He'Brew Jewbelation Vertical (Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Blend)
Shmaltz Brewing Company

He'Brew Jewbelation Vertical (Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Blend)He'Brew Jewbelation Vertical (Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Blend)
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From:
Shmaltz Brewing Company
 
New York, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
10.5%
Score:
94
Avg:
4.24 | pDev: 9.67%
Reviews:
153
Ratings:
252
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 14, 2019
Added:
Nov 07, 2010
Wants:
  62
Gots:
  78
100% barrel-aged ale, a blend of seven recipes of Jewbelation (from year 8 to year 14). Aged in Sazerac 6 year rye whiskey barrels.
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Ratings by freewill35:
Photo of freewill35
Rated by freewill35 from Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

Jan 27, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of darktronica
Reviewed by darktronica from Indiana

4.17/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Batch 2, bottled December 1, 2010. Based on some previous experiences with aged Shmaltz, I was fully prepared for this to be a heavily-oxidized mess, so the fact that it isn't comes as a pleasant surprise. A lovely pour, with a half-finger of soapy head that leaves a touch of foam on top and the glass rimmed with an array of bubbles. The nose does present some of the orange gumdrop and black tea notes of an oxidized strong ale, but also some plum, brown sugar, and green tobacco. Richly malty on the palate, with peppery rye spice accenting the sweetness of the grain bill. Still some floral hop notes swimming in vanilla and molasses.
Apr 14, 2019
Photo of mynie
Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

3.88/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
I stopped collecting and storing beer a few years ago. It got too expensive, too creepy. It was once a slightly eccentric little hobby that didn't hurt no one, but by the mid twenty-teens it had become some Mr. Burns bullshit, an avocation suitable only for men who are monied, cruel, and deranged.

I bought this bottle off a shelf in Indiana in 2013. It was not expensive. It had been sitting there for 3 years. It traveled with me on a move from Indiana to Massachusetts and then from Massachusetts to Baltimore. At least 4 times, I have considered dumping it. But something about its proclamation of scarcity made me hold on it--even though that proclamation received few, if any, responses. This is a solid but not hypey brewer. This is a base beer that I've honestly never heard of. The bottle isn't waxed or corked. But, still, today--needing a drink, basically--I had to check and see how many "Wants" this beer had before I could bring myself to open it.

What an animal I am. How goddamn pretentious of me. We humans have no right to judge the behavior of pigs.

The bottle art is hideous in a way that makes me think it has some kind of significance I cannot appreciate. The aroma is sharp and wooden, like oxidized crackers. There's a dude on youtube who reviews old military rations from as far back as the Boer War, and I imagine is this about what a foil-wrapped sleeve of Desert Storm-era Ritz's smells like.

And so the flavor is kind of shocking, it's so rich and smooth. While the aroma was all raisins and tin, this starts as a puree of brown fruit, moves into a middle of wonderfully alcoholic barley, and finishes with vanilla and charred grain, with some figs on the aftertaste. It's a bizarre beer, for sure--one that I most certainly not be drinking were I not greatly depressed and without any other viable options for attaining inebriation. But, fuck, I have to admit it's really getting the job done.
Sep 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Feb 11, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by heysuz from Indiana

Feb 11, 2018
Photo of Samlover55
Reviewed by Samlover55 from New York

4.65/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
picked this up a few months ago at the brewery
22oz bottle into Libbey Tulip
Bottled on 12/1/10 (almost 7 years old!)
L- pours a dark black with thin tan head
S- first aroma is all barrel-aged....vanilla and oak, followed by the more subtle aromas of mocha and chocolate fudge
T- rich dark malt that is laced with coffee, and chocolate fudge, that is beautifully enhanced by the whiskey from the barrel-aging
F- full-bodied, slight carbonation, creamy, very drinkable for 10.5% ABV
Overall a great beer that stood the test of time, not oxidized at all, and drank just wonderfully
Oct 29, 2017
Photo of retry4z
Reviewed by retry4z from California

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured at refrigerator temperature into a Dogfish Head goblet from a bomber.

Appears black, with amber-brown shades at the edges. Small ran head.

Smell of caramel and vanilla, dark fruit, chocolate fudge, bourbon, and resin.

Tastes of dried dark fruit, especially plums, some fig, vanilla, mild licorice, molasses, and bourbon. Also some honey and bee pollen, some warming alcohol. Tastes like a quadruple. No bitterness, very mild hops detected.

