Vlad The Imp Aler
Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub

Vlad The Imp AlerVlad The Imp Aler
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From:
Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
Ranked #175
ABV:
12.3%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,829
Avg:
4.26 | pDev: 9.15%
Reviews:
177
Ratings:
766
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 03, 2024
Added:
Dec 09, 2008
Wants:
  464
Gots:
  192
This Northwest style sour is a blend of spiced Quads, Triples and Blondes aged in Bourbon and wine barrels for over 18 months with orange peel and coriander. Vlad offers a fresh acidity and mild sweetness with flavors of citrus, spice and rich oak. Winner of the Silver Medal at the 2008 GABF. ABV 12.3%

First Release: 9.5% ABV
Second Release (Sept 2010): 10.6% ABV
Third Release: 2011 - 10.91%
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by sweemzander:
Photo of sweemzander
Reviewed by sweemzander from Illinois

3.92/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
750mL corked and caged bottle poured into a stemmed glass. Huge thanks to hopsbreath for this one!

(A)- Poured a hazy caramel color. Produced a good off-white head that dissipated quickly. Minimal lacing.

(S)- Some good funk in there. Plenty of white grape with lemon peel and hints at cider. The bourbon is noticeable, but subtle and adds a layer of richness to the smell. Near the finish, some acidic sourness too.

(T)- Definitely a richer take on the style. Some sweetness in a cider and bourbon aspect. Some tart lemon and white grape. Mildly dry and acidic finish.

(M)- A good carbonation level and balance. The sour aspect takes center stage, but is unique and supplemented by the sweet yet smooth bourbon notes. Gets a tad boozy as it warms.

(D)- I like this. It is certainly unique which I really appreciate for the style. A richer; sweeter representation with a good sour background. The bourbon barrel aging really adds a different level to its profile. Worth seeking out.
Jan 09, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.98 by not2quick from Missouri

Feb 03, 2024
 
Rated: 4.01 by Prospero from Colorado

Jan 05, 2024
 
Rated: 4.56 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Oct 06, 2023
Photo of Reidrover
Reviewed by Reidrover from Oregon

4.18/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2020 version 11.8% alc.
Purchased from Westside Taphouse in Salem OR.
Pours a deep golden with a wispy head. Attractive!
Aroma of vinegar and wine. Nice. Some strawberry aspects. Nice.
Taste delicious. Like a bourbon whiskey mixed with sour all. Can really feel the bourbon ageing herd. But the taste is bright and fruity , invigorating.
Lovely mouth feel. Very quenching for a 12 % beer,
A classic from Cascade Lodge
Aug 06, 2023
 
Rated: 2.23 by Avitra from California

Oct 19, 2022
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

3.94/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Red to orange color. Crystal clear. Decent starting head which settles quickly to mostly rim bubbles. Good streaks for lace.

Lots of alcohol and other barley wine smells—treacle and berry.

More sour, which wasn’t present in the smell, than anything else. The sweetness is gone. Decent body with a diminished carbonation level. The tartness is nondescript, simply acidic without a specific flavor. Longer (sour, of course) aftertaste.
Oct 16, 2022
 
Rated: 4.12 by Mikexw from New York

Oct 07, 2022
 
Rated: 4.12 by GClarkage from California

May 07, 2022
Photo of BubbleBobble
Reviewed by BubbleBobble from New York

3.24/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
2011 vintage here. Nice pop and good visible carbonation on the pour; no head formation; color is an opaque bourbon orange. Nose has lots of sweet whiskey notes, some deeper boozy wheat notes, light oak, a hint of mild citrus. Spice notes have likely faded, but barrel presence is still there after ten years. Taste has a few fruity, vinous notes up front, but quickly the barrel character takes over in a not entirely pleasant way - a good amount of oak and char, a bit of caramel, some age-related papery notes. Mouthfeel is thin but not unpleasant, and impressive carbonation after all this time. Overall, past its prime, and given how barrel-forward it is, comes across as unbalanced.
Aug 22, 2021
Photo of Roguer
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

3.99/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 2 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Rating an older bottle, but by any measure this is an unattractive beer: completely flat, with tons of thick floaties in a murky body.

Wonderful nose, a bit sour from the wine, bourbon, and I suspect even the quad. Rich and smooth aroma.

Similar on the palate; the sharpness from the wine dominates (I’m assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that this is not an intentionally soured ale). Nice bourbon presence, although it’s definitely second fiddle here. Lots of oak. Caramel, dark wheat, vinegar, dark fruit.
Jul 04, 2021
Photo of DaveMaciolek21
Reviewed by DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey

4.17/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Amber color with minimal head. I had the 2017 vintage. An unusually high octane (11.6 ABV) sour. Tastes ALIVE--chippered up by the blonde/quad blend, plus zesty citrus orange peel. Bourbon and wine barreling is a subtle part of the flavor profile. The main takeaway is bright and refreshing--from first sip to last.
Jul 01, 2021
 
Rated: 3.99 by minterro from California

May 09, 2021
 
Rated: 4.02 by dt_gbpackersfan from Missouri

Apr 17, 2021
 
Rated: 4.21 by morrowd3 from Vermont

Jan 02, 2021
Photo of mbunje
Reviewed by mbunje from California

4.48/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Cascade Barrel House. Really unique beer. Not too sour. Well rounded. Smell the Belgian yeast and the vanilla. Light in the bourbon. Don’t notice the orange peel.
Flavor is fantastic. Lots of layers going on with a slight tart/sour finish. I feel like every sip is revealing new flavors. Overall this is a must if you visit the brewery or the Portland area. This reminds me of something the Bruery would make or even Russian River. Great beer.
Oct 25, 2020
 
Rated: 4.45 by sarpedon52 from Georgia

Sep 27, 2020
 
Rated: 4.28 by dubnation from Kansas

Sep 11, 2020
 
Rated: 4.02 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Sep 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4.45 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Jul 15, 2020
Vlad The Imp Aler from Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 766 ratings