Small Batch Hoarders: Blue Steel Berry Pie
The Bruery

Review: 2448
Name: Small Batch Hoarders Blue Steel Berry Pie
Brewery: The Burery
Location: Placentia, CA
Style: Barrel-Aged Old Ale
ABV: 14.3%
Canned: 21 February 2020
Date: 07 July 2025
I wanted to dig in the cellar tonight, and I pulled out Blue Steel Berry Pie. The beer is over five years old. I am using a tulip glass and serving the beer at a temperature of 50 degrees. The hard pour did not create any head; however, the beer did have carbonation, as evidenced by a noticeable hiss emitted after I removed the cap. The color is dark brown with reddish hues, similar to used motor oil but not black, with an SRM of 28 and an opaque appearance. The appearance is average; I would have liked to see some head.
In my first whiff of beer, I smell berries, graham crackers, bourbon, oak, char, dates, and vanilla. Nosing the beer again, I detect caramel, toffee, raisins, roasted malts, earthiness, and leather. The berries and bourbon dominate the aromas.
Sipping the beer, I notice blueberries, bourbon, graham crackers, oak, char, dates, vanilla, and leather. Swirling the beer around on my plate, I detect notes of toffee, light coffee, leather, dates, figs, malty sweetness, roasted malts, and toasted bread.
The mouthfeel is chewy, finishing warm. The body is medium-plus and has low carbonation.
Final Thought: I enjoy these Small Batch beers; they are precisely what they claim to be. This one fell a bit short. The beer was good, but it's missing that magic The Brurey wields in this type of beer. It is warmer than usual; I have drunk 18%, and I thought, is there alcohol here? Overall, it was a wonderful experience.

A: Poured into a snifter to a deep brown beer with some purple hues which is topped by a finger of dense and slightly rocky tan head which fades quickly without a trace
S: Smells of bourbon barrels, berries, vanilla, toffee and caramel with a touch of toasted malts
T: Taste is berries up front followed by some definite oak mixed with vanilla, graham crackers, nice bourbon barrel presence along with the toffee and toasted malts with a touch of caramel sweetness. On the finish there's more bourbon barrels and oak with more berries, vanilla, graham cracker, toasted malts, and vanilla.
M: This beer has a body which is on the heavier side of medium with a slightly creamy feel. Carbonation is on the low end and is barely adequate while the beer has a drying finish due to the ABV.
O: Overall this is a really good beer with some nice balanced flavors featuring some good complexity. Definitely sized right in a 375 though.