Cuvée (2017) - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
Nickel Brook Brewing Co. - Burlington
- From:
- Nickel Brook Brewing Co. - Burlington
- Ontario, Canada
- Style:
- Herb and Spice Beer
- ABV:
- 9.5%
- Score:
- 90
- Avg:
- 4.11 | pDev: 8.27%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Oct 11, 2025
- Added:
- Dec 30, 2017
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Cramshawbar from Canada (ON)
3.27/5 rDev -20.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.27/5 rDev -20.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Probably one of the better offerings from one of my least favourite craft breweries.
It isn't my style, but at least I can appreciate the effort better here.
The opening of the bottle is not much fun, as the beer oozes out of the (expensive) bottle, so you have got to pour quickly. The wonderfully thick head (I sound like a bad porno writer) settles nicely and the colour is quite nice. The nose is sour kraut. There is no better way to describe it.
While this brew is sour (a style I cannot get used to), it is not obtrusively so, thanks to the various herbs thrown in for balance. And, although subtle, those bourbon notes are very much detectable and thankfully not overwhelming.
All in all, I would drink this again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase it.
Nov 09, 2018It isn't my style, but at least I can appreciate the effort better here.
The opening of the bottle is not much fun, as the beer oozes out of the (expensive) bottle, so you have got to pour quickly. The wonderfully thick head (I sound like a bad porno writer) settles nicely and the colour is quite nice. The nose is sour kraut. There is no better way to describe it.
While this brew is sour (a style I cannot get used to), it is not obtrusively so, thanks to the various herbs thrown in for balance. And, although subtle, those bourbon notes are very much detectable and thankfully not overwhelming.
All in all, I would drink this again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase it.
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand
4.06/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Ruby red and slightly hazy with a little carbonation, and topped with a finger of beige head.
Smells of Brett, funk, hay blanket, molasses, brown sugar, and sour wine vinegar.
Sweet, sour bitter, floral, with dusty barn, macaroni, oak barrels, black liquorice. It finishes with a wood like bitterness, that is slightly charred.
Medium body, with moderate, foamy carbonation.
Got in Bracebridge, drinking in Muskoka, Feb 25th, 2018. Interesting, complex and expensive brew.
Feb 26, 2018Smells of Brett, funk, hay blanket, molasses, brown sugar, and sour wine vinegar.
Sweet, sour bitter, floral, with dusty barn, macaroni, oak barrels, black liquorice. It finishes with a wood like bitterness, that is slightly charred.
Medium body, with moderate, foamy carbonation.
Got in Bracebridge, drinking in Muskoka, Feb 25th, 2018. Interesting, complex and expensive brew.
Reviewed by eberesford from Canada (ON)
4.13/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
500 ml bottle from LCBO. Pours deep black with a creamy creme caramel coloured head . The aroma is like a boozy fruitcake. Flavour: dried fruit (fig), chocolate, bourbon, some bitterness. Not overly carbonated - very creamy.
Feb 11, 2018
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)
4.01/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.01/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
500 ml bottle, wax sealed with a retail price of $9.95 CDN. Gave a couple of these away as gifts this Christmas. On the surface appears to be quite close to the 2016 rendition, with similar alcohol and also being a spiced beer aged in bourbon barrels. Served fairly cold into a tulip. Ingredients are the usual 4 with malted wheat, demerara sugar, dried figs, orange peel, raisins, cinnamon, all spice, black pepper, cardamom and vanilla beans.
Appearance - Murky brown, darker than dark honey and the approximately color of most brown ales. Poured a two finger head that receded fairly quickly, and left behind a minimal amount of lacing.
Smell - This is complex. Very much a sour style ale, with lots of spices, vanilla, pepper and cardamom are the three I noticed most. A medley of other spices with a some grape as well. Bourbon just flies under the radar, but it is there mixed with brown sugar.
Taste - Sourness and tartness predominantly, the bourbon shows warms again with spices mixed together. Orange peel and raisins are also prominent. Some bitterness, but nicely balanced by the sweetness. I also get some nuttiness mid bottle as the beer continues to warm.
Mouthfeel - Low carbonation super creamy with a drying effect on the tongue right at the end. Bourbon warms the back of the mouth and lets the 19 proof impact of this beer be felt. Just a touch flat at the end of some sips.
Overall - A complex brew, with lots of added ingredients, culminating in a tasty ale that seems to be changing every few minutes as it warms. With so many ingredients to blend, it's hard to pick them out of a lineup and at times makes identifying what you are tasting a challenge. Nonetheless an effort that is to be commended even if I find it just short of the 2016 rendition.
in comparison to the 2016, it's considerably less hazy, the bourbon seems slightly muted to last year and the feel isn't quite as good. Otherwise, a remarkably consistent brew year to year (or at least 2016-2017)
Jan 01, 2018Appearance - Murky brown, darker than dark honey and the approximately color of most brown ales. Poured a two finger head that receded fairly quickly, and left behind a minimal amount of lacing.
Smell - This is complex. Very much a sour style ale, with lots of spices, vanilla, pepper and cardamom are the three I noticed most. A medley of other spices with a some grape as well. Bourbon just flies under the radar, but it is there mixed with brown sugar.
Taste - Sourness and tartness predominantly, the bourbon shows warms again with spices mixed together. Orange peel and raisins are also prominent. Some bitterness, but nicely balanced by the sweetness. I also get some nuttiness mid bottle as the beer continues to warm.
Mouthfeel - Low carbonation super creamy with a drying effect on the tongue right at the end. Bourbon warms the back of the mouth and lets the 19 proof impact of this beer be felt. Just a touch flat at the end of some sips.
Overall - A complex brew, with lots of added ingredients, culminating in a tasty ale that seems to be changing every few minutes as it warms. With so many ingredients to blend, it's hard to pick them out of a lineup and at times makes identifying what you are tasting a challenge. Nonetheless an effort that is to be commended even if I find it just short of the 2016 rendition.
in comparison to the 2016, it's considerably less hazy, the bourbon seems slightly muted to last year and the feel isn't quite as good. Otherwise, a remarkably consistent brew year to year (or at least 2016-2017)
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