Imperial Razz - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
Jackie O's Brewpub

Imperial Razz - Bourbon Barrel-AgedImperial Razz - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
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From:
Jackie O's Brewpub
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
American Pale Wheat Beer
ABV:
12%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 16.2%
Reviews:
19
Ratings:
29
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 05, 2015
Added:
Feb 06, 2010
Wants:
  11
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.75 by Cynic-ale from Texas

Dec 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by AlexFields from Tennessee

Nov 18, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by queerforbeer from Ohio

Nov 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by masterofsparks from Ohio

Sep 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Chuffbomb from Ohio

Jul 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by zbodnar1 from West Virginia

Jun 21, 2014
Photo of Gueuzedude
Reviewed by Gueuzedude from Arizona

3.32/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Sampled March 2011
This beer pours with a hazy, brown-tinged, gold amber color and is topped by a pale, tan colored head. The nose has a rich, chewy raspberry note to it that is made up of seed notes, fruit pulp and a tart raspberry character. The raspberry aromas overpower the base beer notes, but there is a touch of malt as well as some Bourbon that plays a supporting role by providing touches of spicy, buttery oak and vanilla notes.

The beer has a spicy, Bourbon laden finish that has a definite alcohol character to it. Dry, caramelized malt notes help to accentuate the barrel and oak influence. The raspberry flavors are much more subtle in the flavor, but there is a touch of tartness here. Peppery, Bourbon’ish alcohol, lots of woody notes and a touch of vanill are noticeable, but really there is a lot more spice and wood character than the rest. Not bad in the end, but not really my preference either.
Sep 30, 2013
Photo of Ryan011235
Reviewed by Ryan011235 from Ohio

2.23/5  rDev -42.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2
Poured into a Lost Abbey Teku on 9/26/11

Shared by MbpBugeye

Bottled: 11/29/2009; bottle 76/156

A) Light, rosy hue turns into an ugly brown amber, getting on towards murky. Pours about a finger and a half of fizzy foam that is gone in a flash leaving just a skinny ring of retention. Hardly any lace; just a few spots.

S) Ewh. Ewh. Ewh. This smelled really bad as it was poured from the bottle. The first two words that came to mind are goat foreskin. Yeesh. As it warms up it smells ok, I guess. Lots of raspberry and some grainy, toasted wheat. Smells like raspberry jam and toast. Faint wood note without any sort of appreciable bourbon.

T) As strong as the raspberry is in the aroma, it is so toned down to taste, Here, the wheat takes over, like buttered wheat toast with a soft raspberry jelly notion. Aside from an inherent mustiness, barrel notes are minimal - no proper bourbon.

M) Medium feel, I suppose - kind of grainy, kind of slick. Moderate carbonation with a bit of alcohol heat. Bizarre feel overall.

D) Drinkable, but a really strange beer.
Sep 24, 2013
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.89/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Thanks to Kegatron for sharing this bomber with me. #141/156 into a matching Jackie O's snifter. The brew appears a hazy copper color with a tan cap that fades leaving spots of lace on the glass. When held to the light, the brew shines with yellow and almost green clarity around the edges.

The aroma is full of raspberry with some cheesy funk, sulfur and grass as deeper whiffs are taken. A bit of earthen seedy character is also present typical of other aged raspberry brews with a hint of dry oak and perfume-like alcohol.

The taste is a bit cheesy with raw oak flavors. Lots of tannic character from both the barrel and raspberry seeds. Some earth and grassy character gives way to a natural raspberry flavoring with mild funk. It has a mild sort of yeasty spice across the back that seems like cinnamon mixed with oak that lingers in the aftertaste.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. The raspberry is quite vibrant despite this being several years old and it maintains a freshness in it's feel. A little oak heavy at times with very mild funk or wild attributes. It was surpringly boozy but still enjoyable and something I wouldnt hestitate trying again.
Aug 16, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Aug 11, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by t0rin0 from California

Oct 17, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by nstorts from Ohio

Sep 24, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Photekut from Tennessee

Aug 29, 2012
Photo of claspada
Reviewed by claspada from New Jersey

4.02/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bottle 82/156, bottle dated 11/29/09.

Pours a hazy, syrupy dark copper/light amber color with a small immediately dissipating off-white head. Looks like a beast already.

Aromas begin with a small amount of raspberries, but I also get a ton of dark caramels, oak, honey, vanilla and light bourbon. All of the aspects you expect in a bourbon barrel aged beer are present and stand out, but are less dominant than I expected considering this is a Wheat Ale aged on Bourbon Barrels.

The tastes begin very heavy in honey and vanilla, with an oak finish and spicy bourbon. Less overt raspberry flavor, and a light solvent note. The fruit is very well played here with subtle notes that percolate through the dominating vanilla and barrel-imparted flavors which lay across the palate.

The mouthfeel is medium to heavy bodied with low carbonation. There is a fairly solid dry, tannic, oaky, bourbony finish that is quite dry and semi-tart from the fruit additions.

