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Aztec - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
Breakside Brewery - NE Dekum
- From:
- Breakside Brewery - NE Dekum
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- American Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 12%
- Score:
- 90
- Avg:
- 4.03 | pDev: 8.93%
- Reviews:
- 29
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 02, 2019
- Added:
- Sep 01, 2011
- Wants:
- 18
- Gots:
- 30
Strong amber ale made with cacao/chocolate nibs and two types of chilies that was aged in freshly emptied bourbon barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia
4.19/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.19/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle:
Chestnut clear body with a lightly rusted white head. For the higher alcohol volume, the head is quite perisitent. There are a few streams of lace on the glass.
Nose has the sweetness of bothering the base ale and the barrel. A spicy spiked cola is the general impression: brown sugar, cherry cola, cinnamon bite, vanilla and char from the barrel aging,
Taste has a sneaky earthiness underlying the sweeter note - almost like an old ale with a hint of earthy spice. I’m not quite getting the chile heat as expected initially, but there’s a light bite to the light, barely sticky liquid. Bourbon and cherry cola jump from the nose to the taste with ease. The bite seems like it could be from the spirit, but it slowly builds into an ever so light lingering heat that I’ve not gotten from any other bourbon-barrel aged beer. What I am missing for most of the drink is the cacao nibs (it is possible they’re feeding the earthy aspect a little, but it might be too well integrated).
So, I actually don’t mind not really noticing the nibs. The barrel influence is at a good level, and the chiles add a light spice early and a little heat later. Sipping this beer was a fun experience.
Nov 25, 2018Chestnut clear body with a lightly rusted white head. For the higher alcohol volume, the head is quite perisitent. There are a few streams of lace on the glass.
Nose has the sweetness of bothering the base ale and the barrel. A spicy spiked cola is the general impression: brown sugar, cherry cola, cinnamon bite, vanilla and char from the barrel aging,
Taste has a sneaky earthiness underlying the sweeter note - almost like an old ale with a hint of earthy spice. I’m not quite getting the chile heat as expected initially, but there’s a light bite to the light, barely sticky liquid. Bourbon and cherry cola jump from the nose to the taste with ease. The bite seems like it could be from the spirit, but it slowly builds into an ever so light lingering heat that I’ve not gotten from any other bourbon-barrel aged beer. What I am missing for most of the drink is the cacao nibs (it is possible they’re feeding the earthy aspect a little, but it might be too well integrated).
So, I actually don’t mind not really noticing the nibs. The barrel influence is at a good level, and the chiles add a light spice early and a little heat later. Sipping this beer was a fun experience.
Reviewed by metter98 from New York
4.02/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: The beer is dark amber in color. It poured with a quarter finger high off white head that left a little wiping on teh surface and a narrow collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate to strong aromas of bourbon and associated vanilla are present in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of bourbon from the barrel aging and strong notes of chili peppers.
M: It feels a bit more than medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The taste of this beer has a good balance between the flavors of bourbon and chili peppers. The alcohol is very well hidden.
Serving type: bottle
Oct 14, 2018S: Moderate to strong aromas of bourbon and associated vanilla are present in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of bourbon from the barrel aging and strong notes of chili peppers.
M: It feels a bit more than medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The taste of this beer has a good balance between the flavors of bourbon and chili peppers. The alcohol is very well hidden.
Serving type: bottle
Reviewed by jakecattleco from California
4.04/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
L: Pours vibrant mahogany with 1 finger of medium density white head that dissipates very quickly and left very little lacing.
S: Nose is mostly barrel attributes, charred oak, vanilla and bourbon. Its pleasant, but very little from the base beer is shining through.
T: More dynamic than the nose, definitely picking up some of the base beer especially the chilies. In addition to the chilies and barrel notes, there's some noticeable chocolate on this finish, which lingers on the palate a bit alongside the chilies.
F: Low-medium bodied with lower carbonation, slick on the tongue with plenty of burn from the chilies.
O: It's a nice beer, a buddy brought this to a chili cookoff/bottle share. I can definitely see this being a great option for such an event. Breakside does not disappoint with this one (much like everything else I've had from them), they are one of the best in PDX for sure.
Aug 12, 2018S: Nose is mostly barrel attributes, charred oak, vanilla and bourbon. Its pleasant, but very little from the base beer is shining through.
T: More dynamic than the nose, definitely picking up some of the base beer especially the chilies. In addition to the chilies and barrel notes, there's some noticeable chocolate on this finish, which lingers on the palate a bit alongside the chilies.
F: Low-medium bodied with lower carbonation, slick on the tongue with plenty of burn from the chilies.
O: It's a nice beer, a buddy brought this to a chili cookoff/bottle share. I can definitely see this being a great option for such an event. Breakside does not disappoint with this one (much like everything else I've had from them), they are one of the best in PDX for sure.
Reviewed by Blackop555 from Michigan
4.04/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours Amber Brown. Medium, fluffy, off-white head that Fades fast.
Smells roasted malts, toasty, caramel, dark fruit, vanilla and a hint of pepper.
Taste Carmel, vanilla, dark fruit, earthy and bourbon. Followed by toasted malt and light heat from the peppers. Finish is semi-dry with a bourbon linger. Medium body and fizzy medium carbonation.
Jul 10, 2018Smells roasted malts, toasty, caramel, dark fruit, vanilla and a hint of pepper.
