Bourbon Little Brother
The Commons Brewery

Bourbon Little BrotherBourbon Little Brother
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From:
The Commons Brewery
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
10%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.82 | pDev: 11.78%
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
77
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 22, 2023
Added:
Jan 01, 2013
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  11
A portion of Little Brother is added to Heaven Hill bourbon barrels after primary fermentation where it picks up a rich, bourbon flavor. After a few months this is then blended back with a non-barrel aged version that had been cold conditioning.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Orca
Reviewed by Orca from Washington

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Somehow my review, which I had saved locally on my computer, was deleted from BA. So restoring it now. I don't know when I had this but I know it was still in my inventory as of 7/12/2016, so let's say I reviewed it in winter 2016.

750mL (2014) into a tulip. Pours a clear mahogany w/ a 1-finger off-white head that settles to a thin film and collar.

Aroma is a rich caramel. Brown sugar, figs and dates.

Taste follows nose. Sweet and sugary with undertones of root beer barrel candy.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with nice carbonation and a lingering finish.

Overall a solid Belgian quad style ale, a little light on the Bourbon flavor.
Jul 22, 2023
Photo of Parmesan
Reviewed by Parmesan from Colorado

3.84/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
L: Pours a dark brown with notes of purple where the light hits it. Very little head and no lacing on the glass.

S: Strong notes of bourbon, vanilla, some brown sugar and dark sweet cherry and other stone fruit, and notes of brown sugar and Belgian candi sugar.

T: Dark brown sugar and Belgian Candi sugar, notes of strong bourbon, a touch of vinegar, sweet cherry and dark stone fruit, some vanilla and oak tastes pretty good.

F: Nice acid bite at the end, lower carbonation, medium body.

O: This is a pretty solid barrel aged beer.
Jul 08, 2019
Photo of VashonGuy
Reviewed by VashonGuy from Washington

3.77/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Mild, smooth, subtle ... those were my first notes on this beer. As for appearance, it's a dark reddish brown with a tan head. The aroma and the taste combine mild dark fruits with Belgian yeast. The bourbon influence in this beer is subdued, both in the nose and in the mouth; it's there all right, but it's not shouting "Bourbon Bourbon Bourbon" at you. That's just fine by me.

So, as long as you are not expecting a dark stout, which this is not, or a bourbon bomb, you'll be fine with this beer. Mild, smooth, and subtle ... those are good attributes.

Serving: on tap
May 15, 2017
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
a strange beverage, partially bourbon barrel aged, i didnt love it at first, but it really grew on me as i drank on it, and by the time i was finishing off the bottle, i totally was into it. chocolate brown in color but kind of light looking for what it is, big belgian looking head on it. smells like whiskey and rotting fruit, i am surprised by the lightness of the malt, not toasty or chocolatey at all, maybe a dry cocoa note, but this is way lighter than it looks on the grain spectrum, fruity for sure, raisin and plum and dates. the whiskey is stronger in the nose than it is in the flavor, but it really comes on as it warms up, just like the alcohol, they seem to work together well. maybe its the yeast thats strange, but its not belgian the way we usually think, more of a dried fruit and soft spice complexion, lots to it, but its kind of weird with the bourbon. i think i might even prefer a non barrel aged edition of this just to taste the yeast more clearly. medium weight on the palate but great carbonation, wet wood lingers in the finish with a little caramelized sugar. enjoyable strong ale, and definitely something a little different, but this is nowhere near my favorite beer thee guys do. either way, its really rad they are selling some beer in colorado now, i am a longstanding fan of all that they do!
May 04, 2017
 
Rated: 3.95 by impending from California

Mar 12, 2017
 
Rated: 3.58 by my_knew_craft from Massachusetts

Mar 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.92 by ambruns1979 from California

Feb 12, 2017
 
Rated: 3.87 by Birdlegs from Washington

Jan 26, 2017
 
Rated: 2.68 by drone from Oregon

Jan 02, 2017
 
Rated: 4.17 by chossboss from Oregon

Dec 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4.38 by festizio from California

Dec 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.59 by SocalKicks from California

Dec 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.24 by Quafftastic from Virginia

Aug 22, 2015
 
Rated: 2.65 by acurtis from New Jersey

Jul 18, 2015
 
Rated: 2.88 by djrn2 from New Jersey

Jul 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by jmccraney from Washington

Apr 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by MadeInOregon from California

Mar 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by wulfie85 from California

Mar 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4.03 by MisSigsFan from California

Mar 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4.04 by AndrewGoria from Washington

Mar 14, 2015
Bourbon Little Brother from The Commons Brewery
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 77 ratings