Gravedigger Billy
Revolution Brewing

Gravedigger BillyGravedigger Billy
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Revolution Brewing
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Ranked #8
ABV:
14.2%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,770
Avg:
4.27 | pDev: 7.73%
Reviews:
59
Ratings:
321
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 18, 2024
Added:
Feb 08, 2012
Wants:
  61
Gots:
  73
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 bpfrush:
Photo of bpfrush
Rated by bpfrush from Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Feb 12, 2022
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.45 by Mikexw from New York

Mar 18, 2024
 
Rated: 4.09 by Abstractspirit from Rhode Island

Jun 24, 2023
Photo of RaulMondesi
Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
“Gravedigger Billy and what it does to your Willy… Next, on the Raul Show.”

Oh, snap. Wrong state of mind. Back to BA, Raul…

Yeah, it hits pretty well. But it’s not Babe Ruth by no means. And as far as the “digger” stuff goes, I’m not even thinking of Ruby Keeler searching for gold in 1933. It’s smooth and rich as hell, but I’m
Just missing that little dollop of ecstasy that only a dealer in the 90’s could give you.

Oh, wait, I’m digging deeper…
May 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.29 by Duncian from Pennsylvania

Feb 01, 2023
Photo of snaotheus
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington

4.24/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2023-01-28
12oz can served in a footed pilsner glass. Can is dated JAN/19/2022. Got it from @FBarber.

Pours dark brown, clear, with almost a finger of head. Head settles into a mostly clear surface with about a two millimeter ring around the glass. Lots of very fine, very slow carbonation. Smell is rich toffee, vanilla, chocolate, alcohol, bourbon. And dates.

Taste is raisins or dates up front -- sweet, with a little bit of char bitterness. Vanilla and chocolate are still there, along with the bourbon goodness. It's also pretty hot, but lots of other stuff going on make it more of an accent than a dominant theme.

Mouthfeel is thick, velvety syrup. Overall, I really like this beer.
Jan 28, 2023
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4.34/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a can at fridge temp. Pours a very dark brown with a thin layer of tan head. The nose is bursting with toffee, some bourbon barrel, vanilla, molasses, figs, and raisins. Very nice!

The taste wonderful. Wow. Similar to the nose, but with elevated intensity. Big toffee notes are front and center. Just love this. Bready malts, raisins, figs, a slight bitter hoppy note, oak, prunes, and a hint of vanilla. Just wonderful.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and the aftertaste is a mix of sweet and bitter. The ABV is very well hidden.
Dec 25, 2022
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.24/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Canned 1/19/22

I had almost forgot I took home a 4 pack of this when I was in Chicago and went to Revolution, so it looks like I have some fun times ahead of me working through 4 Scotch Ales! Sounds perfect for the holidays. This one is highly regarded for the style, so I’m excited to jump right into it

Pours a cloudy mahogany with 3 fingers of almost orange tinted tan head that slowly fades to a cap and leaves minimal lacing

As with most Deep Wood Series beers, there’s a serious alcohol presence in the nose here. I’m picking up on aromas of black cherry, toffee, sweet bourbon, sticky caramel, brown sugar, raisin, toasted oak, light coconut, dark toast, and smoked malt

In taste it’s sweeter and richer, but never goes over the top. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting dark bread, black cherry, sweet caramel, vanilla, smooth oak, molasses, fig, and light tobacco. The swallow brings notes of sweet bourbon, tobacco, molasses, brown sugar, raisin, smoked malt, light cherry, coconut, and sticky caramel

A medium body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation, resulting in a slick beer with some heat to it. Finishes a tad sticky but dries out over time

This is great stuff meant to be savored and sipped slowly. A perfect beer to warm up with on a cold night
Nov 19, 2022
 
Rated: 4.34 by o29 from Texas

Oct 08, 2022
 
Rated: 4.37 by ppavlick from New Jersey

Sep 25, 2022
Photo of Resistance88
Reviewed by Resistance88 from California

4.56/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Out of the can on the 101fwy

Can't smell much but sweet malt and some barrel out of the mouthsipperhole

Tasts is sweet candy, sweet malt and caramel balanced by workd class barrel aging backend

Would seek this out and drink again and again
Sep 01, 2022
Photo of DokiDokiLitFam
Reviewed by DokiDokiLitFam from New Jersey

4.52/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours out a translucent dark brown. The light that gets through is on the darker side of ruby. A finger of creamy khaki colored head sits atop. It lingers for a while. Just a great looking pour.

Nose is sweet oak, bourbon and mildly smoky caramel right off the bat. Deeper in, I get a richer toffee combined with the malt that gives me a fresh bready pretzel. This is like salted caramel pretzel. The bourbon is not dominant. It sits equal with the malt base which is a good sign of a brew balanced on a razors edge.

Taste is that smooth caramel combined with a respectful mild oak and bourbon that glides in at the same time. Really nice. The smokiness builds a little on the mid palate then starts to subside. On the fade into the finish, the malt starts to show. Again providing a pretzel quality. This brew is balanced quite immaculately. It's not overhopped which I really like. Recently Backwoods Bastards have been hopped to hell. The bitterness here is near perfection.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with mild carbonation. A little heat on the back end, presumably from the ABV and barrel tannins. Slightly drying but not making you reach for a glass of water. The mouthfeel just fits. It's unobtrusive and just allows the rest of the brew to showcase.

Overall, this is not only a fantastic bourbon barrel scotch ale, but a stellar barrel aged brew in its own right. The only thing I'd say it lacks in, is overall complexity. But even then it hits the marks of everything else it does near perfectly. Another killer brew from Revolution.
Aug 28, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by paulish from New York

Aug 27, 2022
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

4.28/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Clear, dark mahogany brown body; head quickly dissipates to a thin, patchy wisp of foam. Huge, richly sweet aroma; roasted grain and caramel; some whiskey and oak notes. Fantastic flavors; cocoa, licorice, dates, vanilla, tobacco; bourbon pops up near the finish; moderate overall sweetness. Heavy body; silky; smooth residual sugars coat the palate; boozy warmth.

This wondrous beer packs a huge malty, boozy punch. Densely malt-forward with a bold bourbon undercurrent. Intriguingly complex and delicious.

Pouring temperature: 43 °F; canning info: FILLED JAN/19/2022
Aug 25, 2022
 
Rated: 4.32 by smithj4 from New York

Aug 10, 2022
 
Rated: 4.36 by Chilmer from Iowa

Apr 03, 2022
Photo of DIM
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
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, 2022
 
Rated: 4.09 by mjpolzin from Wisconsin

Mar 06, 2022
 
Rated: 4.28 by EMH73 from New York

Mar 04, 2022
Photo of Sabtos
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
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.

---

6 or more months later, bitterness starts to take a back seat to some developing decadence, pushing this ever closer to English barleywine territory. Delicious!
Feb 11, 2022
Gravedigger Billy from Revolution Brewing
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 321 ratings