Reilly's Oak Whiskey Red
Twisted Pine Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

Pours a deep dark reddish brown with a thin beige head atop.Aromas are mainly whiskey and caramel,whoo this is big on the whiskey!A little sharp in the feel but not overly thin,it could use a little more body though.I was expecting a big knock on the head of whiskey flavors but the beer is quite mellow with the whiskey being the main flavor component,a bit of toast and vanilla round out the palate with not much hop presence.If you like whiskey this is all for ya,I don't mind it and find this beer pleasant enough but lacking a few things.

an excellent red here, heavy on the whiskey, but also beautifully malted, rich and dark red, way more than amber, and heady as they get, frothy tan in color, an inch high, and lasting the entire drink. the nose is all whiskey on this, just subtle sweet malt and vanilla oak notes, very little hops around, but this bottles beer around a little while so they may have faded. the flavor isnt as dominated by the whiskey as the nose suggests, but its still there, not boozy, but the flavors are up front. the grain is not overly sweet, as earthy as it is sugary, rather complete fermentation is appreciated. some vanilla in the finish, but its mellowed by an unexplained bitterness and an even more surprising dryness in terms of feel. this beer is a good mix of red styles, sweet like an amber, dry like the irish ones, and the barrel ties it all together in a rich and unifying way that makes this some of twisted pines best work.

 

 

 

A - 3.25 - Dark brown/red color with tiny white head that leaves a little bit of lacing.
S - 3.75 - sweet, caramel, booze/bourbon.
T - 3.5 - sweet caramel, bourbon, cinnamon, toffee, butterscotch.
M - 3.75 - Medium mouthfeel, alc present, aftertaste boozey, caramel, vanilla.
O - 3.5 - Ok beer. Wouldn't have again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bottle into 8 oz. chalice

Appearance: Beautiful red color. Effervescent head fades to durable, appealing fine foam.

Smell: A lot of strong scents competing. Oak and whiskey (either bad Bourbon or non-descript American corn mash spirit) dominate. A sweet scent comes through. No hop aroma.

Taste: An initial sense of bad American Whiskey is off-putting. This flavor of McCormick fades on the same timescale as the bad memories and regrets that it dredges up from freshman year of college. Thereafter, a much more enjoyable warmth and sweetness endures. And I am left reflecting on the difference between my life now and then. This is much better than lo, those many seconds ago.

Mouthfeel: A decent viscosity makes the initial flavor persist, despite aspirating attempts to assuage the displeasure. That is, similar persistence to a standard ale of comparable alcohol content (5.6, according to the Twisted Pine website). Just too long for that initial bad whiskey nose.

My take: With really, really strong food, this beer would be pretty good. After a mouthful of aged cheddar fondue, the unappealing initial scent would fall by the wayside. The warmth and residual sweetness of the beer and cheese would complement one another. Otherwise, this should be seasoned in a less offensive cask by the brewer or avoided by the drinker.