Bumaye
8 Wired Brewing Co.

BumayeBumaye
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From:
8 Wired Brewing Co.
 
New Zealand
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
16%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.98 | pDev: 8.54%
Reviews:
21
Ratings:
75
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 04, 2021
Added:
Jun 27, 2013
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  13
"How far can we take it?" This is a question I find myself asking rahter often. The conception of BUMAYE was one of those moments. Now, obviously a number of overseas breweries have shown us that 16% abv is by no means the limit but keeping in mind that flavour should always be the main concern, I thought it was a pretty good place to start. To get to these levels we first made the biggest Imperial Stout we have made to date and then added loads of tasty sugars to the fermenter for extra strength and flavour. Needless to say the beer was rather rough after initial fermentation so we allowed it to mature for a further 16 months in Pinot Noir barrels from Marlborough's Mud House Winery.

The name? I have been surprised how few people understand the meaning straight away. It's not "Bum Eye" as many people seem to think, It's BumaYE! As in "Ali, Bumaye!" Lifted from what was perhaps the most famous boxing match of all times, The Rumble in the Jungle, between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The match was fought in Zaire and quite famously (I thought) the locals were all cheering for Ali, chanting "Ali, Bumaye!" which in English means "Ali, Kill Him". A fitting name for the most agressive beer we have made to date.

Enjoy now or cellar for a decade or two.

50 IBU
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Ratings by ari32:
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Rated by ari32 from Georgia

4/5  rDev +0.5%

Nov 17, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.54 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Jul 04, 2021
Photo of Tsar_Riga
Reviewed by Tsar_Riga from Minnesota

3.99/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Deep dark body, nearly black with red-brown highlights. The main flaw is there is no head in the pour and no lacing.

S - Pungent nose of wood and dark fruits, acidic notes, and a big front of booziness. The ABV cannot be hidden and understandably prominent, but other notes are there if you allow it to sit a minute.

T - Follows the nose, with a bright hit of alcohol and wine, dark fruits over a rich malty chocolate and coffee core. The finish is full of alcohol.

M - Moderate weight, certainly light for a big stout, but still full and present. The finish scrubs, allowing a quick reset.

O - I've learned, over the years, that really big stouts are not my thing, but this is quite well-built, allowing for a pleasant and satisfying slow drinker.
Mar 19, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by YvesB from Belgium

May 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.27 by lemmy187 from Missouri

Jan 15, 2018
Photo of Everydayoff
Reviewed by Everydayoff from Thailand

4.16/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bumaye 2013, 500ml bottle poured into a snifter.

Pitch black in color with a finger of foamy tan head, the head stands just for a short while before collapsing to some bubble atop and leaving wee amount of lacing on the glass-side.

In a nose, obviously winy, dark grape, acid, tannic, barrel, fruity, all from the time in the Pinoit Noir barrel. Also, mild chocolate, sugar, mild dark bread, spicy alcohol, and somewhat burnt and roasted.

The taste is led by dark grape like a red wine, fruitiness, dryness, and oaky tannin. The Stout profile reveals closely thereafter with notes of sugar, chocolate, roasted, and mild sweet dark bread. Booziness is just a little bit with its mild spicy touch. The overall flavors get improved when it is warm.

Medium to full body with slight sticky touch but not cloying, the mouthfeel is smooth with moderate carbonation and well-rounded feeling through the palate. Finish is very dry.

Overall, sweet, winy, grap-ish, fruity, and dry just like a fine wine combined with good Stout. Alcohol 16% is there but quite hidden well.
Jan 06, 2018
Photo of AlarmClock314
Reviewed by AlarmClock314 from Wisconsin

4.26/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
16.9oz bottle, no date, 2013 version. Pours jet black with a small sized head which fizzes down to wisps of a head. Smells of cocoa and port with some oxidization, dark fruit/cherry, and roasted malt. The taste follows exactly with cocoa, port, oxidization, dark fruit, roasted malt, and vine. Pleasant red wine flavor throughout. Very rounded and clean; each flavor stands out and there's nothing off. Moderate sweetness and tannin dryness. The alcohol's fairly well hidden but warming. Thick body and below average carbonation. Although the head vanished, the carbonation remained in the mouthfeel. Overall, a really well done wine BA IS which has held up well for 4 years.
Aug 08, 2017
 
Rated: 4.13 by chrismattlin from Ohio

Jun 03, 2017
Photo of ThisWangsChung
Reviewed by ThisWangsChung from Maryland

3.84/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 2 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a thick, pitch-black color. The head...well, there is none. Maybe there are a few tan bubbles, but this pours flat otherwise. Eh, not a good look - it pours more like a liquor than a beer.

