Barrel Aged Old Bat Rastard
Freetail Brewing Company

On tap at the brewery. 8.5% 2018 batch.

Khaki head. Dark brown color.

Warming bourbon and oak, molasses, figs, plums, brown sugar, toffee, and caramel. Sweet. Ends with a black licorice flavor.

whiskey ba 2011 vintage.

Bomber of 200 poured into a tulip appears dark chestnut in color with big khaki froth that fades leaving patchy lace.

Aroma is tangy with an underlying toasty malt aspect mixed with vinegar and cheese.

Taste is sharply sour with vinegar, raison and toasty to buttery malt.

Medium in body with modest carbonation. Flat out, its infected but not obnoxious. I could totally see them repackaging this as a wild version and people liking it.

 

 

2011 Vintage

Appearance: Pours a cloudy brown color with a frothy head; decent stickage and a number of lacey strands drizzle down the pint glass

Smell: Dark fruit, Bourbon and tart cherry

Taste: Tart cherry flavors dominate from the outset, joining with the Bourbon and vanilla tones as the sourness builds, in the middle; balsa wood adds some dryness to the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Not sure whether this was what the brewer intended, but I rather like the sour edge to the Bourbon barrel flavors; lost in the mix are some of the Winter Warmer elements, however

Thanks, Phoenix2443, for the opportunity

2011 Vintage
Opens with a huge hiss, but no overflow, but its difficult to pour because of the carbonation issue. Pours a solid dark brown with a huge bubbly off white head that slowly dissipates to a drinkable level. Smells of bourbon and oak in spades. There's lots of tart fruit and funk some sweetness is still there deep underneath, but I feel that that would eventually disappear as the brett chewed through the rest of the residual sugars in this brew. The flavor is quite tart with lemons and cherries against a lightly sweet caramel malt backbone. Medium body with an insane level of carbonation and a slick and tart mouthfeel. Flavor wise this is a nice fruity American sour ale. I enjoyed drinking it, but I feel I have to knock it for being an infected mistake. I looked on the brewery's website and I can't figure out the intent of this beer. Old Bat Rastard is a winter warmer according to the website, this barrel aged version is not listed. This website calls this an old ale which it is not, well it's not anymore. I guess its a nice soured flanders old ale? This was 1 of 200 bottles, what a shame!

Bottle pour sampled at mrbubbler's tasting courtesy of mrbubbler himself.

2010 vintage. Bottle # 10.

Pours a murky brown with a tan head that settles to a thin cap on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of sour and tart fruits with some slight malt aromas. Taste is the same with a slight bitterness on the finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer despite what I believe is an infection issue going on.

 

 

 

 

 

Bomber courtesy of Doodler (thanks Scott) poured a clear reddish brown with a lasting tan head. Aromas of bourbon,oak, vanilla, carmel, toffee and fruittiness. Palate was medium bodied and crisp. Flavors of bourbon, oak, vanilla, carmel, fruittiness and tobacco with a crisp lingering bourbon finish.

 

 

 

Bottle shared by Grant – thanks! Tasted side-by-side with the original version.

Pours a slightly hazy deep chestnut brown color with a cream-colored head leaving decent lacing.

Smells of grainy caramel malts with large amounts of tart cherries and hints of oak. Also present are very slight amounts of toffee.

Tastes similar to how it smells, though the (presumed) infection is less noticeable. Mildly sweet caramel malts up front are joined by vanilla from the oak and hints of toffee. Midway through the tartness comes into play, with vinegar, green apples, and red cherries. The tartness and its associated flavors fade out into a mildly bitter ending. Mouthfeel is not so great, the carbonation is overactive from the (again, presumed) infection.

Overall I could taste the basic elements of the base beer and the influence from the barrels, but the tartness didn’t let it shine as much as it should. Worth waiting on next year’s version but this year’s won’t be getting any better.

One of my contributions to a tasting at Jackie O's in May, courtesy of jefferz5000 via trade (thanks Jeff!). Tried this right after the non-barreled version from the same year, with some excitement about finding what the barrel can do. Unfortunately this is one of those times when the barrel ruins the beer, due to infection.

Light copper color, not really different from the non-barrel bottle. The aroma is just bad, sour and acidic, not much of the worty aroma from the non-barrel, just an acidic mess. Pretty much undrinkable too, sour in a bad way, dry aftertaste but lasting crappy flavor. Yech.

I'd try this again next year if offered the chance, but no more from this year!

Poured into a Duvel tulip glass

Appearance: Light reddish color, almost mahogany but not as dark. A small amount of off white head that quickly fades to a ring around the glass and clings to the sides.

Aroma: Vanilla, bourbon, malty sweetness dominate the aroma, with a hint of cherries and alcohol.

Taste: Wow, was not expecting that! There is a strong tart and sour tinge to this beer now. I’ve had the regular Bat Rastard and there is no sourness to be found. Apparently their barrel was infected, which has completely changed the flavor of this beer. I can’t say that I don’t enjoy it though. It is still a little boozy, but it’s sweet and tart at the same time.

Mouthfeel: Relative light bodied with medium carbonation, appropriate for the style. Slightly boozy with a faint alcohol warming sensation as you drink.

Overall: Even though it is infected, I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy it. I wish I could have tried it fresh to see what it was supposed to taste like. I have one more bottle that I think I’ll sit on just to see what happens, who knows it could turn into a great sour, or a drain pour, who knows. I still enjoyed it though.

A - Pours a hazy amber into my snifter with about two fingers of head that dissipates quickly and leaves some lace.

S - Aroma of tart sour cherries, sour caramel apples, with a touch of oak.

T - I freaking love sours, whether it was intentional or not! Nice sour caramel apple like sweetness and bite, sour cherry notes as well. Excellent funk with a touch of oak.

M - Smooth, creamy, well balanced, really nice.

O - I know this wasn't intended to be a sour, but it is, and at the current point in time it is freaking awesome. I don't know if it will get better or worse with time, but time will tell.