Bourbon Barrel Dark Ale (Winter Migration) 2010-2011
Evolution Craft Brewing Company

Bourbon Barrel Dark Ale (Winter Migration) 2010-2011Bourbon Barrel Dark Ale (Winter Migration) 2010-2011
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From:
Evolution Craft Brewing Company
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
10.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.94 | pDev: 11.68%
Reviews:
39
Ratings:
62
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 16, 2014
Added:
Jan 30, 2011
Wants:
  19
Gots:
  25
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Mertzy81:
Photo of Mertzy81
Reviewed by Mertzy81 from Maryland

4.01/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottle number 45

A - Completely black, with no head. Somewhat boring. Some bubbles form around the edge.

S - Alcohol and bourbon. Some vanilla, raisins and oak. Some chocolate as it warms, but the bourbon is plentiful. Whole lot going on here that I can't put into place.

T - Vanilla and oak forward. Boozy on the pallet, and a strong bite on the bottom of the tongue. Vanilla in the finish, with a nice burn, but not harsh. Can't get over the bourbon, simply awesome amount of flavor. Edit: 5/13/11 - Still lots of woody and barrel-y flavors. Alcohol has not gone down one bit in 3 months.

M - Lightly carbed, medium to heavy body. Almost oily, it stays in your mouth for a while, with a heavy finishing flavor. Edit: 5/13/11 - Alcohol bite is still very prevalent. Can't subdue this beast.

D - Very happy I got to try this beer. Definitely will benefit from some time, but very good in this form as well. A sipper for sure. Reasonably priced for a high quality brew at 12 a bottle.
Mar 04, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.7 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Dec 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Jul 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by DubCo21 from Virginia

May 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by reizorc from Pennsylvania

Mar 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by BillRoth from Maryland

Sep 22, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by ROGUE16 from Delaware

Sep 21, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

May 20, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by jsanford from Georgia

Mar 16, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by bsuedekum from Missouri

Mar 11, 2013
Photo of cdmillard
Reviewed by cdmillard from Maryland

4.11/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle number 115 of 1400

A - Pours very dark, almost black with a thick dark head that quickly evaporates to nothing

S - Dark fruits and chocolate, with pronounced bourbon and alcohol

T - Great taste, with vanillas up front, quickly replaced by bourbon and alcohol. This is my first bourbon barrel Dark, and I love the flavors. Just enough bourbon to not overpower.

M - Light carbonation to almost nonexistent. Someone mentioned oily earlier, and I can see that.

O - Glad I tripped over this one and decided to give it a try. Wish they has 2 bottles!

Serving type: bottle
Mar 06, 2013
Photo of Greywulfken
Reviewed by Greywulfken from New York

4.16/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Winter 2012 bottling
#584 of 1400

A: stout black but with translucent dark brown edges into tulip, large dark foam head settled quickly into nothingness, leaving no trace of lace behind

S: bourbon and vanilla, dark malt and musty dark fruit

T: charred wood, molasses, bourbon, and dusky dark fruits; vanilla and wilted plum, hints of semi-sweet cocoa, faint coffee; low bitterness

M: slick and oily, medium weight, slightly sticky in the corners of the mouth, mild carbonation

O: a very smooth drinking beer, the bourbon added nice class and character without being overpowering; had many stout-like qualities - nice blend of fruit and chocolate tones.
Mar 05, 2013
Photo of oline73
Reviewed by oline73 from Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from the bottle into a goblet.

The beer is almost black except for some red at the edges when the light hits the pour. There is a small layer of tan head. The smell is sweet and full of dark fruit and lots of vanilla. I'm also getting some roast/dark chocolate, caramel, and bourbon that burns just a little bit. The taste is sweet and just a bit hot. The strong vanilla notes show up here, and I'm really digging them. Also getting some caramel and dark fruit. The finish is slightly bitter and warm from the alcohol. This is a thick beer with smooth, tingly carbonation. The vanilla notes from the bourbon barrels were very nice. I'd be happy to have more of this one.
Jan 22, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by danwho from California

Nov 13, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Sep 26, 2012
Photo of FosterJM
Reviewed by FosterJM from California

4.2/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
1527th Review on BA
Bottle to Goblet
750ml

2011 Vintage
Bottle 64/900

Thanks Mdaschaf for this one.

App- A good mix of crimson and browns in the glass. Only a small 1/2 finger fast receding brown head. No cling or lace.

Smell- A whole ton of candy aromas on this one. Sweet sugars, burnt caramel, vanilla and oak. Bourbon comes last. The booze is quite prevelant and prickly.

Taste- Well isnt this like a dessert in a glass!! A whole ton of vanilla and bourbon with some slicker malts. The whole depth of flavor is tasty and has a ton of prickliness behind it. Seemingly one sided with sweetnesss but damn tasty.

Mouth- A full on medium body with a medium dense carbonation. Lots of prickly residual flavors with good Vanilla and Bourbon.

Drink- Sometimes you need a bourbon barrel 750. Tonight was that night. Semi smooth and little rich and plenty of bourbon. Hit the spot. Thanks Matt.
Sep 24, 2012
Photo of russwbeck
Reviewed by russwbeck from Virginia

3.65/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Winter 2011 Bottle #251 of 900

A: The beer pours out of the bottle a beautiful black color with about a finger of brown head. Really the ideal pour for a year old Bourbon Barrel aged beer. The retention is ok, I wish it was a bit better, and the lacing is a bit lacking.

S: Very bourbon and boozy with underlying molasses, vanilla, roast, and maybe some chocolate. The aroma seems to be dominated by the barrel, and is missing a strong base beer to give it some character.

T: The taste picks up some slack, but is still missing the flavors of a strong base beer. I'm amazed at how boozy this remains after almost a full year. Sweet, vanilla, bourbon underneath this time and not on the forefront. I'm lacking the dark fruits, molasses, chocolate, or something underneath the barrel characteristics. I very much like how mellow the barrel is, but it just isn't enough to win me over.

MF: Medium body with a lower than average carbonation. The booze gets to you after a while, warms the body, and leaves a slight aftertaste.

O: I thought this was going to be outstanding, and it was only average. Very sweet and boozy. Tasty, but just not good enough to be considered great.
Sep 06, 2012
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.97/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml bottle # 465/1150 split with friends and poured into several snifters. The brew appears black with a thin tan head thats quick to receed. Some brown clarity is seen around the edges. Webby legs of lace stick to the glass and a mild froth holds around the edges.

The smell is full of barrel presence mostly coconut and vanilla sweetness with an accenting hint of caramel and cocoa. Some booze is noticed as it warms along with a mild touch of grain.

The taste is boozy but not overdone for the strength. Flavors of cocoa and roast mostly through the body with a hint of something mildly musty. Coffee, alcohol and raw oak come out more as the brew warms up.

This is a medium to light bodied brew with a light level of carbonation. It displays a very nice barrel presence but the base beer is quite mild but with a boozy kick. Overall not bad and worth a try.
Aug 28, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by bonkers from New Jersey

Aug 10, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by 2dogbrew from Virginia

Jul 31, 2012
Bourbon Barrel Dark Ale (Winter Migration) 2010-2011 from Evolution Craft Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 62 ratings