Whiskey Junction Brand
ZümBier

This reminds me of Imperial Brown Goose. Brown Rye Ale aged in whiskey barrels. Dark mahogany brown, frothy tan foam. Fruity and woody aroma, dried dark fruits, figs and raisin. Lighter side of medium bodied, could use some oats or a little more heft. Whiskey barrel is prominent, I think they said it’s from TN, so a little sweeter up front, with a dry woody finish. Fairly warming but pretty drinkable. Overall, another nice one from Zümbier.

 

This is a nice barrel aged brown ale. Having had several of their offerings this is one of the best. If you can find it grab it & enjoy!!!!!

 

 

Pours a murky cola color with caramel highlights and a healthy cap of khaki froth. Muted aroma smells of plums, toffee, cocoa, and muscato.

Sweet toffee and caramel presents up front, followed by vanilla hints from the whiskey barrel, succeeded by a BIG kick of sharp booze just before the finish. At first blush I thought this was rather mellow, but the back end had a little something to say about that. Warming does nothing but help, revealing butterscotch and dim, earthy hops. The mouthfeel is multifaceted--thin up front but filling out toward the middle as the carbonation kicks in.

Overall, this is an intriguing and flavorful brew in a style I’d never encountered before (the bottle declares it a barrel-aged imperial brown ale). You can definitely taste the barrel, and the malt profile is really quite nice. The mouthfeel could be a bit rounder and more consistent, and the flavors a bit more cohesive, but it’s still a solid offering in spite of these shortcomings. I feel like with a couple tweaks this could really round into something special. I’m surprised not to have heard of these breweries before considering they’re just a stone’s throw away from me.