Bourmuda Triangle IPA
Voodoo Brewing Company

Bourmuda Triangle IPABourmuda Triangle IPA
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From:
Voodoo Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
10.1%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.22 | pDev: 15.17%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
94
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 27, 2015
Added:
Feb 18, 2015
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  13
Imperial West Coast-style IPA. 50% aged in Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrels, 25% in Caribbean Rum Barrels, 25% in Extra Anejo Tequila Barrels. Blended once removed from the barrels and double dry hopped with Apollo, Galaxy and Simcoe. Make no mistake about it, this is an IPA through and through, not just a hopped up barleywine.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Wowcoolman:
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Rated by Wowcoolman from California

3.49/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Astringent, drinks like janitorial cleaner. Puts hair on your chest. Be careful, especially around lit cigarettes.
Mar 27, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.79 by Zaphog from Michigan

Jun 27, 2015
Photo of nhindian
Reviewed by nhindian from Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Part of their Barrel Room Collection #3 release (alongside Old Jive Turkey [an old ale aged in Wild Turkey barrels], Blackbeard's Delight [a brown ale aged in rum barrels with coffee, cocoa, and vanilla beans], and Taco Flavored Kisses [a tequila aged wheatwine]), this is the first formal review of these four beers. Bourmuda Triangle is an IPA aged in 3 barrels - 25% in each of the tequila and rum barrels, and 50% in the Wild Turkey. I've had all of the aforementioned beers at the official release on tap, but this is the first time cracking open a bottle.

Appearance - Based on looks alone, one wouldn't sense anything awry; it pretty much follows the pattern of a West Coast-style IPA. That is, slightly hazy with a golden hue topped with a fluffy, powdery snow-capped head. The retention is long-lasting and leaves copious amounts of sticky lace clinging to the glass.

Aroma - Oof. The first whiff is a kick to the olfactory. Despite only representing 25% of the barrel-aging, the tequila is dominant to the point of being abrasive. The bourbon lingers in the background and the combination with the tequila gives off a slightly unpleasant, but at the time same time, strangely intoxicating heat. The tequila does pair nicely with the hop aroma, as the fruitiness contributes a welcome depth of complexity.

Taste - Well, this beer sure isn't bland. An almost overwhelming amount of different flavors assault the palate at once, ranging from juicy hop fruit, oak barrels, all three spirits, and a solvent alcohol finish. It's genuinely difficult to digest all that's going on with this beer and requires numerous temperature changes to peel back the layers. As in the nose, the front is almost all tequila and alcohol. Gradually it warms up and allows the full range of flavors to develop, and the rum even shows up here, even if just in the middle and quietly in the finish. While barrel-aged IPAs are looked down upon because 1. You can't really cellar them, and 2. Beer nerds want their IPAs fresh - which sort of cannibalizes the time it can spend in a barrel to really develop, Voodoo dry-hopped this to allow the hops to come through more than typical. A good choice as I felt the citrus and pine worked wonders with cutting some of the harsher notes.

Mouthfeel - While some barrel-aged beers can suffer from a thin body, Bourmuda Triangle is every bit as resinous and chewy as its unadulterated IPA cousins. The carbonation is spot-on and allows the flavors to develop on the tongue.

Closing Arguments - This is the 5th or 6th time I've had this beer, and to be honest, I've had a love-hate relationship with it so far. The first time was at the release of the Barrel Room #3 bottles, and was sandwiched near the end of the day. I loved it and didn't get really any of the heat from the alcohol. Fast forward 3 days, and me and some buddies head down to the brewery to clean up what was left in the keg. I take my sip and... pretty much hated it. A solventy mess with no depth. A couple months later during Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week, I tried it again and liked it. The verdict on my first bottle experience: Mixed. The first few sips are rough, but it eventually mellows. A far-fetched hypothesis - each time I liked it, it was always after a few beers. The time I had it to lead off I hated it. Even extrapolating to this bottle experience, it seemed to improve with time. Is it due to it opening up with increase in temperature? Maybe after it coats the mouth it allows it to smooth out the edges? The palate adjusting to the alcohol? No idea. But to be sure - an assessment can't be fully formed by a small sample; it needs time to breathe and the tastebuds need to acclimate. If you come across a bottle of Bourmuda Triangle, plan a night to open it alone and drink it over the course of an hour and three. See what it does for you then.
Jun 16, 2015
Photo of kscaldef
Rated by kscaldef from Oregon

2/5  rDev -52.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Smells like pine needle infused tequila. Tastes like rubbing alcohol.
Jun 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.6 by Shandycan from Pennsylvania

Jun 08, 2015
Photo of Stinkypuss
Reviewed by Stinkypuss from Pennsylvania

4.31/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
review taken from notes:


LOOK: A nice deep copper color with good clarity and a solid head that laces the glass with each sip.

SMELL: Intense tropical citrus and distinct barrel notes, Alcoholic esters and slight wood elements.

TASTE: Tropical hop flavors, grapefruit, orange, pineapple. Lots of barrel notes too with a sugary boozy element. Tequila is a crazy flavor to find with the citrus and pine of a double IPA, but it works. Alcohol flavor is noticeable but works well with all the complexity.

FEEL: Full bodied, with oaky tannins drying it out. Every sip has a lot to say.

OVERALL: A very interesting beer. Great hop notes and complex barrel aging smoothing it out. Recommended for extreme beer fanatics.
Jun 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.49 by David_Menendez from Pennsylvania

Jun 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.92 by Sean32 from Pennsylvania

Jun 01, 2015
Photo of KMitch
Rated by KMitch from Alabama

5/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This was amazing! Aged in 3 different barrels and you could taste and smell each distinct barrel. Best beer I've had this year.
May 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.38 by _morandi_ from California

May 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by ScottP from New Hampshire

May 23, 2015
 
Rated: 4.37 by IpeeA from Missouri

May 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.53 by oriolesfan4 from Maryland

May 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.31 by jfstilling from South Carolina

Apr 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.72 by DLSheidy from Pennsylvania

Apr 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.34 by MisfitIK-9 from Connecticut

Apr 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.29 by Mersh from Connecticut

Apr 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.08 by uvm2003 from Pennsylvania

Apr 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.59 by arusso13 from Connecticut

Apr 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.97 by Dogleg from Pennsylvania

Apr 27, 2015
Bourmuda Triangle IPA from Voodoo Brewing Company
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 94 ratings