The Raleigh Wood Series - Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Ale
Raleigh Brewing Company

Bomber at share, 2015 vintage (Bourbon barrel). Copper colored pour with a ring of fine bubbles. Malty aroma, toffee, woody and plenty of bourbon notes. Taste is malty, leathery, tannic, nutty. Feels like a big heavy beer despite the 9% ABV.

 

The 2017 offering aged in scotch barrels for six months. Pours a nice rich dark brown that approaches porter country. Good head volume for a barrel aged beer, retention and lacing are poor. However, on the second pour head volume becomes outstanding. Retention remains poor and lacing improves to outstanding for a 9% barrel aged beer.

Borderline quite outstanding nose that is complex and rich. First off comes a nice dose of scotch and barrel (oak and vanilla). Underneath are classic old ale characteristics: dark fruit (plum and raisin), a bit of caramel, a hint of molasses and bready malt sweetness.

Heavy medium body with a slick texture that implies an oily creaminess but just doesn't quite coat the tongue. Outstanding carbonation / body balance. For barrel aged, the effervescence is lively in the middle and the finish rather prickly.

The flavor profile is outstanding. The drawback that keeps it from scoring higher is intensity and depth. While very tasty, it comes across as a bit shallow when compared to world class old ale presentations. There is no bitterness per se. The driver here is alcohol astringency that the brewers mask in world class fashion.

Sweetness is the substrate that other flavors must overcome. This is where the depth falls short. Barrel influences succeed (vanilla, oak). The dark fruit aspects never make it to center stage. Flavors presented in the nose just don't separate well. For example, molasses never arrives at all unless you look for it.

The finish is a slow sweet fade that leaves you with a bit of astringency, memories of the ghosts of scotch sippings past and a very subtle and mild burn at the back of the throat.

 

 

 

 

Second time I've had this beer. Start off by saying this is a really well crafted brew. If you're into barrel aged beers, but don't want the heaviness of a barrel aged imperial, this one's for you. Poured in large snifter. Light brown head that lingers for a bit. Smells fantastic - light bourbon barrel, toffee, vanilla, caramel. Barrel characteristics very well balanced and overall impressed with this one.

 

 

Pours a cloudy ruby-brown with an off white head. Aromas of vanilla and dark fruit seem to really show through. Taste combines the best characteristics of an English Barleywine and a Belgian Dubbel. Mouthfeel is medium-thick, with just enough viscosity to add to the flavor complexity.

Overall, this is a very well made brew.

 

Nicely complex beer as you get the old ale but also the barrel qualities. Walnut, toffee, caramel, honey, Bit O Honey candies and molasses mix with a light woodsy oak and vanilla. There's a touch of heat in the swallow but it has a nice texture.