Barrel Aged Wreck Alley
Karl Strauss Brewing Company

Barrel Aged Wreck AlleyBarrel Aged Wreck Alley
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From:
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,830
ABV:
10%
Score:
82
Ranked #24,947
Avg:
3.57 | pDev: 22.97%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
50
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 10, 2024
Added:
Mar 11, 2013
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  6
When we tasted the first batch of Wreck Alley Imperial Stout, we knew barrel-aged versions were in the cards. The only questions were when and how often? Batch #1 answers the first question, and as for Batch #2, you’ll just have to wait and see. Brewed with the same darkly-kilned malts, Tcho cocoa nibs, and Ethiopian coffee beans from Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, Batch #1 was aged three months in American oak barrels. The resulting brew is a dark, unblended, and richly flavored union of dark chocolate, espresso, and toasted oak.
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Ratings by mactrail:
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.58/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
This was the Thursday cask tonight at the downtown San Diego location. Served a little warm in the pint shaker. Dark and inky in the glass with an anemic bit of head.

The bourbon taste is quite strong. Lots of dark malt but more roasted than charred, in spite of the black appearance. This would be better with a little creamy carbonation. The warm cask serving didn't show it off much either. This is one barrel-aged beer that is fine on the colder side, with plenty of boozy flavor and a lighter mouthfeel. In any case it neither tasted nor felt anything like 10% ABV.
Mar 15, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by MEnoMoney

Feb 10, 2024
 
Rated: 3.87 by EdFed from Illinois

Nov 16, 2018
 
Rated: 4.15 by hoponit from New York

Jul 12, 2017
 
Rated: 3.68 by Bammer21 from Illinois

Apr 13, 2017
 
Rated: 2.82 by jwswigs from California

Jan 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3.12 by liamt07 from Canada (ON)

Nov 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.38 by Sammy from Canada (ON)

Nov 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.15 by Minski405

Sep 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.93 by largadeer from California

Jun 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.28 by CelticAleMan from California

May 22, 2015
Photo of rawfish
Reviewed by rawfish from California

1.29/5  rDev -63.9%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1
Pours cola brown, very fizzy with just about the same watery viscosity.

Sour tart cherries and fruit. A vinegar-like sharp note that is reminiscent of pickle juice. No semblance of chocolate, coffee or roasted malt.

As expected from the nose, infected! The bourbon and woody tannins come through, hot and free floating but the malt presence has gone replaced with a vinegar and lactic sourness. No integration of barrel to the remaining beer. Finishes tart, alcoholic and lasting forever unfortunately.

Over carbonated, thin, a stout that barely holds the ABV.

I don't usually review infected beers but 3 strikes and you're out. Karl really needs to get their QC department together and fix this. Alot of their bottled offerings from barrels end up soured if you don't drink them immediately. So far that's BA Wreck Alley, BA Vanilla Wreck Alley & 25th Anniversary (2 bottles) that have had this issue.
Apr 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by anon from California

Nov 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by zestar from California

Nov 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Stohlen

Oct 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by DarkUnity from California

Oct 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by jaredkc889 from California

Aug 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by JMBSH from Colorado

Jun 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by ImperialStout from California

Apr 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by R_J_FearNoBeer from Colorado

Apr 06, 2014
Barrel Aged Wreck Alley from Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 50 ratings