Massacre
Wolverine State Brewing Company

MassacreMassacre
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From:
Wolverine State Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
European Strong Lager
Ranked #1
ABV:
14.5%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,585
Avg:
4.05 | pDev: 10.37%
Reviews:
43
Ratings:
169
Status:
Active
Rated:
Today at 03:38 AM
Added:
Oct 21, 2012
Wants:
  21
Gots:
  33
Imperial dark lager aged in bourbon barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by StoutHunter:
Photo of StoutHunter
Reviewed by StoutHunter from Michigan

4.04/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I picked up a bottle of Wolverine State's Massacre for $4,29 at The Lager Mill. I've been meaning to try this one for a while and I'm interested to see what it's all about, so lets see how it goes. 2016 Vintage. Poured from a brown 12oz waxed bottle into a snifter.

A- The label looks nice, it has a nice design to it and it's a little eye catching. It poured a dark brown color that takes on more of a mahogany color when held to the light with half a fingers worth of creamy and slightly darker tan head that died down to a thick bubbly ring that eventually faded away and it left a little bit of patchy and spotty lacing behind. This is a good looking beer, I have no complaints.

S- The aroma starts off with a lower amount of high sweetness with the bourbon barrels being the first to show up and they impart some nice bourbon, oak and light vanilla aromas that are followed by a big caramel aroma with a little bit of a butterscotch, buttery and light toffee liker aroma in the background. Up next comes the malts which impart some caramel malt, toasted malt, sweet malt, light bready, slight dark fruit and candied like aromas showing up towards the end. This beer has a very nice aroma, it's complex and all the aspects work well together.

T- The taste seems to be pretty similar to the aroma, it's slightly lighter and it starts off with a lower amount of high sweetness with the bourbon barrels still being the first to show up, they are a little lighter than they were in the aroma, but they impart all the same aspects. Up next comes the alcohol which is noticeable and a little warming and it goes into the malts which impart all the same aspects that they did in the aroma along with those caramel, toffee and butterscotch aspects which come through just about as much as they do in the aroma. Towards the end comes a light amount of dark fruits with no single fruit sticking out the most just like it did in the aroma. On the finish there's a slightly higher amount of medium bitterness followed by a little more warming alcohol and some sweetness with a bitter, caramel, sweet malt and toffee like aftertaste. This is a good tasting beer, but it would be even better if it had a little less bitterness.

M- Fairly smooth, slightly booxy, a little warming, a little cloying, a little sticky, a little viscous, full bodied with a lower amount of medium carbonation, The mouthfeel is pretty nice and it works well with this beer.

Overall I thought this was a good beer and a good example of the style, wolverine really pushed the boundaries with the lager yeast with this beer and it really shows, but it comes together to make for a good and unique beer. This beer had nice drinkability, one would be my limit, anymore than that and it might start to wear on me. What I like the most about this beer is the aroma and how well the different aspects work together, those are the highlights to me. What I like the least about this beer is the bitterness, I think it would be better if that aspect was toned down. I would buy this beer again when looking for a strong and unique Lager and I would recommend it to anyone looking for the same. All in all I was happy with this beer, it didn't blow my mind or anything, but it was unique and I found it to be a little memorable. It's the best beer I've had from this brewery and it's a good example of the style. Good job guys, this is a tasty and unique beer, keep it up.
Dec 06, 2016
More User Ratings:
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Sampling a cellar temp 12 oz waxed bottle. 2022 vintage. I am pouring into my trusty snifter. the beer pours a very dark mahogany color and rests even darker in my glass, with no light passing through.
A fairly creamy beige head of 1 cm foams up and fades to a sturdy edge layer. Forms some scattered lattice when I swirl the glass.
Aroma is big malty and boozy, I get some caramel, some dark fruit, like a raisin, hints of bourbon and oak and some fusol booze. No hop character that I can pick up on the nose.
First sip reveals a medium body and smooth texture with very fine and gentle carbonation. Beer drinks pretty easy, although it is a little sticky on my palate after the swallow.
Flavor is caramel, some charred wood, burnt sugar, hints of bourbon and a little booze. Black peppery bite, not really any heat.
Again, no hops that I pick up.
Barrel aged lager is an interesting take, and I enjoy what this beer brings to the table. Enjoying this one and boosting my Michigan beer ticks
Today at 03:38 AM
 
