Barn Owl Blend No. 25
Bellwoods Brewery
- From:
- Bellwoods Brewery
- Ontario, Canada
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 13.2%
- Score:
- +4 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.84 | pDev: 3.13%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 3
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 10, 2022
- Added:
- Oct 18, 2021
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
NO SCORE
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-
Barn Owl is a series of one-off creations that are released sporadically throughout the year, just as soon as we deem the barrels ripe for the picking.
No. 25 is a Imperial Stout that underwent an extended 2 year secondary fermentation in new American oak foeders. The resulting beer is unique, heavily oaked, and liqueur-like. Bottle conditioned.
No. 25 is a Imperial Stout that underwent an extended 2 year secondary fermentation in new American oak foeders. The resulting beer is unique, heavily oaked, and liqueur-like. Bottle conditioned.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut
3.81/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a very dark brown. Above average dark tan colored head that receded to a thin cap & thick ring. Solid retention. Aroma doesn't jump from the glass but is really nice up close, with molasses, oak barrel and plenty of booze.
On the tongue, the extended time in the foeders is quite apparent, as you're immediately greeted by loads of oak followed by some roast, alcohol and somewhat muted caramel and chocolate. The oak is borderline aggressive, but overall the beer is well balanced. Slick and medium + bodied on the tongue. Good beer. Thanks, @coronaeus!
Dec 10, 2022On the tongue, the extended time in the foeders is quite apparent, as you're immediately greeted by loads of oak followed by some roast, alcohol and somewhat muted caramel and chocolate. The oak is borderline aggressive, but overall the beer is well balanced. Slick and medium + bodied on the tongue. Good beer. Thanks, @coronaeus!
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
3.94/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.94/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
500 mL bottle from Maud's Variety; dated Nov 18 2020 and served barely chilled.
Pours ebony black - virtually opaque, though there are some lovely glints of crimson red when held to a bright light. One finger of creamy, tan-coloured head collapses within ninety seconds or so, soon reduced to a tight collar encircling an islet of film; no lace to speak of. Huge notes of oak on the nose, in addition to hints of molasses, raisin, sherry, caramelized sugars, black fig and vanilla. Roasted malts also come through, contributing hints of cocoa powder and dark chocolate, and that 13.2% also makes its presence known.
Like being socked in the kisser by an oaken fist: the oak is immediately noticeable, lasting through the finish and into the aftertaste. Dark chocolate and cacao at the forefront, with molasses, fig, raisin and date not far behind; it's actually pretty pleasant up until the tail end, at which point my taste buds are brutalized by oak tannin bitterness and boozy, spicy, numbing heat with hints of vanilla. Plenty of oak tannin and ethanol into the aftertaste, which has hints of dark chocolate, black cherry and burnt sugar. Full bodied, with low carbonation; feels smooth and slick, with a tongue-numbing effect. Poor drinkability, so split this bottle with a friend or two.
Final Grade: 3.94, a B+. Is there such a thing as too much oak? Prior to trying Barn Owl No. 25, I would've needed some convincing to agree with that postulate... but now I know, for I have tasted it with my own tongue. I'm sure there are oak-lovin' folk who will absolutely love this beer to death, but for me, the intense wood and unrepentant ethanol burn made for a particularly challenging glass of beer. Don't misinterpret - it's delicious in some ways, but that back end is just too much. This was an expensive beer and I doubt I'd buy it again, but if the idea of an uber-oaked, high abv stout tickles your fancy, I'd suggest you keep your eyes peeled for this one.
Apr 08, 2022Pours ebony black - virtually opaque, though there are some lovely glints of crimson red when held to a bright light. One finger of creamy, tan-coloured head collapses within ninety seconds or so, soon reduced to a tight collar encircling an islet of film; no lace to speak of. Huge notes of oak on the nose, in addition to hints of molasses, raisin, sherry, caramelized sugars, black fig and vanilla. Roasted malts also come through, contributing hints of cocoa powder and dark chocolate, and that 13.2% also makes its presence known.
Like being socked in the kisser by an oaken fist: the oak is immediately noticeable, lasting through the finish and into the aftertaste. Dark chocolate and cacao at the forefront, with molasses, fig, raisin and date not far behind; it's actually pretty pleasant up until the tail end, at which point my taste buds are brutalized by oak tannin bitterness and boozy, spicy, numbing heat with hints of vanilla. Plenty of oak tannin and ethanol into the aftertaste, which has hints of dark chocolate, black cherry and burnt sugar. Full bodied, with low carbonation; feels smooth and slick, with a tongue-numbing effect. Poor drinkability, so split this bottle with a friend or two.
Final Grade: 3.94, a B+. Is there such a thing as too much oak? Prior to trying Barn Owl No. 25, I would've needed some convincing to agree with that postulate... but now I know, for I have tasted it with my own tongue. I'm sure there are oak-lovin' folk who will absolutely love this beer to death, but for me, the intense wood and unrepentant ethanol burn made for a particularly challenging glass of beer. Don't misinterpret - it's delicious in some ways, but that back end is just too much. This was an expensive beer and I doubt I'd buy it again, but if the idea of an uber-oaked, high abv stout tickles your fancy, I'd suggest you keep your eyes peeled for this one.
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)
3.82/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.82/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Bottle: Poured apitch-black color stout with a nice large dark brown foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of roast malt with some chocolate notes and loads of dry oak notes. Taste is also a mix of roasted bitter malt notes with some black chocolate notes and dry bitter oak notes. Body is full with good carbonation with light warming alcohol notes. Enjoyable but too much oak for my liking.
Mar 18, 2022
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