Big Bourbon Series Sum Cens Double IPA
Shoreline Brewery And Restaurant

 

 

 

 

Purchased this at Frontier Liquors Green River Rd location in Evansville, IN. 2008 vintage. Poured from 750ml bottle into a snifter. A - Muddy brown with reddish highlights. Minimal head on the pour, but this has great retention. S - A nice bourbon aroma with some smoke and caramel. Some vanilla as well. Very complex. T - A divine cross between hops and bourbon like no other. Very complex on the taste with the above aromas and more. Excellent. M - Smooth, with little carbonation. Full disclosure - I love bourbon. You will be hard pressed to find a finer barrel aged beer.

Poured into new belgium snifter with a dark brown color and verry little foam head.

Smells of bourbon, dark fruit, vanilla, and malt

Taste is very complex, and the bourbon tends to overrun the hop character until you get into the aftertaste. Tastes like a barley wine mated with an ipa

I don't mind drinking beers with a lack of carbonation, but only beers that are meant to lack carbonation. Beer is very complex, but tastes flat.

I still have half of this beer left, and am very excited about it. Don't think ipas are meant to age, but if you throw "barrel aged" on a label, it's gonna get peoples attention.

This bottle was shared with zep9865. I must admit I'd been wanting to try this for awhile. I've been told it's basically a bourbon barrel aged barleywine.

It poured a very dark brown with ruby red highlights. It's actually the same tone as sorghum. It smells of bourbon right off that bat and I'm actually quite surprised at how strong it is initially. The other aromas are of oak, vanilla, molasses, figs, raisins, and caramel. Those barleywine aromas are very apparent. The flavors are full of sweet dark fruits and oak. The bourbon is there but isn't as full force as in the nose but leaves almost the perfect amount behind in the aftertaste. The vanilla is a nice accent, from the barrel aging. The one thing that I feel holding Shoreline back is their mouthfeel. Several of their beers have been a little lighter in body. This could be due to the aging of the beer, and I understand that, but they drink lighter in body than I've been told the '07s did. This one drinks a little on the lighter side. Overall it is a very nice brew and an interesting try. I know Shoreline has a bourbon barrel barleywine but this fits the bill.

Thanks to my man albgarza for takin' a special ride to get this for me! 750ml bottle shared with rlmartin and poured into tulip glasses. This is part of Shoreline's 2008 Reserve Series.

A: Pours with hesitant carbonation. A nice, deep amber color that glows red in the light makes up for the lack of carbonation. The bubbles dissipate into a slight ring. Not as sticky as I thought a DIPA + bourbon would be.

S: Big notes of bourbon and oak. The aroma from the hops wants to come through but is overpowered by the caramel and boozy aspects. Invigorates the nostrils!

T: Oaky to the point where it becomes bitter - I happen to like this feature because the hops have worn off at this point. The bourbon isn't as prevailing in the flavor. Not sweet at all!

M: I would have liked a little more carbonation, but the lack of bubbles works with the ABV. Not slick and oily as I was expecting.

D: I thought this characteristic was right on par. No signs of oxidation.

Overall, another delight from Shoreline. I like these guys!

Thanks to jdiddy for sharing this one. 750ml bottle - 2008 vintage served in a tulip. Pours a semi-hazy auburn with a loose, frothy, off-white head. Great nose - bourbon notes, a buttery quality and a trace of spice. Taste follows nose with the addition of a woody character. Unfortunately the flavors didn't come together as well as the aromas in the nose. Mouthfeel was medium-bodied with a slightly oily consistency, a crisp carbonation and a dry finish. An interesting and complex beer - not something I would drink a lot of in one sitting, but definitely worth trying if the opportunity presents.