(512) Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter
(512) Brewing Company

4.49/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Massive, somewhat coarse dark tan head, atop an all-but-opaque mahogany body, The head retention is good; fat bubbles cling to the glass walls. Belgian-style lacing adorns the glass walls.

Aroma: Bourbon notes dominate the aroma, along with sweet alcohol, and wood. Also notable are sweet chocolate, cold coffee, and roasted pecans.

Taste: The taste begins with strong, but mellow notes of bourbon, and spicy alcohol. Soon after, milk chocolate, and mild coffee present. Restrained notes of oak carry throughout the taste. Vanilla, too, are on offer, as well as roasted pecans, and there is a hint of what I can only call marshmallow, something I cannot recall experiencing in any beer before. Finishes with a long and lingering note of bourbon, brown sugar, and wood.

Mouth feel: Very smooth and soft, full, with only the slightest hints of carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: Simply outstanding. In this, there is an artful balance of complexity that prevents (512) Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter from being a mere alcohol bomb. The brewers of (512) are entitled to a bow. This example had been refrigerated since purchase, long, long ago. Such is proof that special beers can retain their grandeur, long after they are bottled, if well-cared for.

Presentation: Packaged in a 750 ml Belgian-style brown glass bomber, with a pry-off crown and a black wax seal, served in a Samuel Adams Boston Lager Sensory glass. This bottle was part of the 2012 bottling.

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4.18/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This beer reminds me of a slightly boozy liquid Almomd Joy candy bar! Had it on tap. Dark brown, good lacing. Very distinct smell of whiskey and chocolate. The earthy taste includes chocolate, coconut, almonds, and sweet vanilla. A great desert beer!

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4.46/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Pinthouse Pizza in Austin, TX.

This one pours a fairly dark black color, with a small head, and not much lacing.

This smells like earthy roasted pecans, vanilla, creamy coffee, oak, chocolate and roasted malt.

There’s a little bit of whiskey flavor here and it’s nicely woven into the whole beer. There’s definitely some oak and vanilla, with a killer toasted pecan flavor- very roasty and nutty, with just a little bit of sweetness. The base is super chocolatey. There’s basically no boozy flavor at all.

This is medium bodied, rich and creamy, with a good level of carbonation for the style.

This is a really fun beer. It’s nice to have a good beer with a less common ‘adjunct’- you don’t see many pecan beers.

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4.14/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

nuts in beer fascinate me, i think the potential is enormous, but in my experience it has been really hit or miss. i have been looking forward to trying this one, after hearing about it for years. this is an interesting beer, it surprised me in that the base porter is pretty light and boring, not that great really, almost more of a deep brown ale than anything else, not as roasty or dark as anticipated, lots of cocoa and some sweetness to it, i think a more robust porter would be a better starting place for this recipe, but the rest of it i liked a lot. the pecan profile is great, they can be smelled and tasted effortlessly, with the roasted richness there, and a hearty and warming baked sort of profile that works with the residual sugars in here. the whiskey is way ahead of the wood, and more wood mellowing this would be nice. the booze aspect is strong, and it tastes kind of cheap to me, strong vanilla and corny sweetness, still nice with the nuts, but it doesnt taste like amazing bourbon to me, almost like some whiskey is actually blended into this instead of just the barrel ageing. i was a little disappointed overall by this, i wanted it to blow my mind and be the best nut beer ever, but its not. that said, still a really enjoyable product, nice for fall, and something i would gladly drink again. ambitious stuff, pioneering to some extent, but the execution could be picked up a notch i reckon...

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4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

(512) Brewing Company "Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter"
on tap @ Craft Pride, Austin, TX on 5 November 2015
$5.50 / 6.5 oz.

Notes: Listed at 8.2% ABV... not sure what year it is. The barrel actually brings out the pecan in comparison to the regular, unless of course there's actually double pecans in use - I tasted them side by side. Bourbon and oak are found in the aroma along with a mild dark roastiness. The flavor follows with an additional touch of fruit and chocolate and milky coffee; and then finishes with fruit, cocoa, a hint of alcohol (Bourbon) and coconut. Medium bodied with a median carbonation. It's unlike any beer I've ever tasted, and I've had other pecan beers before. Was it worth the cost? Probably when you consider that it's a beer you sip at rather than just drink down; and that there are added costs in the ingredients (mainly the pecans) to get it to where it is. In any case it's unique, and probably worth trying based on that alone, but I'd suggest you look for the standard version as well so that you can compare the two.

