Bourbon Hoplar
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
86
Avg:
3.82 | pDev: 8.64%
Ratings:
14 | reviews: 3
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 08, 2014
Added:
Jul 08, 2012
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.75 by joegard from Virginia

Jul 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Sanchezrox23 from Virginia

Mar 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Cubatobaco from Virginia

Jul 20, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Mar 30, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Shilt from Virginia

Mar 13, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by Hopbully from Virginia

Mar 07, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Jspriest from Pennsylvania

Mar 06, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by RyanBeer13 from Virginia

Jan 25, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by mojiboo02 from Illinois

Jan 17, 2013
Photo of stereosforgeeks
Reviewed by stereosforgeeks from Virginia

4.19/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
On tap 1/9/13 at Hardywood poured into a plastic cup. This last keg has been aging for 5 months now and is aged in Abraham Bowman 18yo Bourbon Barrels.

Appearance: Dark amber mostly with a little cloudiness. 1 finger tan head.

Smell: I am intimately familiar with Abraham Bowman 18 yo Bourbon and so that is the first thing I notice. A lot of oak on the nose. The hops have mellowed due to the aging in bourbon and then aging further in the keg, but you can still smell the floral piney hops. Some nice vanilla in with the caramelly malt.

Taste: I love this bourbon so having the big bourbon taste is my cup of tea. Having the 18yo compared to the regular bourbon barrels makes a huge difference in the taste. The hops have subsided due to the aging but there is still enough there to play with the bourbon nicely. This is not a big hoppy beer though.

Mouthfeel: I tend to prefer a bit more carbonation but after the barrel aging this is what we are left with. Some nice stickiness in your mouth.

Overall: I am glad I got to try the 18yo version because it really highlighted the best attributes of the bourbon and mingled with the caramel sweetness and hops well. Those looking for something hoppy look elsewhere.
Dec 20, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by SpecialN32 from Virginia

Oct 01, 2012
Photo of BirdsandHops
Reviewed by BirdsandHops from Oregon

4.08/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A: pours a hazy dark orange with with three fingers of beige head that recedes into a frothy layer with good lacing.

S: candied citrus aromas up front with lots of vanilla and oak with bourbon bringing up the finish.

T: lots of vanilla up front with oak and bourbon as well. There are some slight pine and sweet citrus from the hops toward the finish with a small alcohol presence and light bitterness.

M: medium-thick body with lowish carbonation, this beer manages to be surprisingly creamy and smooth.

O: a good beer overall. It's interesting, and far more similar to a barrel-aged barleywine or old ale than DIPA, but still tasty and enjoyable.
Sep 22, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by ncaudle from Virginia

Jul 11, 2012
Photo of Rhettroactive
Reviewed by Rhettroactive from Virginia

4.01/5  rDev +5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
From tap to plastic cup at HPB on 7/7/12
*From notes

A: Sorry guys, but this looks like ass. The cloudiest of cloudy pumpkin flesh in hue. If I'm getting a quarter finger head, I'd feel lucky. No rentention or lacing to speak of.

S: All bourbon, which I will in no ways complain about. I'm also getting some toasted coconut. Some pine-like hops show themselves as it warms.

T: Herbaceous bourbon. Plenty of Belgian style hops and east coast pine resin. I'm digging the yeasty edge, but I feel it's kept in check by the bourbon barrel. Well done here.

M: Decent. A bit more bubbly then I'd prefer, but not overly so. Medium to full body for a DIPA.

O: Very tasty to say the least. I really hope that HPB continues to expand their barrel program, as this (and literally every BA beer HPB has produced) is rock star.
Jul 08, 2012