A Sheep In Tall Grass - Barrel-Aged
Greenbush Brewing Company

 

12 ounce bottle into a tulip snifter. Bottled 11/14/16, had 3/18/17.

Pours a very dark amber, opaque, with a one inch head and some foamy lacing. Smells of malt, figs, dates, bourbon, yeast, raisins, some oak, light cherries and caramel. The taste follows mostly along- malt, bourbon, figs, dates, raisins, some caramel, brown sugar, light oak. Smooth, with a solid medium body, well carbonated.

Very good aroma and flavor, the barrels are complimentary and well balanced with the base beer. Certainly worth purchasing a few bottles, the next time it’s released.

Appearance - The beer was murky brown in color with off-white bubbles crowning the glass.

Smell - A smooth bourbon nose complemented the malts from the style.

Taste - In the initial taste, the booze is so well-balanced. It is neither hot nor overwhelming. The elements of a scotch ale balance with the bourbon. This continues in the warm malty aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Overall, this is smooth with the carbonation tickling the tongue just enough to let you know it's there.

Overall - Greenbush really knows how to barrel age beer.

L- Pours a murky brown with a one-finger, creamy, off-white head. The head dissapates quickly to a pleasant creaminess. Does have a bit of carbonation.
S- Malt Forward with the barrel presence evident. Slight barleywine hop smell.
T- Carmel malt dominant with a very slight licorice as it transitions to a wonderful Whiskey alcohol burn that lets some hop come through. Very slight coffee/chocolate mid palate. Oakiness blends it all together nicely.
F- A big beer with a awesome bourbon barrel burn and flow.
O- Unique beer in which the barrel presence combined with alcohol warming is hard to beat.

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle dated 11.14.16 purchased from the brewery by the beloved prager62.

The beer pours an opaque, deep tan with a thin, off-white head. The head quickly dissipated leaving a small amount of lacing.

The smell is huge bourbon up front with sweet toffee and vanilla underneath.

The taste is almost the opposite of the smell. The sweet toffee and vanilla dominate up front then the bourbon comes through strongly through the middle and the finish. There is also some alcohol burn and char on the finish.

The mouthfeel is medium body with tons of thin carbonation

Overall this is an excellent BA Scotch Ale. In a huge fan of this style and while this won't unseat my favorite, it will definitely hold its own.

A 12oz. bottle from a recent release dated 11.14.16 poured in a 13oz. Greenbush tulip.

Look- Pours a murky brown leaving a half inch of light tan foam. It quickly settles leaving a ring around the glass and some thin lacing.

Smell- Toffee, caramel, vanilla and bourbon.

Taste- Sweet toffee and caramel along with some solid bourbon take center stage. Vanilla and oak soon follow with a hint of leather.

Feel- Slick and slightly effervescent.

Overall- I'm a regular at Greenbush and this one for reasons unexplained has eluded me until this year. I'm scratching my head as to why it shows retired? As barrel aged Scotch ales go this one can run with the best. While a little on the sweet side, it's a palate pleasing mix of toffee, bourbon and vanilla. It's pricier than its counterparts at $24 a four pack, but I'm not regretting buying a couple. I think it will cellar very well.