The "Herc" C-130 Strong Ale
Flying Bison Brewing Company

The "Herc" C-130 Strong AleThe "Herc" C-130 Strong Ale
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From:
Flying Bison Brewing Company
 
New York, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.87 | pDev: 7.75%
Reviews:
19
Ratings:
27
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 10, 2016
Added:
Feb 21, 2006
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by billab914:
Photo of billab914
Reviewed by billab914 from Virginia

3.67/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle date of Feb 2009, picked up at the brewery a few years back. Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Dogfish glass. It poured brown in color with a thin white lacing mostly sticking to the edges of the glass.

The aroma has kind of a raw, grainy, toasted malt presence to it. I also get some notes of caramel and apple with a touch of cinnamon.

The taste is rich with a lot of really good malty flavors coming through. I get caramel and toasted malts most notably. The finish dries out a little with some balancing bitterness and a hint of chocolate. A little bit of a herbal. earthy bitterness lingers in the finish as well.

The mouthfeel is on the heavier side with carbonation being moderate for the style. Overall, it was a pretty good version of the style. Pretty well integrated, balanced and easy drinking for the style.
Apr 27, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of TheBeerMaster1
Rated by TheBeerMaster1 from New York

3/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I am definitely not into barley wines after trying this badboy.
Oct 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Iamjeff6 from Virginia

Apr 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by bluntedboywonder from New York

Dec 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Fox82791 from New York

Nov 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by trxxpaxxs from New York

Oct 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by chitowncubs09 from Massachusetts

Jul 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Ctruskey from New York

Jul 19, 2014
Photo of Darkmagus82
Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas

4.19/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle into a snifter

Appearance – The beer pours a hazy and thick mahogany color with just some wisps of white foam atop the brew once poured. The head fades almost instantly leaving just a trace of foamy lace on the sides of the glass. When swirled in the snifter the beers thickness can be seen as foamy fingers of lace cling to the sides of the glass fading over time as the tiny carbonation bubbles that compose the fingers of lace pop.

Smell – The aroma of the beer is big and sweet with tons of caramel, toffee, and molasses. Along with these sugary aromas comes some thick roasted bready smells as well as some other sweet smells of a fruit nature of raisin and apple. A good deal of a boozy rum aroma is there as well, creating a nice warming and sweet smell.

Taste – The taste begins with a nice roasted malt and bready flavor with a good showing of caramel and toffee. The roasted flavor is much heavier then I would have expected from the nose (although not from the look) with it initially gaining intensity to the middle of the taste. While this occurs, some more sweet flavors develop on the tongue, with molasses and more caramel becoming more prevalent. Toward the middle of the taste however the roastedness begins to fade some while some light fruit flavors of apple and raisin come to the tongue. Other than the sweet, some boozy and lightly oaky flavors also join the profile with a touch of herbal and earthy hop tastes. The hop gets stronger to the end, and with the mix of sugary and fruity sweet, with the boozy and roasted flavors, ends up leaving a very satisfying and moderately warming flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is thick and chewy with a carbonation level that is very low. Both are very appropriate for the big thick flavors of the brew and accentuate the mix of sweet and lightly hopped flavors nicely with that of the boozy and roasted flavors.

Overall – A very nice, somewhat slower sipper and boozy, sweeter barleywine. Well worth a try, especially at only ~ $3 for a 12 oz. bottle (which is well worth it!!).
Jul 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by RyFikes from New York

Aug 06, 2013
Photo of DaveHS
Reviewed by DaveHS from California

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Vintage 2009, courtesy of trxxpaxxs

A-Pours rusty orange with ruby highlights and a thin brilliant white head comprised of small, tight bubbles. Minimal soapy lacing.

S-Baked apples, nutmeg, cinnamon, banana bread. Very inviting.

T/M-Much more in line with an English style old ale/barleywine than I expected. The same banana bread and baked apple from the nose plays a big part in the flavor profile. The ABV dries out the finish, preventing the beer from ever becoming cloying. Reminiscent of the Traquair 2020. Soft and full bodied with low carbonation and a lingering finish.

O-A solid strong ale that I would love to try again some time.

O-
Mar 20, 2011
Photo of BuffaloTapHugger
Reviewed by BuffaloTapHugger from New York

3.82/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz. bottle from the brewery poured into a standard pint glass.

A: Dark mahogany in color, nice red hue toward the light. Not too much of a head, very minimal and made a limited appearance and about the same can be said about the lacing.

S:Sweet malts, caramelized sugar, fermented apple/pear.

T: The sweetness comes right at you in the beginning with a nice amount of heat with the draw out. Some hops it you in the back, but it's main characteristic is that sweet malt. Somewhat complex in the subtle change in temperature keep you on your feet.

M: Slightly over medium in body, slippery on the palate, abv noticeable with the heat, moderate carbonation.

D: Great sipper, no more than two in a visit. My favorite FBBC beer to date.
Feb 08, 2011
Photo of BarleyBoz
Reviewed by BarleyBoz from New York

4.32/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
The "herc"-C 130 is in my opinion a unique and one of a kind barley wine, if for nothing else, it's incredible drinkability. This beer is consistent from bottle to tap to growler. The malty aromas and slight alcohol notes hit you right in the nose. Deep copper color and a light weight head makes this beer exciting just to look at. Great velvety mouth feel paired with a sweet finish makes your mouth salivate for the next sip. This beer should be drank at a nice cool room temperature to make sure that all properties of smell and taste are released. The Herc's thick body coats the glass proving its place in your glass.
Oct 12, 2010
Photo of generallee
Reviewed by generallee from Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: It was poured from a growler, which was filled up at the Flying Bison Brewery, into a tulip glass.

