Gravedigger Billy
Revolution Brewing


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Revolution Brewing
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Ranked #6 - ABV:
- 14.2%
- Score:
- 95
Ranked #1,795 - Avg:
- 4.27 | pDev: 7.73%
- Reviews:
- 51
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Yesterday at 03:51 AM
- Added:
- Feb 08, 2012
- Wants:
- 61
- Gots:
- 73
SCORE
95
World-Class
95
World-Class


Notes:
An old favorite from the early days of Revolution makes a return. This Bourbon Barrel-aged Scotch Ale, decked out in a fine tartan kilt, has a delicate smokiness alongside American oak and bourbon character. Pour a wee dram and let the brogue fly. Don’t be daft, enjoy now or store cold.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Dragginballs76:
Reviewed by Dragginballs76 from South Carolina
4.43/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.43/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance - Pours deep mahogany with a dense tan head that settles to a thick cap, great retention. Random spots of lacing.
Aroma - Barrel, peat, caramel, slightly sweet and smoky, nice char, malt.
Taste - Great caramel, smoke and char, barrel, bourbon, peat, slight dark fruit really complex and super smooth well balanced flavors. Light brown sugar.
Feel - Medium bodied smooth velvet feel, slight arming from the alcohol but super smooth and easy drinking for the ABV.
Overall - Really well done scotch ale, great flavors smooth complex.
May 30, 2019Aroma - Barrel, peat, caramel, slightly sweet and smoky, nice char, malt.
Taste - Great caramel, smoke and char, barrel, bourbon, peat, slight dark fruit really complex and super smooth well balanced flavors. Light brown sugar.
Feel - Medium bodied smooth velvet feel, slight arming from the alcohol but super smooth and easy drinking for the ABV.
Overall - Really well done scotch ale, great flavors smooth complex.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania
4.47/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks FBarber for this treat! Canned 1/19/22. 14.2% ABV
This is a wonderful bourbon barrel showcase. Some smoke, earthy cherry, caramel, and peats do peek through the robust bourbon, oaky char, and vanilla. Warming and satisfying. Revolution's barrel program continues to impress.
Mar 12, 2022This is a wonderful bourbon barrel showcase. Some smoke, earthy cherry, caramel, and peats do peek through the robust bourbon, oaky char, and vanilla. Warming and satisfying. Revolution's barrel program continues to impress.
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio
4.54/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Appearing a dark brown mahogany at a distance, it's actually a clear reddish-purple up close and under sunlight. Its short khaki head settles out to a thin chain around a blanket of uneven cola bubbles.
An excellent nose of sticky bourbon continues well on into the palate as it meets an almost rye-like spice with some mixed nuts. Digging further in, salted caramels are contrasted by a bitter root-like quality in the warming finish.
The medium body's mild bubbliness comes to a semi-dry, lightly sticky and quite warming finish.
Feb 11, 2022An excellent nose of sticky bourbon continues well on into the palate as it meets an almost rye-like spice with some mixed nuts. Digging further in, salted caramels are contrasted by a bitter root-like quality in the warming finish.
The medium body's mild bubbliness comes to a semi-dry, lightly sticky and quite warming finish.
Reviewed by barnzy78 from Illinois
4.54/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
12oz can
filled JAN/19/2022
L: mahogany colored ale with a thinner tan head that disappears quickly
S: boozy bourbon, oak, malty caramel, smoke, peat
T: sweet & boozy; loads of caramel & toffee, bourbon & oak, smoke & peat, vanilla, earthy hops
F: so smooth; full body, ample carbonation, a boozy sipper, finishes on the sweet side
O: another amazing barrel aged beer from the Deep Wood Series. Glad they brought this one back
Feb 06, 2022filled JAN/19/2022
L: mahogany colored ale with a thinner tan head that disappears quickly
S: boozy bourbon, oak, malty caramel, smoke, peat
T: sweet & boozy; loads of caramel & toffee, bourbon & oak, smoke & peat, vanilla, earthy hops
F: so smooth; full body, ample carbonation, a boozy sipper, finishes on the sweet side
O: another amazing barrel aged beer from the Deep Wood Series. Glad they brought this one back
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania
4.08/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Ruddy brown with two fingers of airy, tan head. The head dissipates fairly quickly leaving a wisp across the top, a soupy crown and sloppy lacing.
Nice vanilla, toffee and leather show first in the nose, with slight kisses of medicinal cherry, smoke and earthy hops.
Leather, and to a lesser degree, some of the vanilla and the toffee from the nose carry to the taste. There’s a stronger meatiness, which the aroma only hinted at, as well as more of the cherry notes, the hops and some modest alcohol burn. The more I drink, the more I get cherry wood smoke as the dominant impression.
Medium bodied and slick feeling with a little zip from the carbonation.
The smokey/meaty qualities here aren’t my personal favorite, but this is a high-quality beer with plenty of depth, nonetheless. 11-21-18 canning date.
Feb 15, 2020Nice vanilla, toffee and leather show first in the nose, with slight kisses of medicinal cherry, smoke and earthy hops.
Leather, and to a lesser degree, some of the vanilla and the toffee from the nose carry to the taste. There’s a stronger meatiness, which the aroma only hinted at, as well as more of the cherry notes, the hops and some modest alcohol burn. The more I drink, the more I get cherry wood smoke as the dominant impression.
