Acier
The Bruery

There was a lot of wood here. Oaky tobacco accented noted of brown sugar, earthy vanilla, dried stone fruit, and an ample amount of bourbon. Never had this fresh but it certainly holding a fine, wonderful beer.

 

 

 

 

 

Type: 750-ml. bottle
Reviewed as: Old Ale
Glass: AleSmith Barrel-Aged Reserve 10-oz. snifter
Price: $17.50 (averaged out the four bottles I purchased for $70)
From: The Bruery in Placentia, Calif.
Purchased: N/A; Received on June 2, 2019
Consumed: March 14, 2020
Misc.: Bottled on March 11, 2019 at 10:18 a.m. PT

Got this as part of the quarterly packages I purchased from The Bruery only because I forgot to cancel my previous quarter membership. And then The Bruery would not take the beer back because of terms and conditions (maybe because they couldn’t get rid of the beer?). Anyway, this one went down as, “Acier is French for "steel," the eleven-year anniversary gift and this bourbon barrel-aged ale carries on the tradition. Made using the solera method, which blends a portion of all the prior years; productions, it gains layers and complexity with each vintage. Celebrate notes of toffee, dark fruit, vanilla and oak.”

Poured a pitch black color with 1-2 fingers of khaki frothy head. Calm setting underneath. Decent watery lacing. Decent retention. (Sight - 3.75)

Smelled oaky wood, toffee, caramel, smooth bourbon, vanilla, fig, date, chocolate syrup and sweet brown sugar. No hiding that 16.9 pct. ABV on the nose. (Smell - 4.75)

Tasted almost as good. First thing I thought was how smooth it was. Certainly tasted in the double digits, but not 16.9 pct. Got oaky wood, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, smooth bourbon, vanilla, dark fruit, plum, fig, date, leather, chocolate syrup, milk chocolate, coconut and lingering spice. (Taste - 4.50)

Full body. Sticky texture. Average carbonation. Long, warming finish. (Feel - 4.75)

Just a terrific beer for a dying style it seems. Loved it. (Overall - 4.50)

4.54 | 100 | A+

 

 

Appearance: Slightly cloudy root beer brown in color. Fairly large light-beige head that gradually faded.

Smell: Bourbon notes, brown sugar, fruity sherry notes, and mild dark fruit aromas (think raisins and prunes). aroma is similar to the past Anniversary beers but perhaps a bit more subdued. Alcohol presence in the nose which true to the Anniversary series is mild for the ABV.

Taste: Bourbon, fruity sherry notes, raisins, and moderate brown sugar/toffee. The beer initially finishes slightly sweet featuring the Bourbon, brown sugar, and dark fruit notes but dries out towards the end. There is no doubt to me the Anniversary beers are getting less sweet as the series progresses.

Mouth-feel: On the light side of full-bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation.

Overall: As the Bruery anniversary beer series evolve I continue to notice that the dark fruit and sherry-type notes become more prominent and the beer continues to become less sweet. This is a good beer.

 

8 oz snifter on tap. was in good company, and so this powerful sipper helped lubricate my convo, i'm sure. one was quite enough that sitting.

dark, sweet, boozy, the glass was getting sticky for some reason (didn't think i was dribblin').

if i somehow found it in a bottle somewhere, i'd sure scarf a couple to join my cellarmates.

 

 

 

5 oz pour on tap at Lures Bar & Grille. Very boozy and sweet with flavors of charred oak, bourbon, caramel, vanilla, fig, toffee, creme brulee. My guess is that this beer will improve with age and would be absolutely fantastic in 3-4 years (not that I am likely to find out).

 

 

A: Poured into a snifter to a deep brown ber topped by a finger of dense and slightly rocky cream colored head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of intense dark fruits and toffee wiht some strong barrel notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak
T: Taste is dark fruits with some mulling spices along with some toasted bready malts. Nice coconut, oak, vanilla and caramel with more dark fruits and spice. On the swallow there's more dark fruits, spice, oak, vanilla, and sticky chewy caramel.
M: This beer has a body that is on the heavier side of medium with a slightly slick and silky feel on the palate. Carbonation is effervescent but not overdone while the beer has a drying finish due to the ABV.
O: Overall this is a fantastic beer if you enjoy BA Old Ales. The flavors and complexity are outstanding and as these releases go on the beer just seems to get better and better. Definitely one to try if you can find it.