Thermo Refur
Furthermore Beer

Thermo RefurThermo Refur
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From:
Furthermore Beer
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Fruit and Field Beer
ABV:
8.1%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.52 | pDev: 20.17%
Reviews:
33
Ratings:
37
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 20, 2013
Added:
Feb 28, 2009
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by cokes:
Photo of cokes
Reviewed by cokes from Wisconsin

4.62/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pour into a glass the color of spilled blood- that red-black-purple hue-adorned with a mountainous stack of bleached mocha froth that doesn't budge much for a minute or so.
Uber-funkt aroma of iron, old pennies, bing cherries, beets, peppercorns (or peppercorns squared), dough, doughnuts, brandy,lemongrass, and hay.
It enters the mouth with a small nod towards caramel-tinged dough, then ventures in a much fruitier direction. Cherries, beets, apricots. The brett is thrown in and turns it kaleidoscopic, and leathery dry. It's a trail bag of dehydrated fruits: pineapples, apple, banana chips, and raisins. All whipped with a trace of vanilla cream. The brett brings some farmy influences that stop just short of manure. Or perhaps the pepper stops it. Sprightly black peppercorns add spice, almost-heat, basement floor mustiness, and dryness. Hops add lime oil and wintergreen. Almost all this is going on at the same time, in a whirling tempest of a beer. This is stupid deep.
The thickish body is given levity by the swirling and eddying carbonation. It's drinkable beyond its strength and the ridiculousness of its parts.
This is plainly and simply, fucking delicious. I figured this to be quirky for quirky's sake....and it is. I just never expected it to be so thoroughly owned and complete and amazing.
My opinion of Furthermore climbs several more pegs. This is absolutely world class.
I hope this isn't a single batch oddball.
I think I'm in love.
Mar 21, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

May 20, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by rolltide8425 from Pennsylvania

Feb 25, 2013
Photo of WastingFreetime
Reviewed by WastingFreetime from Wisconsin

3.96/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
AGED REVIEW

This one has been kept at ambient concrete poured basement temperature in Madison, WI for two years.

Pours out a cloudy burnt sienna with orange highlights and a flash head that leaves behind no lacing. Lighter side of medium body, light carbonation levels, dry crisp finish.

It still has a surprisingly strong aroma of cracked black pepper and sweet beets with a side of dill, rosemary, sage, and other savory sort of herbal notes. But compared to the nasal skull explosion of black pepper it had fresh, aging it two years has been just the thing to get it mellowed it down from "too much of a good thing" to "the right amount of a good thing." As it warms up it gains a subtle background bloody mary tomato and chili / lemon-lime peel aroma that blends well with a small amount of yeast phenols. As a fresh beer, none of these elements were allowed to truly shine over the pepper. As an aged beer, it smells amazing.

It tastes of a rather challenging level of leathery Belgian phenolics that wasn't as apparent in the nose, combined with that time-softened pepperpot sting that gradually pulls back from over the top of a bone-dry biscuit-cracker malt remnant with some medium-light cardboard oxidation popping up in the mid-sip alongside lemon peel and a vague vegetal (tomato) ghost in the finish. Where's the beets?

And here is where I realized that I should have checked it somewhere between one and two years, because the sweet spot was probably in that time period. I overshot. It's still drinkable and even pretty tasty, but nearly all of the beet sugar has converted into Brett phenol funkiness, and I wanted to retain a higher level of that beet essence in the flavor than this. The pepper levels are tamed, but the Brett murdered the beet flavor. Even so, it does make an amazing glass of peppery-seasoned sweaty horse saddle for the Brett-lover.
Sep 10, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by TimRasmussen from Wisconsin

May 29, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by bpfrush from Wisconsin

Nov 14, 2011
Photo of AgentZero
Reviewed by AgentZero from Illinois

2.09/5  rDev -40.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
Brought by scubarex to our Epic Chicago Tasting.

A - Brownish red colored beer, little bit purple. Decent sized head with little retention.

S - Wow, talk about a pepper bomb. I like some beets, and I like some pepper, although I've never thought of peppering beets. This smells more like someone tried to beet some pepper and failed.

T - Pepper pepper pepper pepper pepper... get the drift? Of course you do, you're much smarter than I give you credit for. This is just a massive amount of black pepper in this, which I actually like for about 3-4 sips, but then it becomes way too much. The beets are there as a buried backbone.

M - Moderate carbonation, medium bodied.

D - Ouch, I drank some, but then the pepper becomes too much. Interesting experiment, but this didn't work.
Dec 25, 2010
Photo of DefenCorps
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon

2.61/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
I've enjoyed all the Furthermore beers I've had, and I had no idea this was coming out. Thank you, Joel!

Pinkish red with a dense, off-white head with good retention and nice lacing, this is a pretty good looking beer. The nose is pretty intriguing. The beets are immediately noticeable. Sweet, sugary and definitely beet-like, there's also a touch of pepper. There's a definite rose water present, and the entire package reminds me of rooh afza.