Medium bodied and slick feeling with a little zip from the carbonation.
The smokey/meaty qualities here aren’t my personal favorite, but this is a high-quality beer with plenty of depth, nonetheless. 11-21-18 canning date.
Reviewed by Stevedore from Oregon
4.35/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz can, snifter glass. Darker brown body, amber-caramel hue, one finger white head, plenty of retention and even a bit of lacing. Smell is big caramel and toffee, smooth barrel heat, light vanillin, a dab of smoke, more caramel. Sweet on both the nose and the palate, but with a lot of intense flavours coming from the barrel. Complex blend of vanilla, caramel, a dab of toasted coconut, light smoke, fair bit of bourbon heat, a bit of bitter oak through the finish. Medium bodied, good carbonation.
Feb 27, 2019Reviewed by JBowenGeorgia from Georgia
4.38/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Reddish brown pour with a finger of tan head that dissipated pretty quickly.
Initially had a heavy barrel smell that subsided a bit as it warmed. Caramel, a bit of sweet malts.
Taste follows, caramel, brown sugar, a bit of plum, hints of bourbon.
Medium body, slight warming but not overly so for the ABV.
Overall a pretty tasty Scotch Ale.
Jan 29, 2019Initially had a heavy barrel smell that subsided a bit as it warmed. Caramel, a bit of sweet malts.
Taste follows, caramel, brown sugar, a bit of plum, hints of bourbon.
Medium body, slight warming but not overly so for the ABV.
Overall a pretty tasty Scotch Ale.
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas
4.11/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 2.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.11/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 2.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours an effervescent copper-hued brown with a thumb+ of tan head. A trace of head retention & lacing
S: Figs, a little bourbon, a little raisin once warm
T: Follows the now, a touch of peatyness & booze warmth & some brown sugar sweetness up front. Brown sugar, caramel, leafy hops, a little peatyness & barrel warmth/dryness once warm. Finishes with peaty & woody notes, plus some booze warmth, also a little fig & general jammyness
MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation, warming
At first the Bourbon step this a little bit, Then the Wee Heavy takes over to provide a very nice take on the style
Jan 18, 2019S: Figs, a little bourbon, a little raisin once warm
T: Follows the now, a touch of peatyness & booze warmth & some brown sugar sweetness up front. Brown sugar, caramel, leafy hops, a little peatyness & barrel warmth/dryness once warm. Finishes with peaty & woody notes, plus some booze warmth, also a little fig & general jammyness
MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation, warming
At first the Bourbon step this a little bit, Then the Wee Heavy takes over to provide a very nice take on the style
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.34/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Canned 11/21/18; drank 12/16/18 @ the Yarchives.
See-through purple/orange appearance.
A violent pour yielded a nice khaki head; nice lace.
Caramel, oak, bourbon heat, mild peat & faint orange citrus notes in the nose.
Creamy, thick mouthfeel.
Cream, caramel & oak flavors up front; mild smoke & faint bourbon heat notes on the finish.
Smokier in the nose than on the tongue, this is a balanced, fine scotch ale. I'd have another.
Dec 17, 2018See-through purple/orange appearance.
A violent pour yielded a nice khaki head; nice lace.
Caramel, oak, bourbon heat, mild peat & faint orange citrus notes in the nose.
Creamy, thick mouthfeel.
Cream, caramel & oak flavors up front; mild smoke & faint bourbon heat notes on the finish.
Smokier in the nose than on the tongue, this is a balanced, fine scotch ale. I'd have another.
Reviewed by StanleysCup from Maryland
4.59/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.59/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Cellared bottle originally purchased in October 2015. Opened at a NYE party hosted by a friend who is a funeral director. Couldn’t be more apropos.
L: dark brown, some reddish hue. Neary opaque.
S: overwhelmed me at first with a boozy bourbon waft. I was worried it had sat too long and/or was going to seem heavier than the 10% ABV. Also noted scents of rum, cocoa, toffee, toasted malts and some prunes.
T/F: simply amazing. Picked up all of the scents above but the alcohol presence was not as pronounced as I originally feared. The malts and barrel aging really stood out as the beer aerated and warmed closer to room temperature. Carbonated was subdued as expected for a high octane beer. No bourbon burn on the way down, either.
O: one of my fave beers in recent memory. I’m glad I saved it for a special occasion and would definitely seek it out again.
Dec 31, 2017L: dark brown, some reddish hue. Neary opaque.
S: overwhelmed me at first with a boozy bourbon waft. I was worried it had sat too long and/or was going to seem heavier than the 10% ABV. Also noted scents of rum, cocoa, toffee, toasted malts and some prunes.
T/F: simply amazing. Picked up all of the scents above but the alcohol presence was not as pronounced as I originally feared. The malts and barrel aging really stood out as the beer aerated and warmed closer to room temperature. Carbonated was subdued as expected for a high octane beer. No bourbon burn on the way down, either.
O: one of my fave beers in recent memory. I’m glad I saved it for a special occasion and would definitely seek it out again.
Gravedigger Billy from Revolution Brewing
Beer rating:
95 out of
100 with
308 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!