Barrel Aged The Murderous
Pipeworks Brewing Company

 

 

mollasses fenugreek infection? elijah craig. alexs bottle. big malt.some raisin grape.

 

 

Poursa murky chocolate brown. Smell is strong bourbon with toasted toffee, molasses, barley, dark fruits and graham cracker. For the taste, take all of the smell elements and make them darker and deep, the fig, molasses, and wood especially. Very smooth and syrupy. Has decent thickness but not heavy in feel, almost has some wheatiness.

 

 

Pours a merlot tinged brown color. Thin weak tan head dissipates steadily leaving no residual head. Appears thick and viscous in the glass.

Aroma has notes of dark fruits, tart ripe cherries, red wine, bourbon and oak. A bit more tart cherries or dark fruits on the nose than I expected - not bad, just different.

Taste follows the nose with notes of dark fruits, tart overly ripe cherries, leather, bourbon, oak and some red wine and tannins. As noted on the nose, the dark fruits and tart cherries come out far more pronounced in the flavor profile. The bourbon and oak come out more as the beer warms, but are always a second fiddle to the fruitier notes. There is a spiciness - a bit of rye and pepper especially once the beer warms. Very nice compliment to the favors.

Feel is thick and viscous. Full bodied. Moderate vibrant carbonation. Pretty dry finish.

Overall this is a very nice BA barleywine and a must try for anyone who likes the style.

 

 

 

Released 8/17/18; drank 8/19/18 @ the Yarchives.

Opaque dark brown appearance.

A rough pour yielded a small khaki head; minimal lace.

Leather, caramel, bourbon heat & oak notes in the nose.

Thick, sticky mouthfeel.

Caramel, sherry & leather flavors up front; flat bourbon & oak notes on the finish.

All English, for sure...this fresh it's a bit much (boozy & a bit sweet). I think I'll wait a while for the next one...

 

 

 

2016 bottle

 

 

 

 

 

 

Batch #107

Pours a very dark burgundy with a razor thin khaki head. The latter being persistently present. Dark fruit and caramel seem to come through the most on the aroma. Some whiffs of vanilla & oak as well. Flavors of bourbon soaked raisins, caramel, brown sugar & vanilla. This 2013 release has suffered from some noticeable oxidation unfortunately. Still drinks decently but it's certainly past its peak imo.

 

 

 

What an amazing BA brew from Pdubs. This one is on the sweet side, and thicker than I'd expect from a barleywine. Nonetheless, this is wonderfully balanced, not too much bourbon. An absolute gem of a beer.

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, this BA barelywine really shocked me. It has a lot of flavor and is a smooth drink!

22 oz. bottle, 2016 vintage. Bottle lists 13.00% abv. "Bourbon Barrel Barleywine Style Ale" - though the bottle doesn't detail exactly which Elijah Craig barrels were used here, merely "aged in Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon Barrels". Ridiculously difficult to obtain one of these, however.

Poured into a Unibroue Maudite snifter.

A - Pours a tawny caramel-brown body with port-like reddish hues when held to the light. Conjures a finger of frothy khaki head on the pour that dies down to a nice fluffy ring and a surface skimming. Leaves some nice big sticky lacing behind.

S - Aroma is comprised of mustiness, oak wood, some alcohol fumes, smooth vanilla, cream

T - Taste follows the nose: huge notes of caramelized brown sugars, oak wood, vanilla, toffee, caramel, alcohol warmth, chocolate, marshmallow fluff, coconut, and some some mild notes of dark fruit. Truly beautiful bourbon barrel aged flavor all around. As the beer warms toward room temperature, it only continues to grow in complexity as notes of authentically toasted coconut begin to emerge.

M - Feel is silky smooth & creamy. Very easy drinking stuff for the high 13.00% abv. Sticky, sugary, & sweet, but not "cloying".

Overall, this is very delicate and delicious bourbon barrel aged barleywine. Definitely world-class stuff, to be damn sure. Rivals beers like the Bourbon County Barleywine and Proprietor's in terms to scope, style, flavor, and availability (although this stuff too is ridiculously hard to obtain).

Pipeworks The Murderous -----4.5/5

 

 

Lots of vanilla, toffee, fig, cherry skin, brown sugar and oak. Lower carb, bordering on flat. A little bit of booze. Somewhat dry finish. Medium mouthfeel. Silky. Very good. Up there with the best barleywines.

12oz bottle, 2013 vintage marked Batch #107, poured into a Pipeworks snifter glass.


The beer pours a dark burgundy color, fairly lifeless in the glass, very opaque and murky with a thin collar of bone colored head, little retention and just a spot or two of lace. The aroma is pleasant, a bit oxidized, loads of brown sugar, caramel, toffee, rich grain, light bourbon oak, oxidized sherry and stone fruits with a bit of coconut that lingers. The flavors are nice, rich and sweet brown sugar, coconut, bourbon soaked oak, light charred barrel, stone fruits, a touch of oxidized sherry, vanilla with lingering hearty grain and caramel. The mouthfeel is nice, coating, thick and chewy, full bodied, lower carbonation that finishes warmly and smoothly.

Verdict: A very nice barrel aged barleywine from Pipeworks. Not quite in the elite echelon that their barrel program regularly achieves, but a very well rounded beer that is smooth and easy going.