The palate opens with an intense beet flavor, super strong and almost astringent, as well as with some alcohol. Again, the rose water and rooh afza/ faluda-like. The pepper character is light, and hardly noticeable over the intense beet character. The finish has a blend of sweet beets and rose water with a touch of pepper. The alcohol is quite noticeable too, and is not particularly well-integrated. Drying, this beer has a medium-light body and is moderately carbonated. Unique but not particularly enjoyable.
Sep 13, 2010
Photo of jrallen34
Reviewed by jrallen34 from Illinois

2.17/5  rDev -38.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
Brought to our epic tasting...Pours a light carbonated red that is pretty foamy with lots of retention...The aroma and taste on this are all one thing BLACK PEPPER and the strong pepper you have ever smelled at that. You cannot sniff this for more than a second or take a big sip without almost gagging. There were 10 of us and we coudln't drink more than half the bottle.

Pepper bomb that needs to have production stopped.
Aug 04, 2010
Photo of BeerFMAndy
Reviewed by BeerFMAndy from Wisconsin

3.27/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
12 oz bottle in a snifter. "Serve in a snifter or wine glass at 55° F" no date.

A - Refur pours out a brilliant clear red copper color with an off-white low but persistent foamy head. Moderate retention ended up leaving the head in a film of bubbles with no lace.

S - The red beets and black pepper certainly give the olfactory senses a rude awakening! Spicy pepper overshadows everything with a glorious "Bruery-like" scent that's unexpected. The beets add an odd but good vegetal aroma that subtly pokes out between the pepper. Toasted caramel malts and mild hops hide in the background of the spiciness.

T - Red beet flavor takes a shocking turn as it overwhelms both the pepper as well as the malty beer flavor. It's far too powerful as it elevates the nice vegetal hint in the nose to astronomical heights. Malts are all but lost offering only a sliver of toasted bread up.

M - Dry astringency bombards the mouth with an unwelcome "green" vegetable feel and sour finish. Otherwise it weighs in with a medium body and a crisp carbonation finish.

D - This turned disappointing quickly. The nose didn't predict what the flavor had going on at all and it's unique taste that first took me by surprise now grows to be off-putting. I applaud their ingenuity with the red beets but they seem to only effect the appearance of the beer positively.
Jul 05, 2010
Photo of bound4er
Reviewed by bound4er from Wisconsin

3.22/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
A. Hazy amber to light orange appearance with a substantial off white head. Fades rather quickly to a skim and leaves spotty lacing.

S. Funky sweet spiced berry nose - lots going on here with a nice play of sweet and spicy battling it out. Very unique and looking forward to a sip.

T. Geez, this takes a nose dive in the taste department. Pepper and more pepper - nothing really carries over from the nose (if its there it is buried below the pepper). There is some light closing bitterness once the pepper subsides.

M. Medium bodied with low carbonation. No complaints here.

D. This beer could have been killer if the pepper where balanced against some fruit and malt. Tough to finish even 12 ounces of this stuff. Unique creation from Furthermore that I am glad to have tried.
Jun 16, 2010
Photo of PrinceDarren
Reviewed by PrinceDarren from Illinois

2.56/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
My grandfather used to pour Pabst into a frosty mug, crack a raw egg on top, and then toss in a dash of pepper. He drank it because he said "it puts lead in your pencil". At the time, I didn't understand what that meant. Actually, I still don't understand...

When I saw that this beer was brewed with Beets and Black Pepper, I thought "that sounds awful". So, of course, I had to try a bottle! I'm happy to report that this meets expectations.

The black pepper is too hard on the palate and dominates the flavor. The beets seem only to add color. Not much more to say...

In all, this is not a "flawed" beer. It's just that the whole does not surpass the sum of it's parts. There was never a reason for me to believe that these flavors would go well together in a beer. It was a worthy experiment, however, so it is appropriate to grade it with at least an average score.

Unlike my grandfather, I just don't like the dominance of the black pepper in this beer (or any beer). I drained-poured the second half. It was fun to try, though.
May 20, 2010
Photo of jwjon1
Reviewed by jwjon1 from Pennsylvania

2.1/5  rDev -40.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1
I love beets. I love pepper. I love beer. Mix all three together and it is a match made in heaven right?

Wrong. Smells tempting and looks inviting enough, but the pepper component dominates the taste and is bitter to boot. I could barely put down half a glass, and the remainder is sitting in my fridge likely awaiting a drain pour.

Creative enough idea, but the execution is not for me. Take away the pepper, and I may be interested again. You can certainly smell the beets, which would have been fun to taste as well.
Apr 17, 2010
Photo of katan
Reviewed by katan from Colorado

3.13/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
12 oz into a goblet

A - Pours a deep dark brown to red color - almost beet colored. Appears bottle fermented as I stirred up some yeast. Certainly opaque, very carbonated. Head was strong, but broke down to a film quickly.

