Stronger Than Fiction
Bottle Logic Brewing
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- Strong Ale - American
Ranked #11 - ABV:
- 14.2%
- Score:
- 94
Ranked #706 - Avg:
- 4.4 | pDev: 8.18%
- Reviews:
- 34
- Ratings:
- From:
- Bottle Logic Brewing
- California, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 32
- Gots
- 41
SCORE
94
Outstanding
94
Outstanding
Notes:
Bourbon Barrel Aged American Strong Ale finished on Coconut and Cold Bot Coffee Coffee Beans
Reviews: 34
| Ratings: 180
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Reviews by emyers:
emyers from Illinois
4.33/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
500 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
AMber-brown with a half inch beige head.
Nose: Coffee, almond, bourbon.
Taste: Coconut and bourbon dominate up front. Coffee is a bit more peripheral but it’s there and adds an interesting depth.
Feel: Medium body, medium carbonation.
Jan 24, 2020
4.33/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
500 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
AMber-brown with a half inch beige head.
Nose: Coffee, almond, bourbon.
Taste: Coconut and bourbon dominate up front. Coffee is a bit more peripheral but it’s there and adds an interesting depth.
Feel: Medium body, medium carbonation.
Jan 24, 2020
More User Reviews:
DanielGleason from California
4.07/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Booozy. The coconut is present but I don't get a ton of coffee out of it. The barrel aging is nice. The carbonation is on the lighter side, very little head is produced on the pour. There is a good amount of caramel on the taste, sweet, slight heat from the booze.
Sep 06, 2016
4.07/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Booozy. The coconut is present but I don't get a ton of coffee out of it. The barrel aging is nice. The carbonation is on the lighter side, very little head is produced on the pour. There is a good amount of caramel on the taste, sweet, slight heat from the booze.
Sep 06, 2016
FriedSlug from North Carolina
4.75/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
This is a great beer. Crystal clear mahogany. Smells like rum, raisin, bourbon, coffee, oak, cherries, and chocolate. The taste is like the scent with the rum and coconut as the stars. This is a fantastic beer.
Dec 08, 2017
4.75/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
This is a great beer. Crystal clear mahogany. Smells like rum, raisin, bourbon, coffee, oak, cherries, and chocolate. The taste is like the scent with the rum and coconut as the stars. This is a fantastic beer.
Dec 08, 2017
WesMantooth from Ohio
4.75/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Poured a thick/viscous dark, muddy brown with a khaki colored head.
Smells phenomenal. Coconut, vanilla, toffee, molasses/carmalized brown sugar, and a little bit of toasted malt
It tastes as amazing as it smells. All of the previously mentioned with a little stronger emphasis on the coconut, but while everything stands out, nothing is overpowering or muddles the rest and the oak lingers.
The body is decadent. A full creamy body that goes down like silk. This is Bourbon County level.
While I never smelled or tasted any of the noted coffee whatsoever, it didn't even need it. One of the best beers I have had in the last year. I would swear Goose Island made this beer. Permanent want.
Oct 24, 2016
4.75/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Poured a thick/viscous dark, muddy brown with a khaki colored head.
Smells phenomenal. Coconut, vanilla, toffee, molasses/carmalized brown sugar, and a little bit of toasted malt
It tastes as amazing as it smells. All of the previously mentioned with a little stronger emphasis on the coconut, but while everything stands out, nothing is overpowering or muddles the rest and the oak lingers.
The body is decadent. A full creamy body that goes down like silk. This is Bourbon County level.
While I never smelled or tasted any of the noted coffee whatsoever, it didn't even need it. One of the best beers I have had in the last year. I would swear Goose Island made this beer. Permanent want.
Oct 24, 2016
mdlb44 from California
4.36/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Provisions on Monday. As someone who is not normally into "Strong Ales" this was a pleasant surprise. Flavors were very well balanced without too much heat. At first sip I thought it could use a bit more coffee, but as I got through it I changed my mind as it very well balanced. Bottle Logic has yet to disappoint me.
Aug 17, 2016
4.36/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Provisions on Monday. As someone who is not normally into "Strong Ales" this was a pleasant surprise. Flavors were very well balanced without too much heat. At first sip I thought it could use a bit more coffee, but as I got through it I changed my mind as it very well balanced. Bottle Logic has yet to disappoint me.
Aug 17, 2016
Beer_Line from California
5/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Pours dark golden brown. Smells of coconuts and coffee. Taste is huge samoa girl scout cookie. Big coconut caramel and slight coffee taste. Mouthfeel is heavy and slick. This is pretty much as good as an old ale can get. The coconut works so well with caramel flavors of the old ale. Perfection.
