Growl - Barrel-Aged
Off Color Brewing

 

 

Growl-BA has not heard the last of me as I just bought a 4-pack from the source; re-released in 250 ml bottles. (The source being Off Color's taproom, The Mousetrap, and barrel-rooms; nuzzled in an old warehouse in a rapidly gentrifying former industrial area along the north branch of the Chicago River... where Goose Island started, to note coincidence.) To also note coincidence, I first had Growl 51 months ago as America's discontent had, unbelievably, made into a President one of the worst Americans of this Century. So, Growl was welcome then to drown my sorrows. And after we had rid our nation of that human (and hopefully his actions have ruined him), Growl BA appears to me as a signal from the brewing gods that all may once again be righteous with the world... or at least, better.

As you can tell, I am inspired by Growl BA. But its Looks are not as good as the rest of it as the typical quad has more foam. But what the Barrel takes away, it also imparts in the Smell; and this BA is luscious and full of fruit and booze. Most unique is the rye whiskey, spicier yet it is mellowed by the vanilla. Tastes are also champs; and I'm liking the Midwest twist of Indiana rye. In my mouth, this can sit for a while; but doesn't for lack of discipline. As for the next bottle, I cannot wait.

3/16/21 Surprisingly, I am less enthusiastic. I was expecting this 10% BA to improve and, instead, it seems to be less integrated and less smooth on the tongue. But I've kept two other bottles for next winter and maybe me or the quad will have mellowed. At any rate, I'm keeping count over at UnTappd.

From the 750ml bottle in a snifter. This beast pours a deep dark brown with
cola highlights and dissipating head of off white foam that settles to a thick
ring with subtle lacing. Nose of spicy rye, dark fruit, dark candy sugars, and
warming boozy bourbon. Flavors----YUM. Rye whiskey and vanilla all around
with musty oak and dark fruit notes of plum and white raisin with faint apricot
and nice brown sugar notes. Spicy rye shines through on the finish with some
light tartness. Nice mouth feel; medium body, smooth, warming as heck, low
carbonation, and a boozy warm finish.

Overall, a beast of a brew from a solid little brewery.
Well done!

Cheers

This looks like slightly cloudy brandy with a lightly bubbly tan, uneven blanket.

BA Growl's aroma is faint, but its taste exhibits a wide variety of sweet, sticky dark fruit and splintery charred bourbon barrel with a little peppery heat via a smooth, slick body with a sticky and chalk dry finish.

Bottled on 20 May 17.Pours into a chalice a deep walnut brown with a thin quick to fade lighter beige head atop. Whiskey soaked fruit cake aromas with a slight nuttiness underneath,there is a hint of treacle that's noticed as well.A smooth feel with no obtrusive sharpness,a medium feel,not a big chewy feel.The rye whiskey comes thru nicely on the palate giving a nice spicy flavor intertwined with cake-like fruitiness and clove-like spice from the yeast,there is a slight sourness but it's just a light note in the finish.Well rounded palate and a smooth feel make this a winner for me,well done.

 

 

 

2017

Dark for a Quad, barrel-aged or not. Not much life in the beer. Then I get hit with rye whisky aroma that somehow fades in the glass and more or less disappears. Flavor is nice with a combination of caramel, rye, oak, licorice, and vinous esters. Almost flat and lifeless. Not impressed with the overall execution.

 

MORE BA QUADS PLEASE! I wouldn’t swear to it, but I recall Weyerbacher Blasphemy turning me seriously up on this style close to a decade ago. Too few of these floating about. 750ML bottle split with my wife.

The pour is dark, leathery brown, with little evident life. Not much of a nose on it. Touch of grain, rye bread, little sweetness. Unimpressive.

Growl – Barrel Aged is dull. Dulllll. Muddled malts with dollops of sweetness, light candied sugar, bit of rye bread, with oak being the one thing that’s rather pleasant. Easy to drink, I suppose.

Nothing to see here. Just beer.

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown with little light transmission in the glass and fine two finger khaki head with great retention and thick lacing. Aroma of candi malt, bourbon, plums, raisins and faint oaky vanilla. Flavor follows the aroma profile, with sweet malt, plums, raisins, dates, lots of bourbon, oak and vanilla. Flavor thins out in the finish to oaky bourbon, somewhat dry. Medium bodied, a little less full mouth feel than expected from a quad. I've never had the base Growl, but the foundation of this is definitely a big Belgian, with classic dark fruit dominating the flavor and a hefty bourbon whiskey overlay from the barrelling. The flavor tapers off a bit into the finish, leaving the oak and bourbon somewhat bare in the aftertaste. A little bit boozy, but rich enough Belgian malt to support the big ABV. A nice, big Belgian that was great to sip on this winter evening.

 

 

enjoyed November 2017

 

 

A: The beer is hazy brown in color. It poured with a quarter finger high white head that left medium-sized bubbles in a collar around the edge of the glass and some lacing on the surface.
S: Light to moderate aromas of raisins, whisky, caramel, and vanilla are present in the nose. The smell strengthens as the beer warms up, during which the vanilla also becomes more prominent.
T: The taste has flavors of dark fruits—raisins and prunes seem to stand out in particular—along with notes of spicy rye whisky and oak and hints of caramel, candi sugars, and vanilla.
M: It feels a bit more than medium-bodied on the palate and has a low amount of carbonation with a touch of warming from the alcohol.
O: This is a pleasant quadrupel to sip and doesn't taste overly boozy. It's too bad that it couldn't have been a little fuller on the mouthfeel and have a bit more carbonation.

Serving type: bottle