Papier - Brandy Barrel-Aged
The Bruery

4.21/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by stakem from Pennsylvania

The Bruery just celebrated their 10th anniversary so I figured it was time to bust these old gems out. Drank along side the other 2 100% BA Papier versions.

Bottle into a snifter appears dark brown with skimpy khaki head thats composed of just a few large bubbles that fade quick.

Aroma is vinous with earth, molasses, caramel, tobacco, leather and chocolate.

Tastes vinous and boozy with tobacco, bakers chocolate, leather, caramel and mild papery oxidation.

Medium to fuller in body with light to no carbonation. What a boozy bugger still after almost 10 years. It has oxidation and its age is starting to show but still very enjoyable.

Jun 07, 2018

4.24/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 2.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
by rodbeermunch from Nevada

Poured out disappointingly undercarbonated, murky brown liquid, just not impressed at all with this one. But it sure came around in the smell, sweet caramel, oak, vanilla, brandy booziness, enjoyable.

Taste hit some boozy dark fruit that was leaning sweet instead of bitter, vanilla and coconut pulled out of the oak. Would be so much better of a mouthfeel with more carbonation, the taste notes are definitely there.

Mar 13, 2016

3.99/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by Alieniloquium from Florida

750 mL bottle poured into a taster. Opened my Papier and then Diego pulled this out. Nice. Bottle 739 I think.

Appearance - No real head. Minute amount of a collar. Murky brown body.

Smell - Much like the base, but with a brandy aroma. Vanilla, tons of caramel, and brandy. Also slightly oxidized.

Taste - Stronger brandy than I expected. Lots of caramel. Less oxidized than regular Papier. More caramel as it warms. Fruity and nice complementary brandy.

Mouthfeel - Low carbonation. Slick feel. Oxidation is nice on this one too.

Overall - Not better than the regular Papier. Never a true brandy barrel fan.

Mar 09, 2013

3.3/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
by jethrodium from California

750 ml bottle generously shared by ipa247. Thanks Jeff. Pours a wuddy brown with pretty much no head and just a couple of bubbles around the edge of the glass. The aroma is lots of alcohol, brandy, plum, raisin, and caramel. Lots of brandy in the aroma with quite a bit of sugar. The taste is very sugary with lots of brandy, grape, plum, and caramel. The finish is boozy with some oak and brandy and is quite warming with a bit of astringency. Full bodied. Low carbonation. A bit too sweet and boozy for me.

Jan 03, 2013

4.08/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by scottfrie from California

Thanks for sharing, Jeff! Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a muddy reddish raisin brown with a thin bubbly head that quickly faded into a short lived collar.
S: Strong notes of dark fruits mixed with brandy. Very sweet smelling. I get maybe a hint of oxidization as well. Very rich, boozy and strong smelling.
T: Much tamer than the nose suggested. The flavor is neither as sweet nor as boozey as I had dreaded. I get tons of leather, vanilla and tobacco. Dark fruit notes are there as well. The beer is definitely brandy forward but it is very drinkable and smooth. Caramel, oak and chocolate in the aftertaste.
M: The alcohol is hidden extremely well for how high it is. Thick body, low carbonation, greasy, thick, smooth and heavy mouthfeel.
O: Drinks very well, I was surprised, especially for how potent the nose is. A few ounces is still all I could handle. Thanks again Jeff.

Dec 30, 2012

4.09/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Sean9689 from Illinois

Pours a darker muddled brownish/amber color, pretty much flat, some bubbles on top. Nose is very sweet and boozy, caramel, oak, burnt sugars...reminds me of a hybrid between a port & shot of brandy. Flavor is sweet & boozy, oak, dark fruits, caramel, burnt sugars. Medium body, flat, rich.

Drinking the Papier variants is like drinking SA Utopias...pretty much a hybrid between beer & spirit. Really enjoy these types of beer, so I would have to say I'd seek this one out again and look forward to the next time I can do so. Recommend!

Aug 31, 2012