Pappy's Dark
Block 15 Brewery & Restaurant

 

 

2011 vintage cellared properly and showing no signs of infection. Pours a dark amber color. Smells like bourbon, caramel, raisins. Taste is nuanced and deep. Unlike some of the more popular barrel aged beers this is refreshing. I drank half a bottle of this and didn't feel like I was hit by a truck unlike other beers I've experienced. Will this beer blow you away in terms of overpowering flavors, no. However there are so many levels of flavors making it a pleasure to drink over the course of a couple of hours.

 

 

 

2011 vintage. Thought only the 2012 was infected but after tasting this I think it is as well. Straight sour smell and taste. Pained me to do it but had to pour out.

Infected bottle. Too bad, I really wanted to try it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012 vintage, consumed July, 2014. Served slightly refrigerated.

Medium brown color, murky, with a small tan head that sank to a ringlet, leaving some random streaks of lacing and legs on the glass. Aroma was a little off at first (medicinal mostly), but after it breathed for a few minutes, it was fine. Notes of dark sugars, dark fruits, bourbon. In the taste, sweet malts, caramel, bourbon, wet oak, vanilla, brown sugar, figs, dates, some solventy booze. As the beer warmed, the bourbon/vanilla came out more, keeping the sweetness in check. Body was medium, mouthfeel was slick and unctuous. You definitely have to expect something different than a BA stout with this beer, otherwise you'll be disappointed. The bourbon was fairly smooth, lacking any major boozy heat, making the 10%ABV seem just about right, and making drinkability easy. Overall, this was an enjoyable beer. Not mind-blowing, but really everything was right where where it should have been.

 

Bottle pour at the pre-FWIBF bottle share held at the Adelaide Inn in Paso Robles, CA.

Thanks to Oneinchaway for sharing this one.

Pours a murky dark orange-brown with no head. No lacing on the drink down. Smell is sour with malt, fruit, and caramel aromas. Taste is much the same with sour malt and fruit flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of acidity on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is definitely infected but not all that bad as it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bottle: Poured a deep amber color ale with a small foamy head with limited retention and minimal lacing. Aroma consists of caramelized malt with some bourbon notes and some woody notes. Taste is a weird mix between some woody notes with some bourbon some caramelized malt notes though not as much residual sugars as I would have expected. Body is about average with good carbonation and some warming alcohol. Disappointed by this beer which lacks the balance I was hoping for and veers close to the messy category.

 

 

 

 

 

Received in trade from the Pacific NorthWest a few months ago. Was told of the infection issues and to open soon.
Took to a bottle share today and it had soured. Some nice bourbon in the nose, but otherwise nothing but sour tartness in taste. I would have liked to try this fresh, oh well, at least we opened a Rare.

Barely audible pop to the cork. Pours very slowly. High viscosity, very sugary looking. Body is very still, 1/2 cm lacing around glass, no other head. Quite murky looking and the color of dark maple syrup.

Smell is not nearly as boozy, sweet or bourbony as I was expecting or like. What is there is some brown sugary, woody bourbon. Slight maple sugar and oxidation smell.

I normally expect this style to explode onto my mouth with sugar, bourbon, oak, wood, smokiness, something. This starts off very small with slight apricot tartness. Incredibly slight irish whiskey taste jumps in and a little brown sugar, apricots and plums still dominant flavors. Very mellow and long lasting middle taste. Finally lingers away to leave tell tale warm bourbon and brown sugar. Slight boozyness stays on back of tongue and throat. Apricots and stonefruit overpower the entire taste.

Very thin mouthfeel for a 10% bourbon barrel english beer. Sugars do coat the tongue slightly and are persistent. Very slight carbonation would normally compliment flavors, but do not particularly hurt od help this beer.

Overall I am an enormous Block 15 fan. I was very let down by Pappy's Dark. I cellared for about 2 years and really wish I would have drank fresh. I cannot see this getting better. I also would really like to try on tap or a different batch, this has great potential. For style, this is too tart apricots, not quite enough to make me think it's spoiled / infected, but certainly does not help the beer. It is still drinkable and nice but would not buy again unless I have tasted a better batch / bottle.

UPDATE:
About 2 months after reviewing this beer I received an email from Block 15 stating possible infection issues in some bottles of 2012 Pappy's Dark. This confirmed my suspicions. Block 15 graciously offered full refunds to any opened or unopened bottle of 2012 Pappy's Dark (proof required). In their email they go on to explain they will be doing a full system clean, purge, sanitation and swap of all auxiliary equipment. They are also starting an in-house lab to keep track of yeast and quality. Nick and everyone at Block 15 handled this problem professionally and I will continue to be a loyal supporter. Cheers.