Big Ru
Oceanside Ale Works

Big RuBig Ru
Beer Geek Stats
From:
Oceanside Ale Works
 
California, United States
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
ABV:
11.1%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 8.65%
Reviews:
3
Ratings:
5
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 15, 2017
Added:
Mar 01, 2009
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by t0rin0:
Photo of t0rin0
Reviewed by t0rin0 from California

4.3/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Sampled at the brewery right after the Angels Share release 3/1/2009.

This is a brown ale of sorts but it could be more accurately classified as a Double English Brown Ale, not that we need any more styles in the database. I left it as American Brown due to its high abv and otherwise "extreme" nature.

Pours a dark brown, relatively clear with a tan head that doesn't last long. Basically a robust brown ale, and "that's all I have to say about that."

Aroma is basically what a brown ale should smell like. It has all the nuttiness, maltiness, roast, and caramel and its all noticeable as opposed to very very subtle like so many brown ales are (in the nose). Some booze showing through but not much.

Flavor is relatively intense and again has everything that a good brown ale should have. Roast, nuts, caramel, burnt sugar, malt, and the touch of alcohol that inevitably comes with the abv. All flavors are balanced but are all extremely potent. This could be a deterent for some.

Body is fairly heavy, carbonation is ample, and it goes down smooth. Again, this is a very in your face beer so opinions may vary on this one. Also, despite it being a brown ale, the alcohol is covered pretty well, be careful especially if ordering a pint.
Mar 01, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of johlac66
Reviewed by johlac66 from California

3.74/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
From the 22oz bottle:
Reddish chestnut brown with a light tan one finger head that quickly dissipated to a thin film.
Light notes of caramel and smoke on the nose and palate. Hints of spicy woody citrus.
Moderate carbonation and smooth mouthfeel. Slightly boozy, if at all.
Not as robust as I would like, but tasty nonetheless. Not bad.
Dec 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by GRG1313 from California

Oct 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by FrogOut69 from California

Apr 04, 2014
Photo of DoubleJ
Reviewed by DoubleJ from Wisconsin

4.37/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
On-tap at Barley & Hops in Temecula, CA. The bartender told me this was a Wee Heavy around 11% ABV. Served in a 20 ounce glass (yikes!), on to the beer:

Dark, robust brown. The color is certainly nice, but the aroma, flavor, and texture is where this beast shines. Smells like....good things. Fudge, chocolate, mild smokiness, nutty. And it tastes like...good things in large quantities. There is a slight char flavor to it, but the fudge and nutty flavors play smackdown on the palate. This is a huge beer with a big, yet smooth body. Okay, so the mild sensation of of alcohol felt isn't perfect. I do love that tobacco note which lingers on towards the end, and into the aftertaste.

I was exciting to find Oceanside Ale Works for the first time, and I was not dissapointed here. Even at 11% ABV, it wasn't a mere sipper. But did I really need a 20 ounce serving of this crazy juice with lunch?
Apr 17, 2009
Big Ru from Oceanside Ale Works
Beer rating: 3.93 out of 5 with 5 ratings