Grewit Barrel-aged Old World Ale
Propolis Brewing

Grewit Barrel-aged Old World AleGrewit Barrel-aged Old World Ale
Beer Geek Stats
From:
Propolis Brewing
 
Washington, United States
Style:
Gruit / Ancient Herbed Ale
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.84 | pDev: 10.42%
Reviews:
3
Ratings:
9
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 23, 2019
Added:
Apr 02, 2015
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by bros:

  None found.

 
Rated: 3.88 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Sep 23, 2019
More User Ratings:
Photo of Zythophile
Reviewed by Zythophile from Washington

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottle Date: 2015
Palate Contaminants: a dram of scotch

The color is so dark an orange that it's almost red. It's very clear, as well. The only knock that I can come up with is that there's not much head, and whatever is there goes away quickly. Very pleasant to look at.

The smell is really tart, even a little pickle juice. There's some syrup of a wood I can't determine plus some apple butter. Sour cherry cider, too. What I come back to is a Flanders red, but it deviates from that base.

The taste is more savory than sour, yet it's not as complex as the nose at first. The cherry cider is still there, along with apple honey, but the new big thing I get is cinnamon. I also really begin to get the red wine, the label says Malbec, and I believe it. The intensity certainly picks up as it warms up, but the best flavors are already on display. Good overall, but it could probably do with a good food pairing.

Feel is a very nice medium weight with more carbonation than I would've thought with the pour. Mild astringency.
Feb 07, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by GRG1313 from California

Aug 22, 2016
Photo of HerbGuy42
Reviewed by HerbGuy42 from Washington

4.18/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was my first gruit style ale and I was really looking forward to it. It was not really what I expected or wanted, mainly because of stylistic choices and preferences made by the brewers that clash with my own preferences. My criticism is based on the fact that Propolis' ales are probably technically all meads or braggots (fermented honey and barley), which results in a drier, more cidery or vinous beverage than any ale, ales being brewed mostly or completely out of barley. So, full disclosure: I like the sweetness of the unfermentable malt sugars imparted to ales by barley and I really dislike the higher attenuation, and therefore drier flavor profile, of meads, ciders, and wines. Sometimes I do drink and enjoy cider or wine, but it kind of rubs me the wrong way when I have a cider or wine experience from something that is advertised as an ale.

Another criticism, which also is only a matter of opinion (another taster may well celebrate this aspect of this beer), is that the herbal character is EXTREMELY subtle. I could just barely detect any herbal notes. I certainly couldn't place them. But again, I kind of want to be smacked upside the head with the herbal aspect of an "herbal" ale/mead/braggot/whatever.

Having said all that, this brew is very good for what it is. My overall impression was that it was very clean and crisp. Somewhat tart and extremely dry. Herbal notes on the palate make a brief appearance, but are obscured by dry, tart, and alcohol flavors, and I found them impossible to place. Carbonation is good, clarity is high for a dark beer. Color is a darkish slightly ruddy brown. Head pours small and dissipates quickly. Aroma struck me as mostly unremarkable, but slightly herbaceous, adding modestly to the herbal notes on the palate.
Feb 02, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by rab53 from Washington

Jul 05, 2015
 
Rated: 2.94 by AlexFields from Tennessee

Jun 18, 2015
Photo of Kurmaraja
Reviewed by Kurmaraja from California

4.39/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Admittedly, this beer is not for everyone. It's simultaneously really easy drinking but also challenging in that it defies expectations. Much darker than expected, mahogany toned, almost looking like a biere de garde. Pretty brilliant toned, head fades a bit quickly. Aroma is comforting but totally unique in the beer realm - like a baked loaf of spicy dark bread, sage / clove / rosemary, licorice / anise, loam, tobacco box, earthy. Taste follows with maybe a marjoram / oregano flavor in there that fades quickly to a chestnut honey and malt flavor. That said, honey and malt evoke something thick and sweet - this is bone dry and finishes light.

Incredibly unique and would go amazingly well with a main course of something roasted.
May 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by akang from California

Apr 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by SocalKicks from California

Apr 02, 2015
Grewit Barrel-aged Old World Ale from Propolis Brewing
Beer rating: 3.84 out of 5 with 9 ratings