Velvet Hammer
Arbor Brewing - Plymouth Taproom

Velvet HammerVelvet Hammer
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From:
Arbor Brewing - Plymouth Taproom
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Flanders Oud Bruin
ABV:
8%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.78 | pDev: 12.43%
Reviews:
22
Ratings:
33
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 22, 2015
Added:
Nov 23, 2008
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of wethorseblanket
Rated by wethorseblanket from California

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Reviewed from notes. Shared by Richard on 1-14-12.
May 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by anteater from Oregon

Apr 23, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by iL0VEbeer from New Jersey

Jul 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by nmann08 from Virginia

Jun 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Keiferfillinger from Michigan

Jun 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by nkeckhar from New York

Feb 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by MMBrew from Michigan

Jul 14, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by t0rin0 from California

Aug 18, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by adamant1912 from Michigan

Apr 20, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jan 29, 2012
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.13/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Thanks for sharing, Richard.

Pours dark amber in color with a big off-white head. Not really too much of a nose on this one. It’s got some vinegar and some caramel malt notes, maybe a touch of molasses, surprisingly. Some lemon and lemon zest notes, perhaps some cherries. The flavor is sort of oxidized and just old. There is a bit of vinegar sourness and a residual sweetness, but not much.
Jan 22, 2012
Photo of decadance
Reviewed by decadance from Texas

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2009 and 2010 Velvet Hammer enjoyed from the bottle at CCTH during Kalamazoo Beer Week.

A - Both look brown, but 2010 is darker.

S - Not much sour acid on the nose, 2009 hints ar a fig nature, hints of sour, 2010 is a bit bland.

T - 2009 is like a sour porter, 2010 is like an oud brun. Niether are bad, but that taste very different. 2009 has a sour porter flavor, roasty, but slightly tart. 2010 has rich fruit notes, and just a hint of tartness. Seems like two differents beers entirely, prefer the 2009.

M - Not very lively, on either beer. But 2009 has more bubbly. Seems even here.

O - Not better than flamboyant, but good. Seems confusing though, as the beers seem different, Not bad, just weird.
Jan 15, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by SRoseGR from Michigan

Nov 30, 2011
Photo of techfed87
Reviewed by techfed87 from Michigan

4.27/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This is the fourth release that Arbor Brewing's done of this particular brew.

My goodness, it really did take a good amount of force to get that cork off. I literally had to whack off the top portion of it to get it off. But now that that's done...

Pours a well off head. Color is a bit darker than what I was expecting. Particulate, maybe?

Smell reminds me of the other wild beers I've had, those being from Jolly Pumpkin and Leelanau Brewing.

First sip is...DING! They got it right, I was right, they definitely got it right! All of the flavor notes are there, all of the sourness that comes when you integrate wild yeast strains are there, drinkability's present and mouthfeel has taken a front row seat.

Having not had much success with other Arbor Brewing beers, I'm very pleased to say that this one has exceeded my expectations.
Apr 25, 2011
Photo of sweemzander
Reviewed by sweemzander from Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750mL corked & caged bottle poured into a snifter. Thank you Scott for sharing! The cork just shot off this thing like a cannon! That seriously would have taken someones head off!

(A)- Pours a dark brown color. A rocket of a cork that gushed up. Some nice tan foam and lace.

(S)- A nice funk. Some sour vinegar-like sourness and fruit.

(T)- A nice sour caramelized fruit and vinegar profile. Funky too with a nice cutting sourness.

(M)- A big carbonation level, but it fits well. Smooth and crisp with those nice caramelized fruits.

(D)- A nice sour. Caramelized fruit and sour vinegar oak. Good stuff!
Mar 22, 2011
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

2.94/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Thanks to jale for bringing this out at our weekend tasting. Served in a Savor snifter.

Pours a fairly-dark brown color with a single-finger head and a touch of light lacing and bubbles as it went down. The nose was roasty brown and a bit plain, with just a touch of light acetic character coming through without any real oak or fruit presence.

The taste added in a bit of very light cherries, combining this with some roasted brown malt and a touch of acidity. Medium body with light carbonation. Overall, more of a slightly-soured brown ale than a Flanders, but went down smoothly and I had no problem finishing my glass.
Dec 07, 2010
Photo of jrallen34
Reviewed by jrallen34 from Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle contributed by Jale...A dark brown with a little amber, clear. A finger of tan head that is thick with good retention, light lacing though...A very buttery aroma, brett notes, lightly burnt wood...The taste is similar to the aroma's notes, but a little more affective. Tart vinegar notes, still some wood. I can't find the brown ale, guess its trying to be an oud bruin. As an oud bruin its pretty average.
Dec 07, 2010
Photo of AgentZero
Reviewed by AgentZero from Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Fourth bottling shared by Jale.

A - A deep brown beer, no real head, looks kind of flat, but appears to be a hearty beer.

S - Smells quite barrel aged, with the tartness in there. It is pretty one note, with not a ton going on, but it is not unpleasant.

D - It tastes solid, not a ton going on but the smell is better than the taste. Sweet, tart, woody, I suppose it could taste like a brown that was soured and stuck in barrels. This beer tastes pretty good, but doesn't have tons of complexity.

M - Slightly undercarbonated, fuller side of medium.

D - This is a solid beer, nothing special, but not offensive, worth a try, think there is some potential here.
Dec 06, 2010
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

3.29/5  rDev -13%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle thanks to jale. Not sure how it's different from the "Third" or other bottlings. Served in a Chouffe tulip.

A - Pours with a finger of tan foam that settles to a thick collar and patchy cap. Hazed ruby-red/brown color.

S - Popcorn, burnt wood, some vague vinegar and vinous notes.

T - Taste is much improved, with some tart vinegar and oaky vanilla. Finish has some residual toffee brown ale notes, as well as some toasted wood character.

M - Surprisingly zesty carbonation, sticky tooth-coating finish. Body is medium, and there's no obvious alcohol.

D - This was pretty easy to drink, all things considered. If you can get past the weird and slight unpleasant aroma it's a slight above average sour.
Dec 06, 2010
Photo of petesuphi
Reviewed by petesuphi from Pennsylvania

3.02/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
put bottle on ice and left the room, upon returning to the room cork popped really loud like a gun shot. put a nice nick in the paint.
A- crayola brown with off white really dense head. lots of tiny bubbles.
S- musty sour apple sitting on a leather saddle accompanied by caramel.
T-no sourness at all. no pucker. sweet caramel flavor, with a sight bourbon ping.
M- prickly, creamy, sweet.
D- not really that good. would not drink again.
Oct 11, 2010
Velvet Hammer from Arbor Brewing - Plymouth Taproom
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 33 ratings