Epsilon
Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery
- From:
- Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery
- Texas, United States
- Style:
- Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
- ABV:
- 9.6%
- Score:
- +2 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.05 | pDev: 11.11%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 3
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jul 06, 2017
- Added:
- Jul 08, 2014
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
Epsilon is a peated Scotch ale aged in Balcones Brimstone whiskey barrels. A big malt backbone holds up smokey, oaky, and caramelly flavors in this offering from our Infinite Series subset of the Irrational Series. Brimstone is an aggressive Texas scrub oak smoked whiskey from Balcones Distillery in Waco, Texas. The barrels add a distinct smoke and bourbon character that matches well with the big malt and peat flavors. 9.6% abv. 20.5 IBU.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Texas
3.22/5 rDev -20.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
3.22/5 rDev -20.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
Reviewed from notes taken in Fall 2014.
"Epsilon." Bourbon scotch ale. $5.50 for 9 oz on-draught at Black Star Co-op. Served into a stem-tulip.
HEAD: None. No lacing.
BODY: Dark auburn. Dull, thin, and weak in appearance. No yeast/lees are visible within. Plump.
Appears undercarbonated. Not unique or special within the style, nor can I say it looks very good in general.
AROMA: Luscious marshmallow, caramel, chewy vanilla, and warm bourbon aromatics. The barrel seems to melt seamlessly into the base, but the base itself doesn't bring much to the table (at least not aromatically). Vague fruit, malty sweetness, caramel, maybe some toffee.
It's a pleasant albeit subdued aroma of below average intensity.
TASTE: The bourbon barrel provides almost all the flavour - marshmallow, caramel, some toffee, faint white oak, and supple soft chewy vanilla. A hint of tobacco.
All the base really brings is caramel and light peat. I want more peat, more bourbon, and more flavour from the base beer.
That said, while subdued overall and unfortunately shallow in terms of depth of flavour, it's well balanced - though it does have some boozy warmth.
Average flavour duration. Low flavour intensity. There's just not much going on here considering it's a bourbon barrel aged scotch ale; discerning drinkers will anticipate more intricacy and nuance than this seems to strive for. Unusually reticent.
TEXTURE: Smooth, wet, soft, supple, warm, comforting, and approachable yet full-bodied. Not too thick or heavy on the palate.
Presence is full on the palate. Chewy without feeling overbearing. Does have some boozy warmth to it, but it's not unwelcome. Coating.
Not oily, astringent, harsh, rough, gushed, or scratchy.
OVERALL: It's reticent and simplistic in build for the style (particularly a barrel aged variant), but I always like to see more peated beers on the market. It's fairly priced for what it is I suppose, and it's very likeable, but there are far better brews in the style out there offered for less. This is interesting work from the capable brewers at Black Star, but I wouldn't buy it again given how muted and withdrawn it is.
High C+ (3.22) / ABOVE AVERAGE
Jul 06, 2017"Epsilon." Bourbon scotch ale. $5.50 for 9 oz on-draught at Black Star Co-op. Served into a stem-tulip.
HEAD: None. No lacing.
BODY: Dark auburn. Dull, thin, and weak in appearance. No yeast/lees are visible within. Plump.
Appears undercarbonated. Not unique or special within the style, nor can I say it looks very good in general.
AROMA: Luscious marshmallow, caramel, chewy vanilla, and warm bourbon aromatics. The barrel seems to melt seamlessly into the base, but the base itself doesn't bring much to the table (at least not aromatically). Vague fruit, malty sweetness, caramel, maybe some toffee.
It's a pleasant albeit subdued aroma of below average intensity.
TASTE: The bourbon barrel provides almost all the flavour - marshmallow, caramel, some toffee, faint white oak, and supple soft chewy vanilla. A hint of tobacco.
All the base really brings is caramel and light peat. I want more peat, more bourbon, and more flavour from the base beer.
That said, while subdued overall and unfortunately shallow in terms of depth of flavour, it's well balanced - though it does have some boozy warmth.
Average flavour duration. Low flavour intensity. There's just not much going on here considering it's a bourbon barrel aged scotch ale; discerning drinkers will anticipate more intricacy and nuance than this seems to strive for. Unusually reticent.
TEXTURE: Smooth, wet, soft, supple, warm, comforting, and approachable yet full-bodied. Not too thick or heavy on the palate.
Presence is full on the palate. Chewy without feeling overbearing. Does have some boozy warmth to it, but it's not unwelcome. Coating.
Not oily, astringent, harsh, rough, gushed, or scratchy.
OVERALL: It's reticent and simplistic in build for the style (particularly a barrel aged variant), but I always like to see more peated beers on the market. It's fairly priced for what it is I suppose, and it's very likeable, but there are far better brews in the style out there offered for less. This is interesting work from the capable brewers at Black Star, but I wouldn't buy it again given how muted and withdrawn it is.
High C+ (3.22) / ABOVE AVERAGE
Reviewed by ranger7 from Texas
4.34/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at the Black Star in Austin.
This is a really nice beer. It's aged in a bourbon barrel and you can certainly taste it. Honestly, it tastes like it is about 25% bourbon.
Light look. Very little head. Poured into a small tumbler.
Smells boozy and sweet. Malty.
Tastes like it smells. Terrific.
Very smooth feel.
Worth the price. I could have had more, it's easy to drink, but it's also got 12% ABV!
Jan 14, 2015This is a really nice beer. It's aged in a bourbon barrel and you can certainly taste it. Honestly, it tastes like it is about 25% bourbon.
Light look. Very little head. Poured into a small tumbler.
Smells boozy and sweet. Malty.
Tastes like it smells. Terrific.
Very smooth feel.
Worth the price. I could have had more, it's easy to drink, but it's also got 12% ABV!
Reviewed by StoutFox from Ohio
4/5 rDev -1.2%
4/5 rDev -1.2%
Enjoyed at brewery on tap
Appearance: Redish Amber, light tan head that lingers,
Aroma: Very Sweet, bit oaky, no hops what-so-ever bit so sourness from the oak
Taste: Starts a bit hoppy, finishes with an oaky sour sweetness.
Complexity: bit watery and in turn doesn't have the heavy mouthfeel to help with the higher abv
Overall: a very good beer!
Nov 22, 2014Appearance: Redish Amber, light tan head that lingers,
Aroma: Very Sweet, bit oaky, no hops what-so-ever bit so sourness from the oak
Taste: Starts a bit hoppy, finishes with an oaky sour sweetness.
Complexity: bit watery and in turn doesn't have the heavy mouthfeel to help with the higher abv
Overall: a very good beer!
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