Bourbonic Plague
Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub

Bourbonic PlagueBourbonic Plague
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
Ranked #177
ABV:
11.1%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,847
Avg:
4.26 | pDev: 10.09%
Reviews:
145
Ratings:
634
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 20, 2023
Added:
Jul 03, 2009
Wants:
  608
Gots:
  144
An outbreak of “the Plague” is upon us with this release! Bourbonic Plague features sour imperial porters aged in Bourbon and wine barrels for up to two years with additions of dates, vanilla beans, orange peel and cinnamon. This contagiously complex and incurably enigmatic blend continues to represent the pinnacle of our craft at Cascade Brewing
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SpeedwayJim:
Photo of SpeedwayJim
Reviewed by SpeedwayJim from New York

4.33/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to schen9303 for sharing this one. Poured from a corked and caged 750ml bottle into a Southampton oversized snifter.

A: Standard pour yields a 3 finger frothy off-white colored head with outstanding retention. Beer is an opaque black and lacing is patchy and stringy with excellent cling. This one's a real beauty.

S: Nose is pungent bourbon with hints of chocolate, sour cherry, purple wine grapes, and subtle roasted malts. Flavors work perfectly with each other here with a slight tartness that tickles the nose exquisitely complementing a robust, but not overwhelming bourbon presence. Very unique also though perhaps not quite to style.

T: Opens with a slight cherry tartness and dark fruit. Transitions into sour wine grapes and cherry puree with overtones of roasted malt and sour liquorice. Bourbon barrels linger in the background providing a nice sweet complement along with a degree of cobwebby Brettiness. End is chocolate, roasted malt, and sour cherry and grape with notes of prune and sour, unripened plum. Finish is tart dark fruit, bourbon, and a bit of smoke. Aftertaste is slightly dry and ashy. Might be the first sour dark beer that I'm a fan of!!!

M: Medium bodied and highly carbonated. Bubbly and a bit grainy in the mouth and abrasive at the edges. Tingly going down with a messy aftertaste and a dry, lingering aftertaste. This one's pretty standard but missing a degree of crispness at the finish that would have put it more over the top.

D: Much better than its cousin Vlad the IMPaler in my opinion, this is a really well made sour porter. What sets it apart is a nice balance between sour and sweet with a ton of complexity that captures both the Brett and funk aspect as well as the roasted malt, dark fruit, and chocolate aspect. I'll definitely be coming back to this one.
Feb 26, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draft at the Handlebar. A bit of a different take from their usual output. Dark brown with a ring of fine beige head. Aroma leadscwith thevtart, flavor fills in with some roast and bourbon. Pretty nice.
Nov 20, 2023
 
Rated: 4.53 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Oct 06, 2023
 
Rated: 4.31 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Jan 16, 2023
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.85/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap at Cardinal Pub, Stavanger. Very dark colour, nearly black. Intense aroma of bourbon, oak and vanilla. Relatively light bodied for its strength, low carbonation. Medium sour flavour, notes of bourbon, oak, vanilla and sour berries. Very moderate hops.
Aug 19, 2022
Photo of BubbleBobble
Reviewed by BubbleBobble from New York

4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2011 vintage. Once the cork was popped on this one (no easy feat), it poured a very dark brown with a 1" of brief tan head, no lacing. Nose begins bourbon forward with a bit of oxidation, but as it warms up, the sour notes really shine through. Lots of leather, char, and vanilla, but lactic and vinous qualities as well. Taste is super complex and does feel at times like 2 or 3 beer in one. A bit boozy to start like a low-shelf bourbon, but mid-palate, the sourness and vinous quality comes through. Not at all bracingly tart, but enough to override the woodsy notes. The finish is the most complex part, as when the sourness fades, there are long lingering notes of leather, orange dark chocolate, licorice, red wine, vanilla, and cinnamon. Mouthfeel is full but doesn't overwhelm - just thick enough to provide texture without becoming a gut bomb. There are just a ton of different directions to look in here, and while not all of them make the most sense, it's a fun experience.
Oct 17, 2021
 
Rated: 4.59 by chossboss from Oregon

Apr 11, 2021
 
Rated: 4.37 by morrowd3 from Vermont

Jan 02, 2021
Photo of lordofthewiens
Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A very dark brown color. Small tan head that increases in size due to the carbonation. A pretty sight.
Aroma of funk, bourbon, dark fruit, cinnamon.
Bourbon and funk to start the taste. Raisin. Cinnamon. A little orange. Tart finish.
Medium-bodied. Alcohol not at all noticeable.
Would try this again.
Aug 02, 2020
Photo of Dope
Reviewed by Dope from Massachusetts

4.11/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Mahogany pour with a rapidly fading head. No retention or lacing.

S: Super interesting aroma. Combination of wine and bourbon. Pleasant dark fruits and berries.

T: Really hard to describe due to the complexity. Bourbon up front but instantly turns vinous and sour. Notable spice from the cinnamon. Touch of cocoa which mixes with the sourness in a very interesting way, reminds me of dark horse's sour stout a lot. Dark fruits abound. Not even going to try to expand my thoughts on this one, every sip is different.

M: Fairly heavy for a sour. Vinous as hell.

O: Incredibly complex with varied flavors as I drink it. It's got pretty much everything in it, it kinda tastes like three beers at once. Super interesting, I'm glad I got to try it.
Jul 28, 2020
Photo of BEERMILER12
Reviewed by BEERMILER12 from Maine

4.39/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A: Pours a dark purple/black color with almost no head

S: A bit of tart funk, bourbon, vinous wine notes, orange peel, cinnamon, vanilla, oak, and some lighter general dark fruit

T: Follows the nose. Starts off with a wave of funk and vinous wine notes and then slowly picks up the bourbon, vanilla, cinnamon, oak, orange peel, dark fruit, and a touch of roasted malt. Finishes with lingering tartness and oak

M: Medium bodied with low-moderate carbonation

O: A super complex and interesting sour that melds the base with the bugs very well. Makes for a great sipper due to the tartness and the 11.1%, which is hardly given a thought as it is barely noticeable. Definitely worth checking out if you’re into dark sours
May 15, 2020
Photo of DaveMaciolek21
Reviewed by DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Remarkable combo of an imperial porter with wild ale characteristics. Deep brown pour, subtle bourbon and oak, a simply wondrous blend of sour date flavors offset by sweet lactose sugar. Sweet & sour in perfect harmony. A sipping beer, sourness almost took over at one warming point, but two sips later the balance was back. Intricate, complex heaven.
Feb 25, 2020
 
Rated: 3.98 by Beerbom from California

Jan 17, 2020
 
Rated: 4.5 by BltByKrmn from New York

Nov 15, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by mwvman from Indiana

Nov 05, 2019
 
Rated: 4.49 by Duncian from Pennsylvania

Aug 15, 2019
 
Rated: 4.43 by dmk82 from California

Apr 24, 2019
Photo of BerryKumquat
Reviewed by BerryKumquat from California

4.9/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
L: Golden darkness but not a true black.
S: Lots of fruit notes.
T: A wild ride of dark notes much akin to a stout but with a mix of Cascade's usual fruits.
F: Sharp, citrus and a bit of heaviness.
O: Wacky mix of fruits and darks.
Mar 24, 2019
 
Rated: 3.79 by denver10 from New Mexico

Feb 23, 2019
 
Rated: 4.26 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Jan 13, 2019
Bourbonic Plague from Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 634 ratings