Barrel Aged Irresponsible
BuckleDown Brewing

12oz can, no freshness date, but I think it’s from 2017
thanks to Josh for giving me a can to try!
no apparent freshness date
L: ruddy brown body with a foamy khaki head
S: spicy rye, bread crust, oaked whiskey
T: big rye and rye whiskey flavors; a true rye wine; spicy & earthy rye malt, boozy rye whiskey, oak, caramel, toffee, rye bread crust, earthy hops with a touch of pine
F: full body, ample carbonation, sweeter boozy finish with modest bitterness
O: great barrel aged rye wine. I’d love to see this one brewed again!

Much better than the rating. Pours brown, not dark, not tan, kind of a bronzish/reddish brown. Minimal head or lacing. Smell is oaky barrel, smokey and maple notes. Taste is boozy, smokey, rye notes with some maltiness and hopiness underneath. Feel is boozy and tart smokiness but some smoothness. Reminds me of a barreled Barleywine. Just really tasty and complex and fun to drink. Real winner, one of my favorite new ones of 18.

 

 

 

12oz can with date missing, but a recent release, nonetheless.
Poured into a pint glass shows a murky reddish-brown body with active rising bubbles and floats a 1in cream colored head of foam that maintains a persistent 1/16in cap leaving erratic islands of lacing.

Aroma is an enticing rye and whiskey melange with toffee and biscuit malts and stone fruits.

Flavors begin and end with whiskey booze enveloping the rye and malts and hints of barrel oak, caramel, vanilla, fig, and wine.

Mouthfeel leans fuller with active carbonation and booze warmth and a clean finish.

Overall an eye opener, a pleasing sipper.

22 ounce bottle into a snifter. Had 1/26/18.

Pours a semi opaque dark amber, with a one inch quickly dissipating head and some loose, soapy cling. Aromas of rye, whiskey, figs, malt, dates, oak, grapes, light wine. Smells great. The taste is a little more whiskey forward, rye, malt, dates, some figs, grapes, raisins, some oak, light cherries. Smooth, a good medium to full body, well carbonated.

It’s whiskey forward overall, but is well balanced with the malt. Terrific aroma, very enjoyable. Hope they add this to their list of annual BA’s.

 

Had on tap. Murky shades of amber and brown with a picture perfect tan head. Smell and taste both capture the depth and beauty of this rye wine: smoked wood, resinous toffee, warm bourbon, rustic rye and grains, huge dark fruit about halfway, biscuit malts, and what I swear is roasted barley. Like the smell and taste, the feel is deep, complex, resinous, boozy, yet wholistic and balanced. Great showcasing of what rye can do with some many partner elements!