Rated: 4.31 by Mikexw from New York

Mar 05, 2024
 
Rated: 2.82 by JustLikeMyDad from Michigan

Feb 16, 2024
Photo of damndirtyape
Reviewed by damndirtyape from Ohio

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz wax sealed bottle, 2022 bottling. Served in a snifter glass.

Appearance: Very dark brown, and a bit cloudy. Looks like some sediment got carried along in the pour. Very thin tan head at the edges. Looks far more like a stout than a strong lager. Some occasional strands of lacing noted that slide back down the edges of the glass and dissipated fairly quickly.

Smell: Bourbon, vanilla, maybe a hint of some dark fruits.

Taste: Rich toasted malt, caramel and toffee notes, bourbon, oak/vanilla, herbal & leathery bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Nicely thick, very light carbonation (not at all lager-like), a bit of bourbon bite, but not too boozy or hot. The alcohol is there, but somewhat hidden.

Overall / Drinkability: Enjoyable....but it's not a lager. It's not a stout either. It reminds me more of a bourbon aged barleywine. A slow sipping beer to enjoy on a Christmas evening - unusual but well done.
Dec 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.18 by not2quick from Missouri

Sep 23, 2023
Photo of Coronaeus
Reviewed by Coronaeus from Canada (ON)

4.21/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours an almost black brown. Small foamy head that recedes to a thin ring after about a minute or so.

A little bourbon on the nose followed by stewed stone fruits, raisins, a little toffee peaks in as well.

The bourbon sits in behind the woody barrel character which is sting on the tongue. Some of the the stewed fruit and a little chocolate follow. Lightly drying.

The body is moderate. There is a lightness to this despite the high ABV and barrel. Very good.

This is a very enjoyable beer
Dec 31, 2022
Photo of Fordcoyote15
Rated by Fordcoyote15 from Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Hot as fuck.
Sep 24, 2022
Photo of odement
Rated by odement from Michigan

4.49/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Another Michigan brewery nails it. Doppelbock very heavy, boozy. I'm lucky to be in MI where I can score this often.
Outstanding.
Apr 22, 2022
Photo of Whyteboar
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan

4.29/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
The pour is much darker than I expected, not black but darn close. A beige head says hello and then quickly takes it's leave.
The aroma- bourbon on forefront, no bones about that. Boozy figs, prunes, raisins, and caramel. A potent aroma that is making me wonder what I've got myself into.

The taste is not what I expected either. There's an initial sweetness that seems to accompany many BA beers, but that is quickly replaced by a bitterness, whether that is from hops or roasted malts I cannot say. Not unpleasant, and keeps this from being cloying.
Bourbon, figs, caramel, char, coffee, dates all shout to be heard (tasted, sorry) and it's a fun flavor fight for a while. I will state that I am glad it was "just" a 12 oz serving. It almost wore me out trying to separate out what I was tasting.
The feel is good, no issues at all. Viscous enough to remind you this is punching above it's normal weight class.
Glad this is available locally, I think I'll try and cllar one or two and see how they hold up.
Feb 14, 2022
Photo of larryi86
Reviewed by larryi86 from Delaware

4.34/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 oz bottle, 2017, poured into into a tulip

A- Dark brown with a small tan head.

S- Bourbon, dark fruits, sweet cherries, some figs, toffee, some leather, oak.

T- Bourbon, dark fruits, leather, toffee, figs, cherries, oak, slightly earthy, some chocolate towards the finish that lingers nicely.

M- Smooth, medium to full body.

