Rat Bat Spider
Rushing Duck Brewing Company

 

Reviewed one week after bottle release. Poured into a tulip glass. It pours an orange-ruby-brown color with a small, ecru-colored cap that dissipated quickly. The nose is robust with lots of brown sugar, red wine, raisin, fig, and bready malt, along with whiffs of tobacco and bourbon. The first taste is sherry, along with plum and raisin. It's not as sweet as the smell would indicate and the bourbon presence is much stronger. In fact, it was initially quite boozy at the finish although the barrel notes mellowed as it breathed in the glass. This is a complex ale and the various flavors blend very nicely. It grew on me with every sip. The mouth feel is fairly creamy with moderate carbonation, and I would have guessed that the ABV was higher than 11%. It will be interesting to see how it ages. Overall, Rat Bat Spider is a (typically) thoughtful and well-conceived ale from Rushing Duck. Sip this one slowly; you'll be rewarded as it opens up.