Kentucky Habit
Karbach Brewing Co.

 

 

Pours a pitch black color with a finger width foamy head that almost completely dissipates. Lacing is good. Aroma of bourbon, brown sugar, mild Belgian yeasts, subtle dark fruits and Vanilla. Very smooth taste. Very mild fizziness at the end. Bourbon up front with some sweetness from brown sugar, vanilla and dark fruits at the end. Very smooth at the end. Full bodied with moderate to heavy carbonation.

2016 Vintage

Appearance - The beer poures a murky brown color with an off white head.

Smell - The banana in the nose wasmuted by light booze. I anticipated more sweetness.

Taste - At the front, banana sweetness was light. Figs, fruit leather, and light booze followed. Even though the booze seemed light, there was a burn in the back.

Mouthfeel - The sweet stickiness was aided by the lack of carbonation and viscosity.

Overall - I expected a little more from this beer as everything about it was mild. Did it decline with age?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drank from a 1 pint, 6 fl oz. bottle purchased at Quickie Pickie, Austin, TX
F.U.N. Series 013
2016
Served in a goblet

Dark mahogany appearance. The liquid was topped by a fizzy, finger-tall, khaki colored crown that fell rather quickly. Disappointing retention, especially for the style. A thin halo encircled the liquid but it soon dissolved too.

The nose was quite sweet and spicy. Subtle Belgian yeast notes, but definitely more muted in this regard than I anticipated. Loads of brown sugar. There was a rich plum and raisin presence as well. Boozy notes also came through strong. Although the beer was aged in bourbon barrels, it contained more of an aged rum quality. Good dose of vanilla. Slightly woody too.

The flavor profile was exceptionally sweet and also quite boozy. Definitely punchier than the nose. Malty and sugary sweet up front. A bit cloying. Fruity. Apple and pear notes were apparent. Loads of brown sugar in the center. Plum, prune and raisin notes also came through strong. More sweetness and alcohol on the finish. Like the nose, an aged rum came to mind. Bit of vanilla. Good amount of oaky barrel too.

Nice creamy, frothy mouthfeel. Fuller bodied. Creamy, slick and smooth on the palate. Somewhat sticky. The liquid contained a fine, moderate effervescence. Solid but perhaps a bit lacking in carbonation for a Belgian-style beer.

While this beer displayed few characteristics of a true Belgian Quad, it was still rather interesting and complex. Fans of sweet and boozy, barrel-aged strong ales would likely enjoy this.

 

 

 

2016 bottle

A: Pours a very dark brown/red with a tall fizzy medium brown head. Head fades out quickly, lacing no lacing at all.

S: Sweet, sweet, sweet. Huge caramel and fruitiness. Grapes, raisins, figs primarily I'd say. Sugary sweet with a nice brown sugar note in there too.

T: More of the same. Ultra-smooth caramel and candied fruits up front. Heavy bready malt with some mild spices (cloves primarily?) after the fact. Nice clean, sweet finish.

M: Crazy smooth from start to finish. Staggering for a barrel-aged brew. Lower carbonation.

O: Great barrel aged quad. Very sweet and very smooth but somehow not cloying. No sign of alcohol either, making for perhaps the easiest-drinking ~12% ABV beer I've ever had. It's not very traditional but it sure is enjoyable.