Sep 12, 2016
5/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Pours dark golden brown. Smells of coconuts and coffee. Taste is huge samoa girl scout cookie. Big coconut caramel and slight coffee taste. Mouthfeel is heavy and slick. This is pretty much as good as an old ale can get. The coconut works so well with caramel flavors of the old ale. Perfection.
Sep 12, 2016
NickThePyro from Washington
5/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
May 13, 2020
5/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
May 13, 2020
kevindp9 from Arizona
4.44/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Feb 16, 2020
4.44/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Feb 16, 2020
Taycro from Massachusetts
4.91/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Sep 08, 2019
4.91/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Sep 08, 2019
Sammy from Canada (ON)
3.9/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sep 04, 2018
3.9/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sep 04, 2018
jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
4.46/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A - Dark burgundy raisin colored pour with thick, dense lacing.
S - Vanilla, oak, delicate roasted toffee, and light bourbon.
T - Follows the nose: vanilla, oak, roasted toffee, bourbon,some butterscotch, and everything blended in a delicate manner where not one flavor overpowers the other. The back end is oaky with some bourbon effervescence.
M - Full bodied velvet and slippery.
O - This beer is one of those epiphany moments. A delicate blend across the board, no overpowering flavors, and the 14.2 is expertly masked. Recommended.
Sep 22, 2016
4.46/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A - Dark burgundy raisin colored pour with thick, dense lacing.
S - Vanilla, oak, delicate roasted toffee, and light bourbon.
T - Follows the nose: vanilla, oak, roasted toffee, bourbon,some butterscotch, and everything blended in a delicate manner where not one flavor overpowers the other. The back end is oaky with some bourbon effervescence.
M - Full bodied velvet and slippery.
O - This beer is one of those epiphany moments. A delicate blend across the board, no overpowering flavors, and the 14.2 is expertly masked. Recommended.
Sep 22, 2016
johnInLA from California
4.19/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2017 500ml bottle poured into a snifter.
Medium Brown with a small off white head which mostly diminishes, quickly.
Nose is all coffee.
Taste is more complex, coffee, caramel, malty sweetness, a touch of coconut and vanilla. Finish is coconut and caramel.
Medium body with a syrupy feel
Overall: It improves as it warms with the coffee mellowing and the coconut becoming more pronounced. The coffee in the nose is a bit strong for me. I enjoyed the flavor more, especially when the coconut started to come through as it warmed.
Overall, this is a very good beer,
Aug 24, 2017
4.19/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2017 500ml bottle poured into a snifter.
Medium Brown with a small off white head which mostly diminishes, quickly.
Nose is all coffee.
Taste is more complex, coffee, caramel, malty sweetness, a touch of coconut and vanilla. Finish is coconut and caramel.
Medium body with a syrupy feel
Overall: It improves as it warms with the coffee mellowing and the coconut becoming more pronounced. The coffee in the nose is a bit strong for me. I enjoyed the flavor more, especially when the coconut started to come through as it warmed.
Overall, this is a very good beer,
Aug 24, 2017
bcrossan from North Carolina
4.25/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jun 10, 2017
4.25/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jun 10, 2017
deereless from Colorado
4.53/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Oct 07, 2016
4.53/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Oct 07, 2016
mltobin from Connecticut
4.03/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Nov 26, 2017
4.03/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Nov 26, 2017
mothman from Minnesota
4.24/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Off white head. Dark golden bronze color.
For a strong ale this was nice. Lots of coffee and coconut flavors. Bourbon and oak show a lot. Some hints of vanilla.
Medium to full bodied.
Full beer to try! Wasn't up to the other BL ba beers, but still great.
Feb 24, 2017
4.24/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Off white head. Dark golden bronze color.
For a strong ale this was nice. Lots of coffee and coconut flavors. Bourbon and oak show a lot. Some hints of vanilla.
Medium to full bodied.
Full beer to try! Wasn't up to the other BL ba beers, but still great.
Feb 24, 2017
PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts
4.49/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Sep 22, 2016
4.49/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Sep 22, 2016
pkalix from California
4.51/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
dark golden brown, as he said.... can thick, can almost see through it. sweet and syrup-y. beautiful aroma of chewy coconut and chocolate with a little bit of coffee. very nice!
Sep 17, 2016
4.51/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
dark golden brown, as he said.... can thick, can almost see through it. sweet and syrup-y. beautiful aroma of chewy coconut and chocolate with a little bit of coffee. very nice!
Sep 17, 2016
GreenMind from Pennsylvania
4.31/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Dec 24, 2017
4.31/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Dec 24, 2017
billab914 from Virginia
4.43/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Apr 22, 2017
4.43/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Apr 22, 2017
Jeffo from Netherlands
4.09/5 rDev -7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Got this one from vanlingleipa in a recent swap. Cheers!