O- Haven’t tried this fresh so I can’t if it gets better with aged but it seems to age well.
Feb 06, 2022
 
Rated: 4.56 by Resistance88 from California

Jan 24, 2022
Photo of snaotheus
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington

4.15/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2021-11-19
12oz capped/waxed bottle served in a stemmed tulip. 2021 bottle. Don't see a specific date on it. Received from @whyteboar in a LIF associated with NBS BIF #14.

Pours dark brown to pitch black with a surprisingly large head that collapses to a few millimeter thick layer. Smell is chocolatey, vanilla, maybe a little maple. Some roasted coffee.

Taste is moderate syrup sweetness, moderate anise, lots of chocolate sweetness, tons of vanilla. Bitterness in the finish...maybe roasted grain, maybe a little woodiness.

Mouthfeel is medium to thick, smooth, rich, just slightly lively, satisfying. Overall, very good!
Nov 20, 2021
Photo of Roguer
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Good head production and OK retention. Body is a very dark brown, nearly but not quite black, and does not appear to be perfectly clear. Lacing is short-lived on the glass.

Huge bourbon on the nose. Booze, mash, oak, prune, raisin, toffee, caramel. A wonderful aroma that is simultaneously inviting and a touch intimidating.

Very challenging on the palate. There's an initial sweetness matching the nose, but that is quickly replaced by a surprising bitterness, a combination of the oak, roasted barley, and hops. Bourbon, slightly soured grapes, caramel, toffee, light char, coffee, dates. Everything hits so quickly and all together that it's difficult to pick it apart, and similarly not quite as easy to approach as other beers.

Very smooth on the palate, with little harshness despite the sky-high ABV.

This is an excellent beer that promises to age well. Fresh, it's more bitter than I think it deserves; I would challenge anyone with access to this beer to try it at various ages: fresh, 1- and 2- years.
Nov 14, 2021
Photo of JohnnyHopps
Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana

4.35/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - The beer was black in color with a mocha colored head crowning the glass.

Smell - The dark vaults of the logger made for caramel like notes with the bourbon.

Taste - Smooth bourbon combine with chocolate nuts. It’s still had a little bite. There were chocolate notes as well. A little bitterness lingered toward the back.

Mouthfeel - The field was amazingly smooth with small carbonation.

Overall - for the style, this was superb. It was smooth and chocolatey.
Aug 28, 2021
 
Rated: 4.23 by Phoodcritic from Michigan

Mar 14, 2021
Photo of micada
Reviewed by micada from New York

4.43/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Courtesy of @Blutz as a trade extra: 2017 Wolverine State Massacre BBA Imperial Dark Lager. Never heard of the brewery or the brew, so totally new to me. 12 oz bottle nicely wax-sealed. Poured cellar temp assertively to an IPA-ish wide-mouth glass. Half-inch head comes out as an oddity, much like the Dark Soul I had some time ago, in that it has a creamy mocha tan color that looks like it belongs on an oatmeal stout instead of a lager. Color is dark, translucent burnt mahogany. Nose has a very prominent bourbon aroma, sweet caramel, and some winter spiciness.

First sips are surprising and marvelous! The bourbon is strong, the main profile is oozy dark caramel, with an ending hit of a cinnamon-esque flavor. It reminds me of a nice barleywine in some respects. Mouthfeel is full, decadent, with carbonation on the finish that clears the way for a long-lasting linger of all the flavors. Boozy aroma and flavor that matches the ABV, but no burn and no warming...much too easy to drink like it’s an 8%er, but this is clocking in over 14%. As it warms, more stone fruit flavors like plum/prune come to the mid and rear of the swallow.

It’s totally delicious! Three years has done it justice.
Dec 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4.08 by blissfulNemo from Michigan

Oct 31, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by Sparky44 from Illinois

Oct 11, 2020
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4.17/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle at share.Muddy brown pour with a small beige head. Seemingly like a stout, roast malts and chocolate filter up first, followed by some brown sugar and bourbon. Taste is more roast, boozy and a bit more stout-ish than a dopplebock, but still great.
Jun 14, 2020
Massacre from Wolverine State Brewing Company
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 169 ratings