Bois - New French Oak Barrel-Aged
The Bruery

Bois - New French Oak Barrel-AgedBois - New French Oak Barrel-Aged
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From:
The Bruery
 
California, United States
Style:
Old Ale
ABV:
15%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.18 | pDev: 8.85%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
61
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 24, 2020
Added:
Jan 23, 2014
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  16
Green wax.

This exclusive variation of our 5th anniversary ale was aged in French Oak barrels and exhibits wonderful, wine-like, oaky character from the extended aging process.

Bois is our fifth anniversary ale, loosely brewed in the English-style Old Ale tradition using our house Belgian yeast strain and then blended using the solera method. A portion of each of our anniversary ales is saved in our barrels and blended in with the next year's production, providing more complexity and depth of character that comes with age. Layered with complex flavors of dark fruit,vanilla, oak, and burnt sugar, Bois is a robust ale, surely the perfect beer to mark this major milestone.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by catboy:
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Rated by catboy from Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%

Mar 22, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

4.18/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Had this November 2016 over at Bonerhog's place for a night of fights.

Like all of the Bruery anniversary beers, this one pours dark brown with a lighter brown head; 1/3" deep. Aroma hits all the usual boozy cracker jack toffee and caramel sweetness over a massive amount of alcohol and here, a mighty blast of what seems like fresh cut french oak. Despite the strength of the beer, the wood is no lightweight.

Taste is part of why these are so damn good and consistent. Plenty of smooth caramel and toffee river alongside brown sugar sweetness tempers the hefty alcohol, but a carbonation level appropriately tailored to make this more approachable. The lack bourbon is plenty perceptible without any loss in smoothness or complexity here. I don't really get any oxidation out of these, ever. I think this is a real neat variation showing what the anniversary series is like in a virgin barrel instead of a used spirit one. Check it out.
Jun 24, 2020
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4.58/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from fridge temp into a Bruery snifter. This is now 5 years old. Almost no head retention. Pours a super dark brown - almost black. Huge amount of toffee on the nose. A lot of oak and dark fruit coming through. Mostly blackberries. A touch of vanilla and spice coming through. Taste is absolutely incredible. I'm getting some interesting tobacco notes right from the start. A smoky taste is right there as well. The toffee is dominant, and I would say the dark fruit is a bit less dominant compared to the nose. That said, cherries and blackberries come through. A touch of spice, charred oak, raisin, Belgian yeast, and bourbon. Mouthfeel is thick and chewy. Overall, this is phenomenal, especially at 5 years. I never tried it fresh, so I have no comparison. However, I had plenty of regular Bois fresh and aged, and this is right there.
Nov 11, 2018
Photo of superspak
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
750 ml bottle into snifter, bottled on 11/22/2013. Very thick wax. Pours crystal clear deep ruby red/brown color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and rocky light khaki head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big raisin, plum, fig, peach, pear, date, cherry, apricot, red apple, red grape/wine, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, charred oak, cinnamon, peppercorn, nuts, and toasted brown bread; with light notes of oaken vanilla, chocolate, cocoa, leather, tobacco, smoke, herbal, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Slight booze in the aromas as it warms. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity yeast, dark/bready malt, and charred oak barrel notes; with great strength. Taste of huge raisin, plum, fig, peach, pear, date, cherry, apricot, red apple, red grape/wine, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, charred oak, cinnamon, peppercorn, nuts, and toasted brown bread; with light notes of oaken vanilla, chocolate, cocoa, leather, tobacco, smoke, herbal, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Light herbal/char bitterness, and peppery oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of dark fruit, cherry, peach, apricot, red apple, red grape/wine, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, charred oak, cinnamon, peppercorn, nuts, toasted brown bread, oaken vanilla, chocolate, cocoa, leather, tobacco, smoke, herbal, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Amazing complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity yeast, dark/bready malt, and charred oak barrel flavors; with an awesome malt/bitterness and charred oak spiciness balance; with no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering char bitterness and oak spiciness. Medium carbonation and fairly full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/bready, and fairly sticky/chalky/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Mildly increasing warmth of 15%, with minimal booziness lingering after the finish. Overall this is an amazing barrel aged old ale! All around incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity yeast, dark/bready malt, and charred oak barrel flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to sip on for the huge ABV, with the mellowly bitter/tannic/char/drying finish. This was extremely similar to the American Oak version; but more spicy, tannic, and drying on barrel complexity. Very distinctly different from all spirit/wine barrel variations I've had. Not as syrupy/dark on malts, a bit lighter on dark fruitiness. Might have just used a fresh batch, and none of the solera. Super clean and perfectly balanced rich malts, fruity yeast, and fresh charred barrel complexity all around. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing style example as usual.
Nov 03, 2018
 
