Territorial Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged Rye Wine Ale
COOP Ale Works

Poured from a 375-ml bottle into a Willi Becher glass. Cloudy, almost dirty orangish-brown color, with a couple of fingers of off-white head that left some pretty curtain lacing as it settled. This was the 2019 vintage, and the bourbon barrel character was dominant to the point of being almost overpowering. Notes of caramel, molasses, figs, raisins, and licorice, with lots of alcohol heat and peppery spice. Medium-to-heavy bodied, with a little fruity sweetness and barrel sourness lingering on the finish. I couldn't wait to try this after picking it up in Oklahoma this past summer, but it may have benefitted from (much) more time in the cellar as the brewer recommends. Still, an enjoyable offering and one I'll try again if I ever see it.

 

24 March 2020 - Beer #57

Corona Day #12

Price: $19.99 at Craft Beer Cellar in Washington, D.C.

Appearance: 3 - ugly like a barleywine. Murky, dark brown. Nearly no head, and there's an oil slick on the top.

Nose: 4 - smells like a barleywine, but a bit hoppy and bitter. I prefer sweet, but this is not bad at all.

Taste: 4 - very interesting. Slightly acidic and very fruity. Not like actual fruit, but like a fruity wine.

Mouth: 4 - thick and chewy, but a little flat. Round.

Overall: 4 - quite pleasant. Pulled the trigger on a whim, and I am not displeased.

Be safe!

Cheers!

 

$ 15.93 (Including tax and discount)/750 mL corked and caged bottle ($ 0.627/oz) from Spec’s # 100, DeZavala, San Antonio, TX. Reviewed 1/29/19.
“2018” on the label, no other date found. On shelf at Spec’s. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 50 degrees (Per bottle instructions) in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 4.
Body – Dark brown, opaque. When held to the light, some penetration occurs around the rim.
Head – Average (maximum 2.5 cm, controlled center pour), tan, fizzy, rapidly diminishing to a two to three mm ring and a thin, spotty layer.
Lacing – Fair – narrow thick band of tiny to small bubbles.
First pour – Medium amber, clear.
Aroma – 4.5 - Strong odor of dates and figs, with some weaker hints of bourbon and oak.
Flavor – 4.5 – Begins slightly sweet and semi-syrupy with distinct dark fruit flavor. Very light bourbon tickles the rear oral cavity on the exhale. No hops, no rye, no alcohol flavor (12.4% ABV), no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide. After a minute of two some gastric warming occurs.
Palate – 4 - Medium, creamy, soft carbonation.
Impression and interpretation – 4.25 – I feel this brew is in the wrong category; it is very much a Belgian strong dark ale and not a “Rye Beer”. While the rye and hops may be present, the flavor and viscosity are very much those of a slightly sweet, fruity, complex alcohol laden, Belgian strong dark ale. “Ryeness”, as expressed as either spiciness or a pumpernickel flavor is absent.

Sticky and sweet, but not with many distinct flavors. Just okay flavor-wise. Toffee malts are filling and the mouth feels great: thick and creamy. A hint of raisin keeps it somewhat interesting, although I would like this more if a punch of vanilla or even more barrel showed through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this was fantastic beer! not enough rye wine styles in the world i dont reckon, so nice to see one like this, rich and heavy, almost scotch ale tasting with the combination of heavy spicy rye and sweet barley and barrel wood, its all happening, and its all so cohesive. i didnt even know these guys did beers like this, but this is right on. deep deep copper colored beer, frothy tan headed and rich looking. the rye is less forward than anticipated here, as there is a lot of barrel in the works, but the spice and dry earthy complexion is there, and the bourbon lends a lot of vanilla, brown sugar, and even maple notes to this beer that i think compliment what we can get of the rye really nicely. the alcohol is strong and the body is enormous, this is anything but subtle, but i somehow find myself blasting through it, appreciating to wood more and more as it warms up to temperature. mild dried cherry or raisin or fig, a toffee sweetness, dry rye, raw almost, and an on its way to mature barrel profile. cool beer, rather unique, nice to see it really is happening everywhere...

Opens with a gentle pop, pours an effervescent & slightly murked up chestnut with with a sliver of fast-failling sand colored head. Zero head retention & lacing

S: Figs, raisins, ever so-faint Bourbon

T: follows the nose, along with dryness up front. A little peppery rye fights through as this warms, along with boozey warmth & dryness, some dark chocolate, vanilla & Bourbon present. Finishes dry, peppery, with a little Bourbon

MF: Medium body, negligible carbonation, dissapointiing

Doesn't quite pull together, a bit of a chore to drink

 

 

 

A - Poured a deep brown colour; very slightly translucent with thin layer of cream coloured head.

S - Lots of toasted oak up front that intermingles with the sweet notes of the base beer. There's caramel, toffee and raisin. Bourbon and vanilla notes are also present.

T - Toasted oak at first, that gives way to sweet caramel, toffee and raisin notes. Vanilla and bourbon are present throughout. A little bit of alcohol heat helps cut the sweetness. A great mix of the barrel tones and the base beer profile.

M - Full body. Creamy. Light carbonation.