Unplugged Bourbon Barrel Bock
New Glarus Brewing Company

Unplugged Bourbon Barrel BockUnplugged Bourbon Barrel Bock
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From:
New Glarus Brewing Company
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Doppelbock
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
89
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 11.36%
Reviews:
102
Ratings:
116
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 17, 2016
Added:
Jun 12, 2007
Wants:
  37
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by EasyReader:
Photo of EasyReader
Rated by EasyReader from North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1%

Jan 22, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by Sweffin from Wisconsin

Jun 17, 2016
 
Rated: 2.5 by beernads from Florida

Nov 10, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by zestar from California

Oct 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by KAF from Iowa

Jul 24, 2014
Photo of Bowers-Brew
Reviewed by Bowers-Brew from Illinois

4.14/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I'm not sure which has changed more in the 7 years that this has been in the cellar, this beer or my taste/experience with beer.

A - Slightly cloudy, dark brown. A small amount of large bubbles when poured.

S - Very sweet and sour with hints of cherry and bourbon.

T - Very sour at first, cherry, toffee and malty followed by sweet vanilla bourbon.

O - I can't get over how good this beer is after sitting in the cellar for 7 years. I don't remember liking this much when it was fresh, but I am glad that I have another one in the cellar after having this one. I have found many great beers and breweries in the 7 years since this beer was released, but my heart still belongs to New Glarus. Prost!
May 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by madtowndmb1 from Wisconsin

Feb 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by jaydoc from Kansas

Dec 21, 2013
Photo of jegross2
Reviewed by jegross2 from Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Reviewing the Unplugged Bourbon Barrel Bock from New Glarus Brewing out of New Glarus, Wisconsin. I was lucky enough to win this 2007 release, a New Glarus tick I long ago gave up on, in a raffle recently.

Score: 88

June 2007 vintage bottle served in a Perennial snifter/tulip hybrid glass and enjoyed on 08/15/13.

Appearance: Pours a clean, but translucent copper color that is free of floaties or haze. Has a wisp of head off the pour that totally settles, resulting in a liquor-like appearance. Minimal head or retention. 3.25/5

Smell: Primarily vanilla and caramel in the nose. There's a little bit of oak and even less dark fruit too, but it is really just malty/sweet vanilla and caramel interacting pleasantly here. Unknown ABV, but not a whiff of booze. 4/5

Taste: Taste follows the nose, but with a little fizziness in the finish. Caramel upfront, followed by vanilla. Mild cherry and tobacco flavors in the finish. Dark fruit undertones. The flavor components here meld almost seamlessly. Some sherry-like fruitiness comes through towards the finish as this beer warms up. No negative oxidization character is present, which is surprisingly given the age of this brew. This bottle was clearly stored well. 4/5

Mouthfeel: On the lighter side of medium bodied with very very low carbonation. This beer is not flat, though it is closer to undercarbonated than appropriately carbonated. That said, there is a little fizzy life in the finish that I did not expected given its headless, non-effervescent appearance. Malty sweet, but not cloying. 3.75/5

Overall: Acquiring older bottles often scares me due to the unknown factor and exponential importance of proper storage over time. I was surprised how well this beer was holding up given how over-the-hill the Unplugged Iced Barleywine was. While this beer is nothing overly complex, unique or epic in flavor, it is easy drinking and quite smooth. The sweetness here does not layer on the palate in a way that inhibits drinkability, and there is no booziness to speak of whatsoever. I am certainly glad to have finally ticked this one, but it is a not a must-try brew.

Cost: $5 for a 12 oz bottle. If you manage to find one these days, I doubt it will be that cheap.
Aug 16, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by coldmeat23 from Oklahoma

Jun 23, 2013
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Reviewed by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

4.65/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
In my cellar for awhile, thought it time to see how this one's aging.

A: copper color, slightly cloudy, some head but thin veil
S: deep rich bourbon and vanilla, but not overpowering with malt base, deep and rich
T: somewhat thin in body but good, surprisingly light for 20 plato, malt, no oxidation, good vanilla and bourbon with ever so slight brett, well-made beer
M: incredibly smooth and mellow, well-balanced
O: unique and a pleasure to drink
Apr 20, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by cliff1066 from Virginia

Dec 22, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by t0rin0 from California

Nov 23, 2012
Photo of Duff27
Reviewed by Duff27 from Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
A- Quickly disipating head on a red body. Some lacing left behind.

S- Sort of a sour bourbon aroma.

T- Tart cherries. Bourbon is still there but is muted until the end of each sip.

M- Medium to medium-thin mouthfeel. Below average carbonation.

D/O- Yum, a sipper and great. Has held up if you ask me. Worth seeking out inf you're dedicated to the series. Thanks ruizjoseph!
Feb 19, 2012
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a cloudy dark ruby/chestnut brown color with mahogany edges and a half finger off-white head that quickly settles into a thin ring. Spotty lacing.

Complex aroma with a prominent barrel character that doesn't overpower the sweet and roasted malt notes. Hints of toasted oak, vanilla and bourbon along with some caramel sweetness, chocolate malt, toffee burnt toast and hazelnut.

Medium bodied with some soft carbonation up font and a well integrated barrel presence that lingers throughout with becoming a booze bomb. Dry toasted oak along with some vanilla and coconut smooth out the sweet bourbon flavor and there are plenty of sweet and roasted malt notes underneath preventing it from becoming one dimensional. Hints of toffee, caramel, hazelnut, dark fruit and choclate as well as some dry, roasted coffee bean. Complex yet very easy to drink.
Jan 03, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by brandoman63 from Illinois

Nov 30, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by nmann08 from Virginia

Nov 28, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by dksl16 from California

Nov 25, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by Photekut from Tennessee

Nov 17, 2011
Photo of HopHead84
Reviewed by HopHead84 from California

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
6/24/2011

Another bottle thanks to Jason.

A: A dark orange color with a white head that's fast fading.

S: Nice caramel and toffee presence with a pleasant amount of bourbon. Bread and a little vanilla. Oxidation is evident but not inappropriate for a near 4 year old beer - faint paper notes with sherry. 

T: Rich toffee with trailing caramel and a nice bourbon presence. This has held up quit well. Smooth and malty with low bitterness.

M: Moderate carbonation and medium body. Mouthfeel is sticky and smooth. 

Overall: This has aged well and is pretty damn good.
Jun 25, 2011
Unplugged Bourbon Barrel Bock from New Glarus Brewing Company
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 116 ratings