Overall this beer has held up quite well over the last two years. I imagine initially it was more barrel and raspberry forward, but now both are quite mellow and balanced with the base beer and the oak/barrel imparted flavors. I feel two years is a good time period to wait for many of these 100% barrel aged ales and this was no exception. If you have one, crack it open because it's not going to get any better than this now.
Jan 22, 2012
Photo of AgentZero
Reviewed by AgentZero from Illinois

4.09/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thank to Brad and Sean for the share. Review from notes.

A - Peach colored beer with a finger of white head that faded to a thick ring with some lace behind.

S - A lot of raspberry, vanilla, wood, and bourbon. Flavors are distinct and straight forward.

T - A lot of vanilla, oak, and bourbon. Not sure many pale wheat ales can stand up to a bourbon barrel and this isn't an exception. That said, the bourbon, vanilla, barrel and raspberry are all pretty good flavors.

M - Medium, smooth, softer carbonation, and a bit of a dry finish.

O - Nice beer, easy to drink. I'm a sucker for raspberry beers, and would like to see what happens when this one mellows a little bit. Would be cool if the base started to come out a little bit more.
Nov 19, 2011
Photo of MbpBugeye
Reviewed by MbpBugeye from Ohio

3.8/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bottle 76 of 156 dated 11/29/2009. Shared with Ryan011235.

Appearance
Holy cow, its carbonated! The head is short lived, but is at least healthy. The color is warm and bright; a hazy, dirty strawberry red.

Aroma
Peanut butter jumps out at me first, which I find odd, but interesting. Vanilla and a lot of raspberry soon follow. Putting the peanut butter and raspberry together gives this beer a strong smell of peanut butter and jelly. Its strange but very enjoyable. Its nutty and musty with plenty of vanilla, all from the barrels.

Taste
Lots of raspberry and some vanilla. The raspberry has held up amazingly. Its sharp and tart, but only just. Vanilla smooths over any harshness. There is a little alcohol that has a flash of bourbon flavor to it but it is well worked into the flavors here.

Mouthfeel
Tartness is sharp but very manageable, this is not a sour beer at all, just one packed to the brim with raspberry. Carbonation is low, but pointy. There is a soft warmth from the bourbon barrels.

Overall
I was ready for this beer to be all sorts of messed up. I figured it would be past its prime, going sour, flat and funky. Not to mention the notion that this beer just sounds like an odd idea. I was very pleasantly surprised, though. I'd drink it again.
Sep 30, 2011
Photo of ColdPoncho
Reviewed by ColdPoncho from Ohio

4.59/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From notes

A - cloudy reddish brown, mild white head leaving a ring of foam around the edge.

S - Tart raspberries, bourbon. It's a beautiful thing

T - Tart, wood, chocolate, vanilla, raspberry, and a bit of spice. Fantastic

M - dryish, pleasant overall feel

O (D) - this is fantastic! I wish i had more.
Jul 07, 2011
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
decided to open this one up while i was hanging out tonight, poured into a snifter while i was watching tv

the pour was lovely, full and hazy with a nice cap of two inches of foam on the top of the glass, really just very well presented i have to say. aroma is deep vanilla mixed with loads of raspberries, dark fruits, hints of oak and a smooth, velvet like booziness that does nothing but compliment it.

the fruit is very well played here with just light touches that seemed to percolate through the dominating vanilla and bourbon flavors and lay across the oak like a gentle blanket.

overall just an outstanding beer that I simply could not get enough of. glad i have another for sure!
Jun 26, 2011
Photo of Urbancaver
Reviewed by Urbancaver from Ohio

4.54/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured at a bourbon barrel tasting. Really glad I have another one of these. Pours a murky reddish brown. A bit of frothy head that dissipates pretty quickly. Frankly not pretty at all. Smells very bourbon heavy. Lots of raspberry as well. On the nose there is just so much bourbon sweetness and tart raspberry that it overwhelms. Tastes similar to the smell. Very smooth and crisp. Lots of sweet bourbony vanilla. The raspberry couples well. Some alcohol present on the tongue. Thick solid mouthfeel and a great sipper :)

Edit: opened another bottle. The nose is stellar. Tns of raspberry and vanilla!
Feb 25, 2011
Photo of Sean9689
Reviewed by Sean9689 from Illinois

3.97/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Brad for this one, you are the man! Served up at our New Years Eve tasting. Poured into tulip.

A - Pours a hazy copper, off-white head, a nice ring around the glass, and some spotty lacing.

S - Nice malty oak, sweet raspberries, slight sweet booze. Really nice and the raspberries and oak shines through nicely.

T - Not quite as much raspberries as the nose. Malts, smooth bourbon, vanilla notes, slight berries. Slightly funky/woody finish.

M - Light to medium, light carbonation.

D - Very solid offering from Jackie O's. Most everyone enjoyed this one, myself included! Keep 'em coming, Brad!
Jan 04, 2011
Imperial Razz - Bourbon Barrel-Aged from Jackie O's Brewpub
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 29 ratings