Crunkle Sam 2020
Clown Shoes

canned 5/23/22. Drank 8/4/22
Pour is a deep honey color. big, thick, fluffy, off white head with good retention
Nose is a wonderful blend of resinous hops, big wave of caramel malts, oaky tannins, oak, vanilla, very subtle bourbon.
Taste is sweet caramel malts, moderate bitterness, hint of oak, finishes with a moderate wave of piney, resinous hops.
Bourbon starts to show up as the beer warms.
smooth and easy to drink; a good beer. Very good, but the nose steals the show.

 

 

Dark amber color from the front, golden amber with a backlight. Tall, thick, off-white head with better than expected retention for the style, leaving loops of sticky lacing as it recedes. Puny levels of carbonation bubbles put in an appearance; otherwise, the body is clear.

Aroma of pear, caramel, and bread. Fairly strong aroma, but I'm not picking up the promised bourbon or barrel.

The bourbon and tannin from the barrel is present in the first sip, however, along with the fruit and caramel. I also pick up some leather. The flavor is much more than was indicated by the aroma. There is just a touch of bittering in the middle, which fades a bit in the finish. Surprising for a self-proclaimed American-style barley wine. The alcohol is well hidden. The finish and aftertaste are a bit sticky and semi-sweet, but not so far into sweet that it does not invite another sip right away.

The mouth feel is on the substantial side of moderate, providing a satisfying presence.

Overall, this is a very nice barley wine. The bourbon barrel is subtle, adding rather than dominating, and the pear fruit, caramel, and bread provides the barley wine bona fides. However, a 10% ABV beer in an Imperial Pint can that is also relatively easy drinking comes with a warning! Don't overdo!

Nonetheless, I enjoyed this one a lot, while annoyed by the brewer's packaging choice.

 

Date of 05/11/20 on bottom of can. Interesting sized can with Clown Shoes usual graphic label. Clear mahogany colored with a dense head with heavy lacing left down the glass. Aroma of caramel malts with medium level of barrel influence. Mostly bourbon but a touch of vanilla as well. Taste is a little underwhelming. Tastes like a barleywine that has passed peak when it comes to age. Just tastes a bit stale and oxidized. Strong caramel and toffee flavors with a hint of licorice. Notes of bourbon and wood. Bitterness is moderate but it is certainly on the sweet side of the spectrum. Full bodied and wonderfully carbonated.

19.2oz can with an illegible date, obviously 2020, poured into a snifter at fridge temp 10% ABV. The beer pours bright, darker amber with sticky khaki colored head. The head recedes to a thin ring and splotchy islands leaving a pretty complete lacing. The aroma is mild with caramel, pine and oak. The taste is semisweet caramel with moderate bitterness and notes of oak, weak bourbon and piney, earthy hops. The mouthfeel is medium plus bodied with just less than medium carbonation and a semi dry finish. Overall, good. Less bitterness & less bourbon than I expected. Value is still a big question with these cans retailing for $10 locally.