Rated: 4.43 by Huhzubendah from District of Columbia

Feb 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.19 by imperialking from Illinois

Mar 20, 2017
Photo of SHODriver
Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Poured into a snifter to a deep brown to nearly black beer topped by a finger of dense tan head that fades quickly to a small collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of caramel sweetness with some dark fruits along with some spicy oak influence
T: Taste is dark fruits, caramel, toffee, and spicy french oak. Slightly tannic on the taste from the oak as well with slight hints of sour grapes. Swallow is huge and oaky with some lingering toasted malts and wood along with some caramel
M: This beer is big and slightly sticky on the palate with soft carbonation that is adequate for the style. The beer also has a drying finish from the ABV as well as the drying oak.
O: Overall this one is pretty interesting. Definitely a nice spin on the style. New oak imparts the oaky flavors quite quickly compared to a used barrel and this one is definitely on the oaky side of things. Definitely one to try but not one that I will be sad to see gone.
Feb 20, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Dec 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by drummermattie02 from Texas

May 17, 2016
 
Rated: 4.17 by EnthusedAboutBeer from New Jersey

Dec 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.16 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

Nov 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.75 by Nightrain87 from California

Oct 27, 2015
Photo of GhostMilk
Reviewed by GhostMilk from California

4.62/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Pours a dense caramel brown, with a fluffy pale-brown head. The mouthful is luxurious and almost creamy, offset by the slight prickle of carbonation. The smell and flavors are also decadent and sweet, with toffee, butterscotch, and a soft oaky booziness at the forefront. Altogether a real treat that's drinking very nicely right now.
Sep 24, 2015
Photo of kscaldef
Reviewed by kscaldef from Oregon

2.25/5  rDev -46.2%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
Tasted as part of a horizontal of all 5 Bois treatments.

Slight rubbing alcohol aroma stands out in the nose. Sweet and hot and oaky. Unimpressive and one-note.
Aug 03, 2015
Photo of ThickNStout
Reviewed by ThickNStout from Georgia

4.34/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Green wax capped 750mL bottle acquired through The Bruery's Society. Bottled 11/22/13. Served in a Bruery snifter.

The now-familiar scents of Bruery's anniversary ales (toffee, caramel, dark fruit, oak and subtle vanilla) are augmented by a sappy, earthy quality. As usual, this smells sweet and quite inviting.

No surprises in the rich, robust flavor after that nose. Toffee, caramel, booze soaked candied dates/ raisins, oak, Bruery's signature Belgian yeast, semi-sour woodsy notes almost like sourgum sap, wet wood, leather, earth and a big alcohol presence. To my knowledge this is my first experience with French oak so I'm attributing the sourgum, sappy, earthy quality to those barrels because I haven't noticed that in the bourbon, rye or American oak variants. Delicious.

Full, thick, heavy body with supple carbonation. Boozy dark fruit, toffee, wood and funky sweet yeast work together in the finish.

While I am very familiar with Bois (and Bruery anniversary ales in general) the French oak was a new experience for me. Ultimately this is another delicious version of their stellar barrel aged old ale. Glad I have another to sock away for future enjoyment.
Jul 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.46 by CheapBeerBuzz from California

Jun 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.24 by largadeer from California

May 31, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

May 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.9 by brotherloco from California

May 30, 2015
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Split with rudzud
Nice creamy thick 1/3 finger head that fades at a need pace, touch of lacing, long legs, super dark molasses brown color.

Nose brings big sweet candy, maple, lots of toffee candy and caramel, tons of candy, aged soft complex malts, little layering effect, vanilla oak, little candied raisin, plum and juicy dark fruit, hint of booze, little fluffy nougat caramel, tons of raisin, hint of fudge.

Taste brings tons of oak, fresh French toasted oak, raw oak, then mild vanilla, with tons of caramel, candied raisin again, some nougat and toffee candy, big plum raisin fruit and mild bitter note. Some booze warmth with touch of oak tannins in the background, touch of brown sugar and aged soft layered malt. Fresh oak chips that haven't been detannined, not soaked in water first. Finish is dry with tons more oak, little booze, sticky caramel toffee and juicy raisin lingering.

Mouth is fuller bod, fudgey, light but decent carb, touch of booze.

Overall very nice, oak was a bit too much, but quite tasty.
May 30, 2015
Bois - New French Oak Barrel-Aged from The Bruery
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 61 ratings