Lumberstruck (2025)
Revolution Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

Getting out of the haze, the pastry, the smoothie and the milkshake influences over beer, Revolution commands a different path made of premiere malt sweetness, roasted grain and Brazilian oak. You've not only been hit by a black barleywine, you've been lumberstruck!

Very dark and tawny black, Lumberstruck reels in the senses with immense sweet scents of maple, caramel, toffee and molasses with a spicy twinge of wood and alcohol. All that sweetness floods the tastebuds with rich, decadent malt sweetness coating the tongue like brown sugar and molasses. Hints of roast add an espresso balance with a broad and woodsy hop bite to take the slimmest edge off of the malt sweetness. Alcohol spice adds its own bite to help with balance as the session finishes with the effects of port wine and sherry.

Full bodied, plump with malt and unfortunately cloying, the session shows tremendous promise if either balanced better or to introduce more savory succulence that doesn't leave the simplicity of malt sugars to hang out all on their own.

12 ounce can into a tulip snifter. Canned 1/10/25, had 2/19/25.

Pours a semi opaque cola color, with a one inch foamy head and some foamy lacing. Aromas of cinnamon, caramel, malt, some coconut- more as it warms, some nutmeg, light bourbon and oak. The flavor begins with the bourbon barrels, then cinnamon, caramel, nutmeg, malt coconut, oak. Smooth, a solid medium body, well carbonated.

This is Amburana bliss. Has a solid barleywine base to go along with a decent bourbon barrel presence, but the Amburana barrels are clearly the star here. The cinnamon, nutmeg and coconut notes are clear and distinct, especially in the flavor. A big effort from Revolution, which is saying something.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grabbed a can from Tavour. Poured at 50 degrees into my Uber Tavern snifter. Poured a deeply dark cherry hued body with fleeing light tan head. I surprise a 13%+.
Nose was richly aromatic with elements of amburana, sweet figs and dates, cinnamon. Huge wonderfully rich and complex taste mirrored nose but further strains of tobacco, caramel, vanilla and coconut. Coconut somewhat dominant at end of glass.
Have never tasted anything like this.
Body combines a velvety smooth base brightened with bubbly carbonation. But if both worlds, and it works.
Overall, while not a beer I’d drink often. The important thing is this was a surprising joyous explosion of highly diverse and provocative flavors that made this special. Repeated it would lose that “first kiss” charm. Regardless, this is a delicious extraordinary beer, and the best beer I’ve had from a brewery I am regularly impressed by. Huge kudos Revolution.

Deep, brown color with a one-finger thick, beige head. Caramelt malt, figs, molasses, oak, vanilla, and spices in the aroma. Rich, malty taste with a long, warming finish. So good.

4/12/25 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Received from Revolution Brewery as part of the Deep Woods Season ticket package on January 30, 2025, refrigerated where it remained until opening this morning. 12 oz, canned 1/10/25 @ 8:05:59 AM, 13.0% ABV. Black Barleywine Ale aged in bourbon and amburana barrels. A percussive strike of Brazilian Oak. Revolution Beer LLC, 3340 N. Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL.

Appearance: Poured full can into a Deep Woods handheld snifter, yielding a near black base and tan bubbly somewhat creamy fine cover for a few minutes before retreating to form a creamy ring around the rim and slight cover over the base. 4.5

Aroma: Let this sit for 15 minutes to warm to proper temperature, a medium plus strength black berry and unexpected cinnamon blends that smells delicious, with bourbon barrels emerging as this warms further. 4.5

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, but the bourbon and red cherry wine I imagine is from the amburana barrels all come together in a very sweet but still within enjoyment level flavor medley. Sweet fruit, strong somewhat harsh but some smoothness from the bourbon barrels. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Medium thinner than usual Deep Wood body, drinks lighter than expected for the 13% ABV. Sustained slightly prickly carbonation almost pop like. Sweet, nears cloying but doesn’t reach that stage to my sweet averse taste preference. Amburana over bourbon, sweet malt, fruit and wine from Go! through the finish. 4.25

Overall: This is my favorite among the cycle of Amburana barrels used in their wide releases plus variants this season. I like all berries, and the black berries come through well, a highlight for me. This is a fruit release which works for me, and IIRC the second Lumberstruck I’ve enjoyed for the uniqueness and concept. Well done as expected Marty and Revolution Team! 4.25

 

Chocolate and caramel malty, vanilla coconut, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal, and oak and bourbon barrel nose on this one! Taste follows exactly with a vanilla-coconut and cinnamon, bourbon barrel finish. Although I am not the biggest fan, this is really well done and well-integrated with the Amburana barrels. Good stuff!

 

Pours light black with reddish hues. Aroma is deliciously sweet -- oak, dark fruits and hints of caramel. Tastes follows nose. Lots of dark fruits, oak/wood, caramel and toffee. Beautifully balanced. Mouthfeel is medium to full. Incredible barleywine.