Wee Heavy - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
Zaftig Brewing Co.

 

 

Description: Deep brown, almost ruby, color with no head. Clear and looks smooth, sort of like a glass of wine. Strong notes of oak and bourbon on the nose and it's sweet, without any trace of hoppy bitterness. Alcohol is apparent. Taste follows the smell with lots of oak and bourbon, complemented by dark fruits and earth/grass tones. The booze is evident and there's a roasty finish. Feel is a little on the light and carbonated side, but not terribly so and it doesn't detract from the beer.

Overall: 4.5 (This beer is very good and I would definitely drink it again) A rich flavorful beer that delivers what it promises. The bourbon and oak dominate this one and it could use some more roasted notes. That and a little heavier feel would really work well, but even as it is this is a pretty delicious beer.

Underrated for sure. This beer is dark, like a weighty double brown but with more caramel vibes fitting of a Scotch Ale. However this is rich and cocoa-y to the point of stout-dom. Enjoy. And trade me one if you get plenty!

 

 

Bottled in 2018

Pours an ultra-deep mahogany with a barely-there light tan khaki head that recedes almost as immediately as it forms; virtually no lacing left behind, but there is a consistent collar of frothy foam hanging on until the end.

Aromas of expressive, creamy vanilla with a tinge of caramel and plenty of incredibly well-balanced bourbon upfront, with some oaky barrel tones, candied plums, and molasses rounding things out.

Taste brings bourbon-doused vanilla, oaky barrel tones, candied plums, and fig into the mix, alongside a smooth hoppy note in balance with the dominant malt profile; chocolatey in parts, but great subtle nuttiness integrated into the barrel tones that hold on through the finish.

Mouthfeel shows an excellent thickness on a smooth, creamy body along with lower carbonation; silky smooth but robust across the palate, with a bit of malty/hoppy grit giving an extra boost of character to the finish.

Smooth, almost creamy, and the bourbon integration is spectacular here; great balance of sweetness against boozy and malty notes. Tons of subtle flavor makes sure the profile doesn’t overstay its welcome. A great barrel-aged sample of the style as a whole.

 

Pours a dark brown and looks like black glass in a tulip, with a thin pinkie-finger of tan foam that slips into a flimsy collar... Leaves brief lace motes down the glass after each sip... Aged for 12 months in a single cask of 12-year-old Four Roses bourbon barrels, this produced a delicious dose of sweet bourbon and molasses on the nose... Taste brought suggestions of ripe, dark fruits and chewy black molasses bread, with suggestions of vanilla and booze... Medium-bodied, smooth, with a touch of cleaning tannins and sharp earthy spices... A real killer drink - easily beats out my previous favorite, Wulver... Don't pass on it...

Absolutely no head and extremely thin, at best. Definitely not worth the $10.99 per 12 ounch bottle.

 

 

 

Had on tap. Finding four roses does well for barrel aged barleywine and robust stouts. Here is another shining example. The barrel really feels like part of the soul of the beer, with the barley, molasses, dark fruits, and toffee really melding into the strong bourbon, wood, and a sneak shot of sawdusted yeast.