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Chronology:6 - Wee Heavy
The Bruery


- From:
- The Bruery
- California, United States
- Style:
- Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
- ABV:
- 13.7%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.09 | pDev: 7.82%
- Reviews:
- 18
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Oct 04, 2020
- Added:
- Jan 04, 2016
- Wants:
- 7
- Gots:
- 32
We’re at it again with Old Father Time for a new Chronology Series - a Scotchology, if you will, with a base resembling a Scotch-style ale. In this installment, we brewed a wee heavy - known for rich, malt-forward flavors - and set it to age in bourbon barrels. Every six months, we’ll take a quarter of the barrels, blend them and bottle them. This first bottling represents the nuances imparted to the base beer after six months of barrel aging.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jaydoc:
Rated by jaydoc from Kansas
4.28/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
May 18, 2017
4.28/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
May 18, 2017
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado
3.84/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
May 21st, 2016 - Another festival sample today, and just a couple centimeters of this Chrinology sets off a huge aroma, filled with sweet vanilla and oak, with some sharp bourbon notes. The flavor is wonderful, smooth and creamy, with a booze hidden by a well structured body. The long aftertaste extends this tasty flavor note, and yet when it settles it feels lighter than expected. Good, bold and leaves an impression in today's crowded field.
Oct 04, 2020Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.9/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Review from April 11, 2017. Not a big wee heavy/scotch ale guy, but I also liked this one, so take from that what you will.
Pours a dark brown. 1/4" tan head on the top. Aroma has all the malty, earthy aspects of a scotch ale, but with slightly more bourbon influence than the base beer. Hints of vanilla on the bourbon and oak.
Good amount of brown malt taste, still behind the bourbon that brings lesser amounts of oak and vanilla still. Ain't no doubt this is a smooth mouth feel, similar carbonation to their anniversary series. Also similar way of making a beer taste less strong than it actually is. I thought six months did pretty well at hitting a good sweet spot (the beer is not sweet) for bourbon influence. Obligatory toffee and caramel reference here. They even managed to smooth out dark fruit and tobacco note without it being bitter or hot.
I'll still take Central Waters bourbon barrel scotch ale at a better format and way better price. But this beer was good and exceeded expectations.
Jul 07, 2020Pours a dark brown. 1/4" tan head on the top. Aroma has all the malty, earthy aspects of a scotch ale, but with slightly more bourbon influence than the base beer. Hints of vanilla on the bourbon and oak.
Good amount of brown malt taste, still behind the bourbon that brings lesser amounts of oak and vanilla still. Ain't no doubt this is a smooth mouth feel, similar carbonation to their anniversary series. Also similar way of making a beer taste less strong than it actually is. I thought six months did pretty well at hitting a good sweet spot (the beer is not sweet) for bourbon influence. Obligatory toffee and caramel reference here. They even managed to smooth out dark fruit and tobacco note without it being bitter or hot.
I'll still take Central Waters bourbon barrel scotch ale at a better format and way better price. But this beer was good and exceeded expectations.
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
4.53/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Split with rudzud
Big creamy tan head, good retention and lacing, darker hazy brown color
Nose sweet brown sugar, big caramel toffee candy like, sweet bourbon barrel, dark fruits candied fig, light vanilla
Taste big sweet candy malt, coffee, little butterscotch, caramel, toffee, mild sweet bourbon, vanilla barrel, mild dark fruits again candied fig date, nougat, light alcohol, drier finish
Mouth is fuller bod, rich creamy smooth caramel, medium carb, light alcohol
Overall very nice, super smooth drinkable, nice barrel, great base
Jul 27, 2019Big creamy tan head, good retention and lacing, darker hazy brown color
Nose sweet brown sugar, big caramel toffee candy like, sweet bourbon barrel, dark fruits candied fig, light vanilla
Taste big sweet candy malt, coffee, little butterscotch, caramel, toffee, mild sweet bourbon, vanilla barrel, mild dark fruits again candied fig date, nougat, light alcohol, drier finish
Mouth is fuller bod, rich creamy smooth caramel, medium carb, light alcohol
Overall very nice, super smooth drinkable, nice barrel, great base
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts
4.53/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Split with JLindros.
A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice dark brown almost black hue with a thin mocha head and a foamy halo.
S - Big aromas of caramel, toffee, and dark fruits. Light vanilla.
T - Taste is similar to the nose with loads of caramel and toffee. Loads of creamy vanilla, candy caramel cream. Lovely malts.
M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, creamy, alcohol hidden incredibly well. Practically luscious.
O -Overall this was a very solid scotch ale. Excellent caramel and vanilla. Super easy to drink.
Serving Type: bottle
Jul 27, 2019A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice dark brown almost black hue with a thin mocha head and a foamy halo.