S - Very spicy - as the label says, black pepper. Some of that sour beet smell does come through. Very interesting.

T - Starts off with a light vegetable sweetness and some peppery notes. Mid-stream gets more peppery, some phenolic tones come through. Finishes with a very strong potent black pepper flavor - tour grabbing as if straight out of a grinder.

M - Moderate beer body, but a very strong carbonation backbone. Stinging to the palette. Leaves behind an odd oily texture.

D - I can't call this drinkable. This peppery flavor is just wearing me down. The abv is a bit too potent. A hair filling.

This is one odd cat.
Mar 26, 2010
Photo of Gavage
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

3.23/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Appearance: pours a cloudy reddish light brown color with a short 1/4" head. No lace develops.

Smell: sourness, pepper, and a bit of fruit-like sweetness comes through.

Taste: pepper is a bit strong here as the beets provide an almost fruit like sweetness and there is a mild yeast tone. There is a mild sourness throughout and a mellow bitterness wrapping it up.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Smooth and dry throughout.

Drinkabiltiy: this was a one glass beer but a very interesting flavored one. Personally I thought it was a bit all over the place, but I don't regret ordering it.
Mar 18, 2010
Photo of brewcrew76
Reviewed by brewcrew76 from Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A - Deep red with pink hues and a off white head.

S - Slightly funky and earthy with fresh beets from the garden and pepper.

T - A bit of funk with fresh beets. Earthy with a spicy pepper finish.

M - Medium body with good carbonation and a linger beet sweetness.

D - One of the strangest beers I have ever had. No idea it was 8.1% abv. I hate beets and this is very intriguing that I really enjoy although it is going down slow. A 5 for creativity. Can't wait for future strange beers from Furthermore.
Mar 08, 2010
Photo of koopa
Reviewed by koopa from New Jersey

3.62/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
Bottle received as an extra in a trade at least 6 months ago. It's been sitting in the refrigerator the whole time and I haven't had the desire to crack the brew until now.

Appearance: Pours a nice slightly hazy red brown to garnet with a massive light brown crown that shows loads of retention and lace.

Smell: Wow this is different from any other brew I have ever smelled. Earthy, with red beets, and a vergitable quality and a slightly menthol like note.

Taste: Lots of vegetable green-ness along with a slightly bitter acrid quality. Very yeasty and beet like.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied and despite the massive head, the body seems a touch undercarbonated.

Drinkability: Couldn't pay me to keep drinking this.
Nov 25, 2009
Photo of supercolter
Reviewed by supercolter from Wisconsin

3.47/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Its ok but not really my cup of tea. Appearance is decent, red in color with some slight head, and no lacing. Smell is decent with some vegetableness and a slight amount of hops. Taste is not that great to me, very beety, I've had a lot of vege/fruit beers that I enjoyed more than this. Mouthfeel is alright, medium in body, some carbonation. Drinkability is alright.
Sep 13, 2009
Photo of orbitalr0x
Reviewed by orbitalr0x from Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Picked up a single of this last time I was in Wisco. Pours into my glass an extremely deep garnet red not unlike some borscht I've had before. A big creamy off white head with a pink highlight to it. Aromas start off with black pepper spiciness tickling the nose. Earthy, vegetal scents mix in. Kinda smells like the beets were just picked out of the ground. Sweetness underneath with a bit of a funky twist.

First sip brings a bold upfront entanglement of earthy distinct beet flavors and heavy handed black pepper. A nice sweet dark maltiness run throughout. It moves down with a bit of a sour twang with yeast esters and a nice kick of hops as well. Pepper lingers in the back of the throat. This one opens up more as it warms as well. I found it interesting, original and tasty, albeit I do love pepper beers.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side with a big blast of fast moving carbonation that makes it champagne like as it flows down. Overall, I can't help but enjoy the bold peppery aspect this beer has and that fact that it's just weird...but somehow very tasty at the same time. I'm very glad I picked this up and wish I would have grabbed another. I hope Furthermore does something like this again.
Sep 01, 2009
Photo of Dotcubed
Reviewed by Dotcubed from Arkansas

3.67/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
I had this in the back of my fridge for a month or so.

I was intrigued by the beets. Sweet, earthy, and red. All interesting things for beer.

Pours out a massive head of foam. High carbonation visible with the Sam Adam's glass. Smells peppery and earthy or musty. Like pink peppercorns.
Dark brown color.

Sweet. Dry and tangy. Kinda weird. Is this Belgian inspired?
Has a bitter vegetal aspect with up front fruitiness of some kind. Long heat from some black pepper capsaicin. Caramelized sugar.

This is clearly weird as hell. No wonder no one likes it.

It's too fizzy. And with the clumsy flavors and hot pepper it is hard to enjoy.

I like the idea. I like the beer, but I can't recommend people drinking it who have well developed tastes or don't like Belgian beers.
Jul 17, 2009
Thermo Refur from Furthermore Beer
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 37 ratings