Vanderbush - Barrel-Aged
Greenbush Brewing Company

 

12 ounce bottle into a tulip glass. Bottled 10/26/16, had 1/8/17.

Pours a vibrant medium amber, mostly clear- although cloudy on the second pour, with about a one finger, quickly dissipating head with no lacing, a foamy ring follows down the glass. The smell is Belgian yeast, apples, light bourbon- more as it warms, light malt. The taste pretty much follows along with the yeast, apples, bourbon and malt. Some vanilla and oak. Mostly smooth, dry, crisp, a good body, an appropriate level of carbonation.

Pretty straightforward, but it's enjoyable. The bourbon adds flavor and aroma to the base beer, but it does detract a little from the style. Maybe not one to stock up on, but it's certainly worth a try. I'd buy it again.

12oz bottle from Greenbush taproom, poured into 16 oz snifter

L - A grade maple syrup with quickly dissipating carbonation
S - apple wine, oak, slight yeasty funk
T - Same as smell with an alcohol forward apple taste, and dry chardonnay finish
F - Slightly viscous, and low carbonation
O - I'm guessing this was aged in a first use barrel, because I don't get any flavor of previous usage which I think could have greatly benefited the dry and and lackluster finish. Still a good beer, and the oak cuts the sweetness of the non BA version which is a good thing imo.

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle dated 9/10/15 into a tulip. Pours a dark tan, almost the color of apple cider, appropriately. There was almost no head and no lacing, and yet the beer is fairly highly carbonated. The smell is malt, apples, barrel, alcohol, and something a little funky I can't quite place. The taste follows the smell almost perfectly. Certainly has that triple, malty taste along with tart apples and fairly strong oak barrel presence. The mouthfeel is not highly carbonated than I expected given the lack of head on the pour. Overall it's a good beer. I love the apples and the oak, but there's a certain funkiness I can't place that will take the score down a notch.

 

On tap at the brewery and served in their tulip glass.

Look- The color is like a pale whiskey with no foam and little carbonation.

Smell- Sour apple, caramel, cotton candy and alcohol.

Taste- Sour green apple, oak and whiskey.

Feel- Semi tart with some alcohol burn. The finish is on the acidic side.

Overall- I don't dislike it, but it's not one of Greenbush's better barrel offerings. It's rough on the edges and some more time in the bottle might smooth it out and bring more complex flavor.