Bishop's Barrel 21
Saint Arnold Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serving: Bottle
Bottled: Jun-6-2018


A:
Pours a ruby-mahogany with a vague, beige suggestion of head. Practically no retention; no lacing. (3.25)

S:
Bourbon, caramel, dark fruits, walnuts. (4)

T:
Brown sugar and assorted caramel, cinnamon, faint cherry tartness, lingering nutty flabbiness (I'm pretty sure this is how I perceive oxidation), and something I can't quite put my finger on... (dogs perhaps?) ; ). (4)

M:
Full bodied with light carbonation, crazily well-hidden alcohol and a lingering, flavor-packed finish. (4)

O:
An interesting sipper.
It pours a pretty dark ruby-brown and doesn't have much in the way of head or general attractiveness. Especially for a Belgian style. The aroma is immediately very bourbony and I get a little worried. However, as it warms the lightly tart cherries, oak vanillins and malt/bourbon nuttiness all bloom and it ends up a tasty beer. There is a lot going on here. There's a part of me that feels like certain parts clash (I personally don't love bourbon barrel belgians and the cherries might not have been necessary). Nonetheless, all of these things go together and unite to make a fairly cohesive beer. That I enjoyed drinking. (4)

 

Had it on tap in a small snifter.

Rich dark reddish brown color with a great head and lacing. Sweet prune smell and taste. Dark raisins and candied cherry flavors. Warms spices. Nice comforting beer.

 

 

 

$ 7.06 (Including tax and discount)/12 oz bottle ($ 0.588/oz) from Spec’s, DeZavala, San Antonio, TX. Reviewed 9/16/18.
“06/06/18” in light green ink on shoulder. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 60 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 3.75.
Body – Dark brown/black, opaque. When held to the light, a very deep red-amber is observed.
Head – None. A fizzy head of large brownish bubbles appears while the beer is pouring but this is gone within five seconds of the termination of pouring, leaving neither cap nor lacing.
Lacing – None.
First pour – Amber/brown, clear.
Aroma – 4 - "Dark fruit", primarily dates, and sweet.
Flavor – 4.25 - Begins with a not-unpleasant slight oxidation flavor which segues into a trace of vinous. This is followed by a melange of "dark fruit" flavors, none as clear-cut as the dates on the nose. There is next-to-no hop flavor, noted only at the end of a swallow. No alcohol (12.5% ABV), no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide.
Palate – 4.25 - Full, creamy, soft carbonation.
Impression and interpretation – 4 – Despite the absence of a mousse-like head, this is a good take on a Belgian quad. The flavor is good as are the nose and the palate. I should have picked up some more of these.

 

Serving: 12 oz bottle poured into a 9 oz Libbey Embassy snifter.

Appearance: Clear, cola reddish brown with a frothy cap of tan foam and spare lacing.

Smell: Toasted coconut, cocoa powder, dark fruit and bourbon barrels.

Taste: Syrupy dark fruit and liqueur soaked cherries, hints of coconut and charred barrel notes.

Mouthfeel: Medium plus body with soft to medium carbonation.

Overall: Basic Quad with a pleasant punch of tart candied cherries and toasted coconut from its barrel aging.