S - Big aromas of caramel, toffee, and dark fruits. Light vanilla.
T - Taste is similar to the nose with loads of caramel and toffee. Loads of creamy vanilla, candy caramel cream. Lovely malts.
M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, creamy, alcohol hidden incredibly well. Practically luscious.
O -Overall this was a very solid scotch ale. Excellent caramel and vanilla. Super easy to drink.
Serving Type: bottle
Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina
4.25/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Poured into a snifter to a deep ruddy brown topped by a fndinger of dense and rocky cream colored head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing.
S: Smells of huge caramel and toffee notes with some dark fruits. Nice barrel in there as well with some oak and vanilla. It smells like really good bread pudding.
T: Taste is caramel and toffee with some toasted malts, nice oak, a little dark fruit with a hint of raisins along with a slight touch of vanilla. On the swallow there's more oak, some more caramel and vanilla, along with a little more toffee and lingering dark fruits.
M: This beer is fairly full in body with a slightly creamy texture. Carbonation is effervescent and a little heavier than necessary but it isn't distracting. The beer has a drying finish due to the ABV.
O: Overall this is a really nice beer. It has some great flavors and complexity which make it an interesting drink. Similar to the Old Ale this one doesn't have a whole lot of barrel going on but I expect that to change as we add some age. It's definitely a well made BA Wee Heavy and worth a try if you can find it.
May 26, 2019S: Smells of huge caramel and toffee notes with some dark fruits. Nice barrel in there as well with some oak and vanilla. It smells like really good bread pudding.
T: Taste is caramel and toffee with some toasted malts, nice oak, a little dark fruit with a hint of raisins along with a slight touch of vanilla. On the swallow there's more oak, some more caramel and vanilla, along with a little more toffee and lingering dark fruits.
M: This beer is fairly full in body with a slightly creamy texture. Carbonation is effervescent and a little heavier than necessary but it isn't distracting. The beer has a drying finish due to the ABV.
O: Overall this is a really nice beer. It has some great flavors and complexity which make it an interesting drink. Similar to the Old Ale this one doesn't have a whole lot of barrel going on but I expect that to change as we add some age. It's definitely a well made BA Wee Heavy and worth a try if you can find it.
Rated by Grackos from Florida
4.15/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.15/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I don't get much barrel but it's still a solid Scotch ale.
Feb 25, 2018Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania
3.63/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Bottle into a sniftet appears a hazy brown color with a khaki head.
It smells woody with caramel and molasses sweetness before getting a but boozy.
It tastes like cedar planks, solvent alcohol yet quite tannic and woody with mild vanilla and caramel.
This is medium to fuller in body with modest carbonation. Overall not bad considering but not my favorite in the lineup either.
Feb 12, 2018It smells woody with caramel and molasses sweetness before getting a but boozy.
It tastes like cedar planks, solvent alcohol yet quite tannic and woody with mild vanilla and caramel.
This is medium to fuller in body with modest carbonation. Overall not bad considering but not my favorite in the lineup either.
Reviewed by bluejacket74 from Ohio
4.2/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
750 ml bottle, bottled on 12/21/15 (label says 2016 Edition). Served in a thistle glass, the beer pours a hazy reddish/copper color with about an inch light tan head. Head retention is decent enough, and there's a small amount of lacing. Aroma is nice and sweet, the brew smells like toffee, bourbon, vanilla, brown sugar, dark bread and some woodiness. Taste is similar to the aroma with bourbon, brown sugar, toffee, molasses, dark bread, nutty, dark fruit and woody flavors. Aroma is sweeter compared to how the brew tastes, but with that being said it's still a sweeter tasting beer. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's slick and smooth with a low/moderate amount of carbonation. It's a little boozy but not too bad at all. Overall I thought this was good, I certainly enjoyed it!
Dec 30, 2017Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio
3.51/5 rDev -14.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
3.51/5 rDev -14.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
Dark burnt copper-red with a thick, light tan foam blanket that dies to nothing at all, leaving a shiny brandy-looking beer.
Smell is soggy toast, toffee, graham, bourbon, and scotchy caramel.
Taste is caramel, bourbon, dried leafs, bourbon, toffee, bourbon, and dry wood! Needless to say--hot! With a dry, chewy finish.
Aug 27, 2017Smell is soggy toast, toffee, graham, bourbon, and scotchy caramel.
Taste is caramel, bourbon, dried leafs, bourbon, toffee, bourbon, and dry wood! Needless to say--hot! With a dry, chewy finish.
Rated by pathman from Ohio
4/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2/18/17 bottle Winking Lizard Barrel Aged Beer Festival
Feb 18, 2017
Chronology:6 - Wee Heavy from The Bruery
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
69 ratings
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