From a 500ml bottle into a snifter
2016 Release
Coldbot Coffee
Strong Ale aged in bourbon barrels with coconut and coffee
APPEARANCE: Pours a one finger, looser, foamy, fizzy off-white head with lousy retention. Head quickly crackles down to a faint wisp and ring. Clear maroon or burnt umber in color with medium levels of carbonation. Ring remain with no lacing left on the glass.
SMELL: Lovely nose of bourbon, oak, vanilla and definite coconut with faint hints of coffee in there as well. Hints of toffee, butterscotch and alcohol.
TASTE: Coconut and bourbon barrel up front with some decent alcohol and barrel notes at the swallow. Toffee, butterscotch come into play with a long and lingering finish of coconut, some creamy coffee, butterscotch, bourbon and oak character, vanilla, milk chocolate and a firm bed of alcohol. Pretty flavorful and enough going on. Good stuff.
PALATE: Medium body and carbonation. A little prickly on the palate, goes down okay with a decent burn and finishes mouth-coating. A good dose of heat lingers.
OVERALL: This is really good. I must admit that the coffee and milk chocolate character seem out of place given the color, but no matter. Very well done barrel aging and the adjuncts meld with the base very nicely. A bit too much heat perhaps, as I usually ask myself if these types of beers need to be 14%, but that’s a minor question mark. As it is, this is another quality Bottle Logic release and I’d love to see what else these guys can brew up. Thanks again vanlingleipa. Recommended!
Dec 10, 2016
4.09/5 rDev -7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Got this one from vanlingleipa in a recent swap. Cheers!
From a 500ml bottle into a snifter
2016 Release
Coldbot Coffee
Strong Ale aged in bourbon barrels with coconut and coffee
APPEARANCE: Pours a one finger, looser, foamy, fizzy off-white head with lousy retention. Head quickly crackles down to a faint wisp and ring. Clear maroon or burnt umber in color with medium levels of carbonation. Ring remain with no lacing left on the glass.
SMELL: Lovely nose of bourbon, oak, vanilla and definite coconut with faint hints of coffee in there as well. Hints of toffee, butterscotch and alcohol.
TASTE: Coconut and bourbon barrel up front with some decent alcohol and barrel notes at the swallow. Toffee, butterscotch come into play with a long and lingering finish of coconut, some creamy coffee, butterscotch, bourbon and oak character, vanilla, milk chocolate and a firm bed of alcohol. Pretty flavorful and enough going on. Good stuff.
PALATE: Medium body and carbonation. A little prickly on the palate, goes down okay with a decent burn and finishes mouth-coating. A good dose of heat lingers.
OVERALL: This is really good. I must admit that the coffee and milk chocolate character seem out of place given the color, but no matter. Very well done barrel aging and the adjuncts meld with the base very nicely. A bit too much heat perhaps, as I usually ask myself if these types of beers need to be 14%, but that’s a minor question mark. As it is, this is another quality Bottle Logic release and I’d love to see what else these guys can brew up. Thanks again vanlingleipa. Recommended!
Dec 10, 2016
jaydoc from Kansas
4.18/5 rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Sep 13, 2016
4.18/5 rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Sep 13, 2016
Alieniloquium from Florida
3.95/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
500 mL bottle. Pours amber with no head. Smells of coconut, vanilla, and bourbon. Smells like a coconut cream soda and alcohol. Very sugary. Tastes immensely sweet and boozy, too. Coconut is most prominent. Bourbon and oak. Has a little bit of that cream soda taste here, too, but stronger bourbon and oak. I never really got the coffee. Heavy with medium low carbonation. Sweet without being Bruery or Angry Chair sweet, which I just decided were my two new standards of ridiculous sweetness. Not a style I normally enjoy, but this is very tasty.
Sep 27, 2016
3.95/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
500 mL bottle. Pours amber with no head. Smells of coconut, vanilla, and bourbon. Smells like a coconut cream soda and alcohol. Very sugary. Tastes immensely sweet and boozy, too. Coconut is most prominent. Bourbon and oak. Has a little bit of that cream soda taste here, too, but stronger bourbon and oak. I never really got the coffee. Heavy with medium low carbonation. Sweet without being Bruery or Angry Chair sweet, which I just decided were my two new standards of ridiculous sweetness. Not a style I normally enjoy, but this is very tasty.
Sep 27, 2016
MickeyHops from California
4.47/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Oct 19, 2017
4.47/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Oct 19, 2017
Gotti311 from Wisconsin
4/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Oct 14, 2016
4/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Oct 14, 2016
Stronger Than Fiction from Bottle Logic Brewing
Beer rating:
94 out of
100 with
180 ratings
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