Appearance: This beer has a dark coppery color with a about a two finger tall head on top. The head is slightly off white in color and slowly fades to a ring of lacey foam as I slowly sip it down. As it slides down the glass it coats the glass and leaves some slick spotty lace behind.

Smell: The aroma is full off sweet caramel and roasty malt with some light sweet boozy hints and just the slightest touch of leafy hops.

Taste/Palate: There is a big malty sweet character here with notes of over ripe pear cover with uber sweet caramel and roasted gain. The ABV is noticeable but in a mellow warm way. Leafy hop flavor and bitterness is very light and it adds only adds a light touch bitterness towards the finish. Its full body has a firm sticky texture with just enough soft carbonation to give it some life.

Notes: It's big and malty, just the way I like it.
Aug 15, 2010
Photo of riversider76
Reviewed by riversider76 from New York

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours copper/amber with a thin off white head. Good retention, and nice laceing. Aroma is of orange peel and earthy carmel malts.Hints of dark fruit too. Body is thick with carbonation.Taste is of tart fruits and earthy malts.Big time alchol. Nice stuff.
Jan 23, 2009
Photo of thekevlarkid
Reviewed by thekevlarkid from Maryland

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Out of a bottle this beer was a cloudy copper/amber color with a one-finger head of khaki foam. The retention was good and the lacing consistent. The aroma was a sweet blend of caramel malt, toffee, lemon and orange zest and alcohol esters. The flavors were at first a flash of bitterness that then became quite malty, with caramel and toffee notes in particular. Behind that was a nice element of citrus hops that added balance and helped keep the beer in check. Alcohol heat was present in the middle too. The finish was slightly sweet and helped temper the alcohol. The body was medium, the mouthfeel soft and the carbonation slightly understated. Quite drinkable and a little deceiving!
Jan 03, 2009
Photo of martymoat
Reviewed by martymoat from Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle stamped 2005

Beer pours a muddy light brown with yeasty particles floating all about, no head at all and very small about of bubbles coming off the bottom of the glass.

The taste up front is a thick malt backbone and rightfully so after sitting for some 3 maybe close to 4 years. this leads into a flat kind of watery sweetness and a slight alcohol warmth. No hop presence at all. i think this beer has seen its day. It is drinkable but i get the sense that it would have been much more enjoyable 3 years ago.
Oct 17, 2008
Photo of mrmanning
Reviewed by mrmanning from Canada (ON)

3.74/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy brindle from the 12 oz bottle. The head is a rocky, frothy tan cap that lasted over 10 minutes before I could drink the beer. Nice lace with little floaties as well. The nose is c-hops and orange peels, dank basement and woody, earthy, caramel malts with a touch of smoke. Butterscotch and caramel malts upfront with spicy, woody notes, a blast of hops with way more bitterness than expected. This is the way I like a barleywine. The caramel and sweetness is here, but the hops balance and I don't feel like I am drinking a sugar bomb. This is quite a treat! Thanks for the bottle Harry!
Jul 05, 2008
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.25/5  rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
2006 Vintage sampled June 2008. I was advised this could use a good year under its belt. 12oz bottle, listed as a 'barleywine' style ale. Thanks swoopjones!

The colour is obscured by a polluting murkiness. What results is a slushy looking orange-amber coloured body that is exponentially more dense in the center and top parts of the glass while some fiery highlights spark near the sides and bottom. A dusty, off-white head that, when left on its own, will burn out to a thin sheet and basic outlining.

Judging from appearance I was not overly keen to drink this; any impressions from smell did little to correct that. Alcohol drenched malts and hops make for a shamelessly high octane aroma. Both green, vinous hop leafs and sweet, caramel malts are doused in booze. Much is left to be desired as all you are treated to is a very straight forward smell of malt saturated in booze and hop resin.

The alcohol is very present and attacks together with the spicy hop astringency to make for a fragrantly hot mouthfeel. The alcohol is far too obvious in the aftertaste, which boast little else. Bitterness is low but annoyingly obnoxious. Flavours incorporate composting vegetables with over-ripened fruits (figs and pears) while the herbal tea-like character of the hops is ever present. At times, it seems to border on 'terrible'.

This one is on level with beginner homebrew - it's alright but amateur. It may show signs of promise but there is much, much room for improvement ahead. To be perfectly blunt, I struggled through a 12oz bottle. The flavours simply didn't develop and I could never quite grasp what exactly it was they were going for. It didn't look, smell, or taste all that good. This is no barleywine, it's no DIPA, it's simply ... not that good. And unfortunately, with no beer left in the glass, that's still all I've found to say about it.
Jun 21, 2008
Photo of kirok1999
Reviewed by kirok1999 from Ohio

4.17/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a slightly cloudy gold, small white head and slight lacing. Smells very nice citrus/malt mix. Taste is very smooth, creamy, nicely sweet ale. The sweetness is well balanced by hops, not overpowering at all. Nice slightly bitter aftertaste showing the hops nicely. Really well balanced brew, mild and easy to drink.
Jul 31, 2007
The "Herc" C-130 Strong Ale from Flying Bison Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 27 ratings