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4.81/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Look: pitch black, cinnamon lacing and 3 inches of head.
Smell: whiskey, cocoa, and hint of coffee.
taste: delicious, whiskey, chocolate, raisins, and ends with a hint of pecans.
Feel: smooth, medium bodied , and flavorful.
overall: delicious

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3.81/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

On tap at Bangers. Dull pour and mild aroma, but wait for it....huge taste and lingering warmth. Nutty, sweet, woody. All comes together quite nicely. Drinkable, but sip slowly, and savor....

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4.79/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Chocolate, coffee, pecans, whiskey. Whiskey is a little too much for me. I would recommend doing some blending to chill it out a little bit. Otherwise, I always look forward to what these guys will produce!

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1.29/5  rDev -69.2%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

I love 512 pecan porter , I always order it when I see it on tap, many times & have always loved it.! So knowing the 2014 BA pecan porter was funky tart from the infection & had to be poured out ! When I saw the (2015) I was so happy to try it. ! No,--- Not the same thing , I got a bad sour,tart flavor big time, W/ heavy carbonation totally off. ! So be aware this can be a hit or miss, cant believe (512) has not pulled this beer .? P.S. I will not stop drinking Reg, 512 pecan when I see it on tap ! I was so looking forward to this beer... ! Anyone else taste the sour, tart notes in this BA, porter.? Cheers

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4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

On tap at Lone Star Taps & Caps on 11/30/2015.

The nose is wonderful and the whisky is perfectly balanced. On the taste, the whisky is a little overwhelming and intense, not balanced. Still very tasty.

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1.79/5  rDev -57.3%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.75

Disgustingly infected. Smells like a bunch of mixed bottom shelf liquor mixed together in a bathtub at a frat party. Taste is boozy with an overwhelming funky tart from the infection. Can't really give any more specific tasting notes because I was so distracted by the funk. I'm normally not so negative about (inadvertently) funky beers and I suck it up when Ranger Creek does this constantly, but this pecan porter was a solid $15-20 a bottle here, so the lack of quality control is egregious. Last beer I buy bottled from 512.

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3.77/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

2015. Poured black with nice head. Head lingered longger than most porters. Very boozy smell and flavor. Doesn't seem to be 'infected' as I had heard.

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1.26/5  rDev -69.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.25

Bottle from 2014. Infected bottle. Gusher once opened and poured into a teku glass. Smell of pecans and a hint of whiskey. Taste very off. Sour and not in a good way. Was really looking forward to this one, big disappointment.

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3.84/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

2015 vintage - 3.84.
Possibly infected, slight weird tart taste uncharacteristic of a porter.

2013 vintage - 4.09.
Roasty and creamy with a nice oak, whiskey and pecan finish. Smooth as can be on the drink down.

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3.98/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2013 vintage

L - Pours a black coffee body with a frothy one finger head. Good retention, but not much lacing.

S - Subtle whiskey barrel notes along with faint pecans and vanilla.

T - The taste really opens up compared to the smell. More than subtle bourbon notes up front as well as vanilla, light roasted malts through the middle and roasted pecan on the end. I swear the pecan just lingers.

F - Medium bodied and medium to somewhat high carbonation. Has a wet finish. Prickly carbonation.

O - I was worried the bottle was past its prime. Aside from the somewhat muted nose, this vintage seems to be holding strong.

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4.26/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Jet black body with a half finger dark tan head that dissioates quickly with decent lace. Aroma is just right in strength alluding a semi sweet vanilla and whiskey dominant brew. Flavor follows with vanilla, pecan, dark cherry, mild but well applied whiskey and some mild toasty bitterness. A little off balanced by the sweetness but still very good. The fruitiness makes this one odd but doesn't ruin it.Smooth body, nice fullness for the style, little too much carbonation.

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1.3/5  rDev -69%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Infection going on here. Total gusher, carbonation totally off. Some smell of pecans that I would expect, but then something else wrong here. Once the carbonation calmed down, the beer looked well enough, some hope that everything else would be alright. But from the mouthfeel it was obvious this had gone bad, just didn't seem normal. The carbonation ruined everything about this beer. Might be best to avoid bottles of this and focus on getting it on draft.