Smells more like a (good) liquor, too. I pick up lots of stewed dark fruits and sherry oxidation, and this pairs with the oaky/fruity pinot noir aspect extremely well. Speaking of oak, I love how nuanced and delicate it comes across. Letting it open up reveals gentle notes of dark chocolate, roast, umami, and graham cracker. Also, where's the 16%? It's not the freshest bottle in fairness, but it's amazing how smoothly this advocates itself on the aroma. All told, it's come together amazingly.

Yeah, I really pick up a nice pinot noir essence as I taste it. Opening up with a nice chocolaty flavor, it transitions quickly into powerful oak and wine grape notes. In fact, the barrels overpower the base, inasmuch as the latter doesn't pop particularly well. In fact, as I continue to sip it, the wine elements become so powerful, I almost wonder if I'm even drinking beer. Despite that, it maintains a nice structural balance for something so massive. I do enjoy it, all told.

This...is...16%?! Sure, it's a touch light on its loafers, but it coats the mouth beautifully (I'll call it syrupy too - that's forgivable seeing how big it is). I'll echo some of the others here, though, it's pretty flat. The texture has to rely on the oak tannins to dry the palate, as carbonation is almost nil. Luckily, it's enough to will it down almost too easily.

Wine lovers will really dig this. I'd even argue it drinks closer to pinot noir than an imperial stout. Still, I like nicely dry red, and I like this one. I'm still stunned how easy to drink this is for such a monster. As Shroud0fdoom says, this one is worthy!

3.84/5: Dat pinot noir doe...
Mar 01, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by kylehay2004 from Illinois

Feb 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.9 by Gryphon69 from Michigan

Jan 10, 2016
Photo of MutuelsMark
Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

4.13/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
While I love the dark tar color, I am left wishing it has a head and thus carbonation. The taste has a strong, almost bourbon taste that I attribute to the higher alcohol level...I guess.
Jan 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4.28 by EdgarGerik from Venezuela

Dec 28, 2015
Photo of JackieKu
Reviewed by JackieKu from Taiwan

4.4/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
330ml bottle. Brewed on 2011, bottled 2013, best before 2028.

A: Opaque. No foam (expected since it aged in oak barrel for years).
S: Chocolate. Caramel and syrup notes. Toasted bread. Slightly nutty aroma.
T: Roasted coffee. Herbs. A little woody. Somewhat sour. High bitterness. Semi-sweet. Dry and long finish.
M: Full bodied.
O: A really big stout. Powerful flavors and smells. Not way too sweet. Outstanding!
Nov 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.16 by bgold86 from New York

Nov 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.18 by Domvan from Texas

Nov 11, 2015
Photo of drpimento
Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin

3.08/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
This is twice now with 8 Wired beers at about 16% and the carbonation is flatish. This one is worse; really does a disservice to the brew. There are some really good flavors hidden in there, but the flatness accentuates some negative characteristics. Big disappointment.
Oct 26, 2015
Photo of GallowsThief
Reviewed by GallowsThief from Florida

4.11/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Out of a bottle into my tulip. Picked up at the Charleston Beer Exchange
A – Black with almost a deep purple on the pour. No head at all.
S – Coffee, mocha, grapes, dark fruit. Alcohol.
T - Big hits of both chocolate and red wine. Dark fruits. The wine taste overwhelms the stout for sure. Has a nice sweet flavor with some hint of bitterness.
M – Big bodied. Very lightly carbonated. Touch of alcohol on the palate.
O – This is a big, strong brew. It surprisingly easy to drink despite its huge ABV. I got a whole lot nore of the wine taste then the stout but still it was very nice. Well worth a try if you can find it.
Oct 25, 2015
Photo of FBGordon
Reviewed by FBGordon from Oregon

4.15/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from lightly cooled bottle into a room temp pub glass.

A: Pours dark brown, almost black with a thin khaki head that quickly dissipates and leaves a thin ring around the glass that still manages some lacing.

S: Lots of chocolate with notes of toffee and plum. The wine barrel aging pushes the fruity notes to the front.

T: Much like what you smell, there are big chocolate and plum notes dominating, with lesser flavors of toffee and coffee settling on the palate. The alcohol is definitely there, as well. There is almost none of the cloying, bitter sourness you sometimes get from red wine aged stouts. The flavors all start big but quickly settle down.

M: It's a big, thick beer with low carbonation that coats the palate nicely. Heavy enough to give you a little dread if you take too many big pulls too fast.

O: As red wine barrel aged stouts go, I like this one. Not insanely boozy and with a decent balance of chocolate and fruit notes, this is a big beer that drinks easily. I'd gladly have another.
Sep 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.06 by liamt07 from Canada (ON)

Jun 30, 2015
Bumaye from 8 Wired Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 75 ratings