Nigel - - F.U.N. Series 016 - Oak Barrel Aged
Karbach Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

$ 14.90 (Including tax)/bomber ($ 0.677/oz) from Spec’s, Live Oak, TX.
2017, no other date on bottle, stored at 42 degrees and served at 50 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 4.
Body – Deep amber, clear. Occasional effervescence.
Head – Average (Maximum three cm, controlled center pour), dense, tan, excellent retention, slooowly diminishing to an irregular three to five mm ring fed by desultory effervescence. No lacing is left behind.
Lacing – None, as expected based on ABV and oak aging.
First pour – An odd icteric amber, clear.
Aroma – 4 – Sweet malt.
Flavor – 4.25 - Initial and main flavor is sweet malt. Some oakiness appears at the end of each taste and as the predominant aftertaste. Caramel and a touch of tasty diacetyl complete the flavor profile. Hops are not evident in either the taste or nose. Alcohol is not noticed except in the post-drink gastric warming. No dimethylsulfide.
Palate – 3.75 – Medium to full, creamy, lively carbonation.
Impression and summation – 4.25 – The flavor pretty much says it all – sweet and tasty! This appears to be a cross between an American- and an English-style barley wine. The color and clarity are typical of an American style, the low to non-existent hop levels an English style, and the flavor consistent with both or either. No matter what you call it (Karbach an English barley wine and BA an American), this a very good drink! I wish I’d picked up a few more bottles.

In a sniffer at Lefty's Drafthouse in San Antonik.......Thin, creamy head with very nice lacing. Raisins right off the bat! Lovely lacing on the sides of the glass after a sip. It seems to ooze back to the bottom. A little sweet, but not overpowering. Me likey!! Excellent bang for the buck with an elevated ABV Lol......Would, and will buy again!

Beige head. Caramel color. Clear. Toffee, whiskey, caramel, oak, and vanilla. Very malty. Fairly smooth. Warming. Nothing crazy, but very solid ba bw.

 

 

 

Found this on sale at a local grocery store in Clear Lake, marked down from $14.99 to $9.99. I wonder if they are still sitting on the shelves due to the high price or because Karbach sold out? Seems like their FUN series used to fly off the shelves and now we see them for months after release.

Overly sweet, not much oak flavor, and a bit thin for the style. I expected it to be better. Would not buy again.