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4.12/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a deep black color porter with a nice light brown foamy head with good retention and good lacing. Aroma of light roasted malt notes with black chocolates with subtle pecan notes. Whiskey notes are also easily noticeable and provided a nice smooth finish to the beer. Body is a bit thinner then I was expected with great carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Very nice beer but can’t say that pecan are as apparent as I would have expected.

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4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2012 bottling. Ratings are for a 2014 consumed in 5/20. It's not too different from the 2012, which I rated at 4.25 (before the matrix was added). Lovely beer -- aroma, flavor and appearance-wise. Oddly, it's now a little over-carbonated, at 6 years old. A big beige head forced a slow pour but receded pretty quickly. The mouthfeel was fairly fizzy. I've never experienced this before. Quite drinkable, though, but odd.

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3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

a great offering from local brewer 512. They added locally grown, roasted pecans to this porter & upped the ante by aging it in oak whiskey barrels. In the glass, the beer is dark black w/ a small khaki colored head. I could definitely smell the oak & whiskey in the brew. The aroma was also slightly nutty & earthy w/ a hint of chocolate. When tasting it, I could pickup the whiskey but it wasn't overpowering in this batch. Roasted malt comes through w/ pecan flavor throughout. A hint of vanilla sneaks in at the end. Despite the higher ABV, this porter is as drinkable as the regular Pecan Porter they offer. Tastes somewhat similar but this one has a lil more carbonation & the "ramped up" flavors from the whiskey barrels.

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3.74/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

2012 vintage. Bottle into a new Belgium goblet. Shared by ejyoung.

Explodes upon touching the glass -- one part liquid, three parts foam like spun brown sugar. It eventually recedes to a thick, half-finger layer above plain black liquid. 3

Vanilla, booze, tons of toasted pecans, milk chocolate and maple in the nose. Sweet and rich. Maybe a touch metallic.

Crumbled chocolate, a touch of tangy dark fruit. The whiskey is well integrated, lending tangy booze to the chocolate malts. Pecans actually take a backseat. As it warms, sweet caramel and toasted bread emerge. Lingering chocolate bitterness and a finish of dry pecans.

Carbonation from the appearance carries into the mouthfeel, exploding when it hits the tongue. This is the main downside to the brew -- I want a heavy, thick, creamy body, not crazy Belgian bubbles.

Good flavor. A little thin, both in flavor and body, but enjoyable.

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4.18/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served in a tulip glass at The Bottle Shop in Dallas Texas.

A - Pours very dark with a nice brown head. Low height that dissipated rather quickly.

S - The first notes are whiskey (was told this was a bourbon barrel) with hints of roasted malt. Light pecan smells linger.

T - Starts with a nice roasted malt taste with nutty pecan very evident. The high alcohol is not noticed, but the pecan stays on the palate, along with the well balanced porter flavors. Ends with a slightly sweet whiskey finish.

M - Smooth for the high alcohol.

O - Very drinkable porter. I am a (512) Pecan Porter fan, this one adds complex whiskey notes and sweetness with a little more alcohol.

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4/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pitch black pour with a brown one-finger head. Smell of chocolate and oak. Initial taste is strong with chocolate and nut flavors. Medium body has continued chocolate and nut flavors backed by light whiskey, vanilla, and oak. Really complex flavor. Finishes with a touch of whiskey flavor.

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4.45/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Draught House on 4/7/14

A-Pours a dark brown, almost black with a big, medium thick, mocha head that recedes fairly quickly but then a small head lingers throughout. Medium light lacing and moderate legs.

S-Aroma has a moderate chocolate note with medium high dark fruit character. Medium light bourbon notes.

T-Flavor has moderate roast notes with medium light dark chocolate. The fruit character of the aroma is lighter with only hints of dark fruit. Light bourbon character with a moderate nuttiness. Finish has some bourbon and alcohol spice along with some roast malt notes.

M-Mouthfeel is medium light bodied with medium high to high carbonation.

O-Overall a great BA would like to try an aged bottle.

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3.99/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Fizzy light tan head that quickly goes to a cap and collar. Dark brown/black body. No lacing.

Dull whiskey notes on the nose.

Whiskey barrel gives way to nutty and roasty tones. Very drinkable for 9.5%abv

A tad overcarbonated but not enough to distract from the overall experience. Full mouthfeel.

The aroma didn't do much for me at first but I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor. Nice change of pace. Great porter/brown ale feel and taste here. Thanks Marc (mj0126)!

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