfume of the heather has an almost berry-like quality while both the malts and ex-sherry casks offer an abundance of dried fruit flavours. The beer's age also emphasizes fruitiness.

Included in this wonderful compote are raisins, pears, apples, oranges, apricot, dates, strawberries and rhubarb... all tasting as though they were either boiled in sugar and spice like a chutney, dried and macerated in fortified wine, or blended with whiskey and made into a marmalade. It's a beer you'll want to spread on toast!

Auchentoshan is triple-distilled and known for making lighter, softer, more "drinkable" whiskeys - that's probably why I didn't particularly care for their 12 year or Triple Wood expressions. But I'm happy to report their Scotch (or at least its barrels) lends itself very well to this recipe; the heather, bogmyrtle and ginger really accentuate its subtle peat and wood spice.

Not to mention, English Barleywine is arguably the best customer for either a Scotch or Sherry barrel base (let alone a Scotch aged in Sherry barrels). Its chewy, honeyed maltiness, warming alcohol and rich, marmalade-like and dried fruit flavours make it an innate match for an experiment like this (Fraoch's trademark floral heather and mossy myrtle notes only help).

I'm always tempted to dismiss Williams Brothers products as kitschy and marketing driven but every time I drink their beers I'm reminded just how darn good they are. And an offering like Fraoch Vintage Cask Collaboration No. 22 really speaks to their integrity. This is a distinctive, exceptionally well-made and highly memorable ale. I'm glad I bought two!
Oct 16, 2016
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Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle: Poured a hazy dirty dark beige color ale with a dirty brown color head with OK retention and not much lacing. Aroma of smoky peats notes with singular grainy malt notes. Taste is also a mix of smoky undertones with light peat and wet leather notes is singular. Light Sherry notes were also perceptible with an herbal finish. Body is about average with medium carbonation. Singular beer that I am glad I tried but not sure I would go back to this again.
Jun 24, 2016
 
Rated: 2.95 by jodybrutal from New Jersey

Jan 29, 2016
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Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)

4.2/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
750ml bottle poured into tulip 15/11/15, big thanks to liamt07 for sending me the bottle, Aug,2011, #9975 of 12000

A lots of sediment in what would otherwise be a clear amber body, a fast falling finger of foam leaves no lace

S right off the bat I get smokey tequila, call me crazy but It's impossible to shake, honey, some floral notes, mild peat, lots of herbal notes, butterscotch, some wood, a fair bit going on and although I like it its hard to wrap my head around

T some hard to place over-ripe fruit, mellow scotch, spicy and herbal, much like the nose I like it but its hard to grasp, perhaps not knowing what some of the ingredients are has something to do with it

M leaning towards full, just enough bubbles to give it some life, the booze is scary concealed, this stuff drinks way too easy for 11%, strange herbal, floral, earthy finish

O I'm struggling to think of something similar, lots of unfamiliar things going on lets just say its unique

What a strange but enjoyable brew, its mellowed right out at this point and everything kinda works, the barrel plays a big part and has some things going for it I can't recall encountering before, worth a try for sure
Nov 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by Mantooth from North Carolina

Nov 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.49 by UniversitateaDeBere from Romania

Sep 09, 2015
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Beer is brilliant amber with a thin film for a head. S: I get some herbs and vanilla on the nose but the herbs are not strong. T: The palate starts with a herby flavor and then malt really comes through with the heather flavor coming to the forefront on the end. Brown sugar in the middle with some vanilla. Not a lot of whiskey flavor. F: Medium to medium full body O: A very mellow, well rounded beer.
Aug 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.07 by TerryB from Indiana

Jun 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.54 by BeerBikeRepeat from Canada (ON)

May 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.32 by ryanflc from New Jersey

Jan 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

Nov 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by BarrelAgedG from California

Nov 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by JavaNoire from Iowa

Oct 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Wobbly from Missouri

Aug 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Zekenyce from New Jersey

Aug 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by yancot from Canada (ON)

Jul 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by andrenaline from Canada (ON)

Jul 12, 2014
Fraoch Vintage Cask Collaberation No. 22 from Williams Brothers Brewing Company
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 51 ratings