Reserve Ale - Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine
Cricket Hill Brewing Co.

 

From the 650 ml. bottle compliments of JC Wattsrugger in trade. Attractive looking dark amber pour with some reddish hues underneath a modest off-white head. Bold barley grain and caramel sweetness penetrates the nose along with a fruity, more specifically black cherry sensation. Booze isn't too bad. The body is medium. I thought it might be fuller. The taste is full of sweet barley grains and a slightly more notable alcohol bite that I didn't notice in the aroma. Overripe fruit. But the alcohol is buried in both the flavor and aroma.

 

 

 

 

As further indication of The Bottle Backlog here at Chez Woody, allow me to take credit for the approved photo of this beer. I do not know when I procured the bottle, took the picture, had it approved or anything else, but I am here now. Let's try this Cricket!

I Pop!ped the cap and sat back for a moment of quiet contemplation. It is sometimes good to do this before delving into a relatively-big beer. I thought of this brewery's founder, Rick, who I have known for quite some time. I thought of my two grandfathers, both of whom served in WWI. I thought of my love of beer & now, I was ready.

I Pop!ped the cap & began a slow, gentle pour into an awaiting glass. Slow & steady as she goes, OOD. I was becoming mesmerized by what was decanting until I snapped back into shape & stopped the pour. A vigorous in-glass swirl raised two-plus fingers of foamy, rocky, light-tan head with decent retention that left nice lacing in its wake. Color was a Deep Amber/Light Copper to Copper (SRM = > 13, < 17) with NE-quality clarity. Nose had the distinct fresh-shaved coconut smell of Bourbon Bbl.-aged beers. It was not the cloying sweet coconut of suntan lotion or those rum drinks, but instead, coconut with some underlying heat & notes of leather. Mmm. Mouthfeel was silky smooth, like the gentlest caress of my tongue, following some aggressive AIPAs earlier. The taste was of honey, coconut, leather, wood & most definitely, bourbon. Yum. Finish was dry with a lingering taste of coconut & bourbon that left me licking my lips in anticipation of the next drink.

 

The pour is rosy red with peach and garnet highlights. Light tan head, goes away quickly. Smells of caramel, grapefruit faints of bourbon are in there too. Taste is similar. Caramel, vanilla, bitter hop finish, notes of bourbon, wood. The mouthfeel is where it gets me. Big and chewy, sticky yet smooth. This is an easy drinking, well rounded brew.

 

 

 

 

Received this in a trade a long while ago. Poured into my Duvel tulip in a nice randomly VERY cold night.

A - Poured a nice crystal clear light copper hue with a one finger head that faded quickly to leave a thin wisping and much nicer halo. Not much lacing.

S - Nice lightly buttery oak aromas with light sweet malts, toffee/caramel, and super super faint bourbon.

T - Taste is a touch more buttery oak with VERY light bourbon. Very nice sweet caramel, toffee, vanilla. Wish the bourbon was a bit more existant but considering how almost light this beer is it works. Alcohol slightly detectable on the finish.

M - Mouthfeel has light carbonation with some lingering alcohol. Feels a bit on the thin side unfortunately.

O - Overall this was a good beer. Wish the bourbon was a bit more pronounced but even considering that its still not bad. Just wish the mouthfeel was better. Still, its a step up from their regular barleywine.

 

22oz bottle into a snifter - BBA written in gold marker on the neck

A: Pours a hazy red with a tiny head that fades to a ring and leaves very little lacing. Flat as hell on the first pour but it had more carbonation on the 2nd pour

S: The nose has nice notes of caramel, english toffee, big vanilla aroma, cherries, and earthy malt.

T: The taste is similar with nice flavors of caramel, toffee, vanilla, and some hops which was a bit of surprise after smelling it.

M: The feel is on the thicker side of medium with a creamy finish.

O: Not as much barrel flavors/aromas as I was expecting but it was still tasty. I'd love to try this one fresh.

 

 

 

Wow, I thought I had bought the regular No. 3 Cricket Hill barleywine, and just before popping the top and reviewing, I noticed "BBA" scrawled in gold marker just above the label. I assume that means "Bourbon Barrel Aged"...popping the top, tasting and smelling will be the only way to find out. Let's do it...

First pour produced a disappointingly wispy head, the second a slightly better but still thin head. It's creamy and very bubbly, but doesn't last long. Color is a very slightly hazed copper-y amber color.

Smell definitely indicates some time in bourbon barrels, although it's not overpowering, and the relatively sensible ABV keeps the alcohol from seeming too hot. Woody essence lays just over a big toffee vibe. Hints of tobacco and overripe dark fruit (fig, plum).

Pretty much same on the tongue as hinted at in the nose, with an added smack of gooey caramel flavor. The barrel seems new, as the woody flavor has that sort of "greenness" to it, while the bourbon just kisses the vanilla, maple, and toffee aspects of the original barleywine. As it should be. Very slight fruit rind from the hops, and that's mostly tasted in the finish. And the alcohol never wears out its welcome. Superbly balanced, well done.

Feel is smooth and slick, hardly the thickest barleywine on the planet, and carbonated just enough to give it some tingle on the tongue.

My kind of "BBA" Barleywine...just enough barrel and bourbon to enhance the barleywine, without ever snuffing out the original beer entirely. Very good stuff.