Bourbon Barrel Aged Quad
Old Forge Brewing Company

 

 

As with most bourbon Barrel Brews the biggest problem is the wait and the shortage of bourbon barrels. You have to know this is one of my favorite type of beers and I will order it more times than not when I come across it, also, this is my local brewpub and I always watch for this offering. Beer at its best.

 

 

 

 

I had this on tap at Federal Taphouse, enjoyed chilled in a tulip courtesy of Stakem, thanks Adam!

The color is dark walnut brown with hazed clarity and thin beige cap with fine bead. The smell is very rich with bourbon and toasted grain w/ fig and mild caramel with some earthy woodiness and subtle graham cracker sweetness in the nose. The feel is medium thin for the style with alcoholic and light tannic character with light booziness after the semi-sweet middle and light mineral tinge in the back.

The taste of bourbon and toffee like malt up front with a light spice from yeast phenol and subtle dried fruit tinges in the mid taste with semi sweet malt w/ bready quality. Overall this is a good beer for what it is, but the barrel aging seems to be used for covering a little bit as it is too sweet in general for the style. I would try it again if it were available

Draft at the Federal Taphouse Harrisburg. Served in a tulip. The brew appears a mahogany to brown color with yellowish hints around the edges. A tan cap fades leaving stringy patterns of lace sticking to the glass.

The aroma includes burnt sugary notes blended with bourbon. Some barrel presence is evident snelling like toasted coconut and vanilla. A very nice mixture of aromatcs that is dominated by the barrel (in a good way.) Bumping up the yeast presence would make this a little more enjoyable but as-is, no complaints here.

The flavor is sweet with vanilla and burnt sugar somewhat like caramel or toffee. A tangy booze character breaks things up before a mild oakiness and slight medicinal feel creeps in. The aftertaste is mildly fruity to herbal with a slight hop feel to it.

This is well balanced between hops, alcohol and residual sugar/barrel treatment. To date, the best old forge offering ive had. It is medium bodied, modestly carbonated and without fault. The alcohol is hidden but presents itself with just enough character and warmth to remind you this is a quad.