Taste Carmel, vanilla, dark fruit, earthy and bourbon. Followed by toasted malt and light heat from the peppers. Finish is semi-dry with a bourbon linger. Medium body and fizzy medium carbonation.
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington
3.88/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Brewed with ancho and habanero chilis, this is fairly warm, heat-wise. But it doesn't interfere with the enjoyment of the chili flavor and the pleasing mellow Bourbon taste. Malty with a little sharp finish and a boozy nose.
Massive roasted malt and caramel. Some lingering but flavorful chili heat. This year's version is 10% ABV. From the 22 oz bottle purchased at Elizabeth Station in Bellingham.
Jun 13, 2018Massive roasted malt and caramel. Some lingering but flavorful chili heat. This year's version is 10% ABV. From the 22 oz bottle purchased at Elizabeth Station in Bellingham.
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)
4/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz bottle (@10% ABV) - I guess chocolate and chili peppers equals Mexican references up the yin-yang.
This beer pours a clear, dark magenta amber colour, with two hefty fingers of puffy, loosely foamy, and fairly bubbly tan had, which leaves some decent dissolving ice floe lace around the glass as it evenly subsides.
It smells of bready and doughy caramel malt, bittersweet cocoa powder, a faint spicy pepper heat, equally tame Kentucky barrel staves, some indistinct black stone fruitiness, and very, very tame earthy, musty, and floral green hops. The taste is bready and biscuity caramel malt, a wisp of damp ashiness, some muddled and bruised pome fruity notes, a very vanilla-forward woodiness, fading chocolate wafers, an ethereal chili spiciness, and some more very hard to detect leafy, earthy, and floral hop bitters.
The carbonation is fairly understated in its workaday frothiness, the body a solid medium weight, and generally smooth, as the spice isn't strong enough to make a dent at this particular point in the game. It finishes off-dry, the caramel, cocoa, and sweet barrel essences continuing the lingering party.
Overall - this is a pleasant enough strong ale, one whose barrel treatment and elevated ABV never really cause any concern for that ol' palate of mine. Definitely worth checking out, if solely for the just mentioned conclusions, or any ones that you might come to yourselves, as such.
Jun 03, 2018This beer pours a clear, dark magenta amber colour, with two hefty fingers of puffy, loosely foamy, and fairly bubbly tan had, which leaves some decent dissolving ice floe lace around the glass as it evenly subsides.
It smells of bready and doughy caramel malt, bittersweet cocoa powder, a faint spicy pepper heat, equally tame Kentucky barrel staves, some indistinct black stone fruitiness, and very, very tame earthy, musty, and floral green hops. The taste is bready and biscuity caramel malt, a wisp of damp ashiness, some muddled and bruised pome fruity notes, a very vanilla-forward woodiness, fading chocolate wafers, an ethereal chili spiciness, and some more very hard to detect leafy, earthy, and floral hop bitters.
The carbonation is fairly understated in its workaday frothiness, the body a solid medium weight, and generally smooth, as the spice isn't strong enough to make a dent at this particular point in the game. It finishes off-dry, the caramel, cocoa, and sweet barrel essences continuing the lingering party.
Overall - this is a pleasant enough strong ale, one whose barrel treatment and elevated ABV never really cause any concern for that ol' palate of mine. Definitely worth checking out, if solely for the just mentioned conclusions, or any ones that you might come to yourselves, as such.
Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana
3.92/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance - The beer poured a murky brown color with an off white head.
Smell - Once the volcanic carbonation settled down, I noted dry red grapes and a hint of spice.
Taste - The beer was like a dry red wine spiced with peppers. The heat comes toward the back and gave a slight but not unbearable burn.
Mouthfeel - The carbonation was a problem. Every pour was a challenge to keep in the glass, occassionally errupting to the floor. When it settled down, the beer was fairly smooth.
Overall - I had an older bottle, so I would not mind sampling a new one for comparison. I would not actively seek a newer bottle though.
May 27, 2018Smell - Once the volcanic carbonation settled down, I noted dry red grapes and a hint of spice.
Taste - The beer was like a dry red wine spiced with peppers. The heat comes toward the back and gave a slight but not unbearable burn.
Mouthfeel - The carbonation was a problem. Every pour was a challenge to keep in the glass, occassionally errupting to the floor. When it settled down, the beer was fairly smooth.
Overall - I had an older bottle, so I would not mind sampling a new one for comparison. I would not actively seek a newer bottle though.
Reviewed by connecticutpoet from Connecticut
4.1/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance – Two and a half finger head on a clear brown body.
Aroma – Sweet dark malt, milk chocolate, and a little bourbon.
Taste – Slightly bitter oak tannins, chocolate, a little bourbon, hints of chilis on the soft palate at the end.
Mouthfeel – Full and well rounded body, not heavy.
Overall – A good beer that hides the ABV in the flavor, but it packs a punch.
Mar 24, 2018Aroma – Sweet dark malt, milk chocolate, and a little bourbon.
Taste – Slightly bitter oak tannins, chocolate, a little bourbon, hints of chilis on the soft palate at the end.
Mouthfeel – Full and well rounded body, not heavy.
Overall – A good beer that hides the ABV in the flavor, but it packs a punch.
Aztec - Bourbon Barrel-Aged from Breakside Brewery - NE Dekum
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
152 ratings
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