Light carbonation, full-bodied, lingering sweetness, coats the tongue.

Overall, an rare and excellent treat. Very pronounced bourbon flavor, and some complex interaction between the seven blander anniversary ales. Very enjoyable.

$20 for the bomber in 2015 from a bar.
Sep 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by kwgduke from Pennsylvania

Jun 19, 2015
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

3.89/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
No label information. Vertical Jewbelation is brewed in the style of an American Strong Ale featuring Jewbelation entries 8 through 14 blended and aged in 6 year Rye Whiskey barrels. Released as Barrel Aged Release #3, available in single 12 oz. bottles and on limited draft.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a snifter glass. Served above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a frothy foam head of a mocha cream complexion over a near black body. Retention is average and there is little spotty lacing visible. 3.5

(Smell) Toasted caramel malt syrups, aromas of chocolate malts, burnt sugars, soft roast and an ample fermented fruit profile of sticky raisin and date syrups with a moderate suggestion of alcohol underneath. The barrel aging doesn't come through very well in the aroma, paling in comparison to the malt and yeast profile that this beer offers. Soft tartness and delicate graininess merge seamlessly with the alcohol profile of the aroma. Potency is moderate. 3.75

(Taste) Chocolate and bready caramel and toffee malts up front with a chewy rye viscosity, finishing on notes of moderate roasted barley, cocoa nibs and acidic coffee bean. The taste is enjoyable, with the volume of flavor defining the seven beers that comprise the parts of this whole. Alcohol is better reserved in the flavor, with a touch of smooth booze on the finish, seamless rye whiskey character with a subtle barrel-aging impact and dryness- evident oak and soft vanilla. The rye itself thickens up the mix considerably, paired with dark fruit sugars of red raisin and molasses, there's a notable blending of the warring flavors of sucrose and ethanol battling it out here. Enjoyable flavor with lots of malt depth and an ample body to pair. 4

(Mouthfeel) The texture is creamy, moderately chewy, medium viscous, modestly dry. Carbonation is mild, generating a low frothiness and a modestly crisp finish. Body is medium/high for the style, shy of high overall. Balance is nearly even alcohol plus earthy bitter to sweetness. Alcohol presence is moderate and there are no notable off characters. 3.75

(Overall) Vertical Jewbelation tastes like it has the range of flavor that seven ales combined would present, with a nice quality of malt variety and a substantial body as well. The barrel aging and rye whiskey character comes through much more subtly than expected for a smoother and more enjoyable drinking experience. This beer nearly settles into a stout category but the diversity of its malt body and dark fruit flavors suggest that there's much more to appreciate in it than just that. Quite enjoyable and recommended. 4

Shmaltz Brewing Company's
He'Brew Jewbelation Vertical
3.89/5.00
Apr 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by CDCNAM from Louisiana

Jan 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by JRod1969 from New York

Dec 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by ADTaber from South Carolina

Dec 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4.4 by Rich1818 from Colorado

Oct 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by MarkyMOD from Colorado

Aug 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by zestar from California

Aug 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by KAF from Iowa

Jul 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by M1A2 from Ohio

Jul 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by scott2269 from Ohio

Jul 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Durandal_777 from Pennsylvania

May 16, 2014
Photo of Stinkypuss
Reviewed by Stinkypuss from Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A blended beer, this was in the holiday jewbelation pack several years ago, which also came with a glass that broke in my dishwasher today. The beer was cracked in its honor.

LOOK: A dark amber brown brew with a tan head with good retention. This beer coats the glass like a good whiskey or scotch.

SMELL: Big aroma! Loads of malt, toffee, rye, wood and fruit. Sugary, sweet, a bit boozy, I've been waiting to try this one for a while.

TASTE: Huge flavors here as well of vinous grape, raisin and chocolate. Carries some oxidized notes of tobacco, leather and dark soy. Hop bitterness is loose and a bit acidic on the edges, or could be from the barrel. There is a nice chocolate and spice note from the large amount of malt in the rye whiskey barrels.

FEEL: Smooth, creamy and well carbonated. This has a velvety feel and is quite satisfying.

OVERALL: A rare treat with great flavor and complexity. Reminds me of a lost abbey or even utopias in the aroma and taste. Alot going on!
May 16, 2014
He'Brew Jewbelation Vertical (Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Blend) from Shmaltz Brewing Company
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 252 ratings