Father Beast
Tired Hands Brewing Company

Reviewing this for National Repeal Prohibition Day. This is a holiday I will get on board with for sure. FatherBeast was one of the earlier bottle releases from Tired Hands, along with W13 (Westy13). From the label: "FatherBeast is our Barleywine conditioned on vanilla beans in local rye whiskey barrels. Aged for six months at the brewery before being released. All Hail FatherBeast" Served in the FatherBeast snifter, and slightly chilled.

Poured from the 375ml bottle, FatherBeast is a brilliantly clear, dark ruby glass body with beautiful bright red highlights throughout. The tan-colored head is about a finger thick, and takes some time to diminish. It leaves a thin lacing behind, wispy and light. For a high alcohol beer, this is better than expected.

The aroma is remarkably strong, leaning heavily on aromas derived from the whiskey barrels. Big whiffs of vanilla, cranberry, butter toffee, cherry, oak, spice, and a vague hint of the underlying alcohol.

The flavor mimics the aroma, with notes of vanilla and oak, but there is a berry-like tartness here that pulls back on the sweetness of the beer, and while it isn't because of any infection, it still puts me off of this flavor. It's not as full bodied and sweet as one would expect after the aroma.

I've had this beer in a blind tasting of barrel-aged barleywines, and this ranked very low. I don't remember if it was THE lowest, but it definitely stood out in the bottom. It was disappointing to say the least. But having it tonight, Not in comparison with world-class barleywines, it is not a "bad" beer. There is just something off about this, and I think it's that subtle tartness that is unexpected and kind of undesired in a sweet style like a BA Barleywine with vanilla beans.

 

 

Year old plus? Thanks to rudzud.

No real fizzy head, semi clear hazy mahogany brown color, decent legs.

Nose is great, tons of great whiskey, rye whiskey, some toasty oak barrel with faint vanilla, big sweet candy, toffee, caramel, candy chewy, dark fruits, date and candied raisin, brown sugar, sugardaddy candy, juicy malt, toasty brown malt. No booze.

Taste brings more of the same, big fruity, raisin and date, little prune too, tangy dark fruit juice. Into lots of sweet characters, caramel and toffee all over, brown sugar, candied dates, little bitterness, etc. Mild whiskey, little vanilla oak barrel, mild rye whiskey, etc. Vanilla nougat and candy bar mild chocolate, all back end. Lingering sweet sticky caramel candy, prune and date candied juice, mild bitterness, hint of booze.

Mouth is thin, bit watery, light carb too, little syrupy, very light booze.

Overall started very good, such a great barrel aged barleywine on the nose but taste lacked a lot of the goodies, and mouth was very flat, but booze was hidden well. Pretty good though.

Shared with JLindros.

A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a dark, clear walnut hue with a thin wispy head that leaves nice legs.

S - Aromas of rye whiskey, vanilla, caramel, soft barrel, brown sugar, raisins. No alcohol at all.

T - Taste is similar, the whiskey is super subtle, light barrel notes, nice malts, good brown sugar, vanilla is almost non-existent. The booze is super hidden, still, the flavor profile is a bit thin.

M - Mouthfeel is very thin and watery, though the alcohol is hidden well.

O - Overall this beer was super aromatic and tasty, the mouthfeel was awful though.

Serving type: bottle

 

 

 

 

I appreciate Rifugium hooking me up with a bottle of this as well as the matching proper glass. Poured from the wax dipped 375ml into said father beast snifter. The brew appears a clear mahogany color with a rich tan cap that fades quick. Upon closer inspection, some balls of yeast particulate find their way into the glass.

The smell is a blend of something woody and fruity then transitions to a maltiness like molasses. Hints of raison and raw oak fill out the rest of the holes in the aroma.

The taste is solvent and boozy with raison, vanilla, caramel and herbal hops. Overall it blends well with all the flavors expected/indicative of a barrel aged barleywine.

This is a medium bodied brew thats moderately carbonated. Its a boozy sipper and overall enjoyable. I appreciate the chance to crack into a bottle - its not bad but its also not something id venture out of my way to secure more of.