Bourbon Barrel Backburner | Southern Tier Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Southern Tier Brewing Company
New York, United States
southerntierbrewing.com
Style: American Barleywine
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 14.10%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by Sammy on 07-17-2012
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 100 | Reviews: 18
Reviews by Ralphs66:
3.75/5 rDev -2.8%
Ralphs66, Jan 17, 2013
More User Reviews:
4.24/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
8.5 oz pour into a snifter at the Tap and Mallet. From notes last night.
A: Pours a hazy ruby brown with no room for any head. Hardly any visible carbonation. Head leaves some lacing behind.
S: Center stage on the aroma is the barley wine characteristics. Bourbon is certainly present but doesnt overpower the base. Complex aroma, loads of roasted malt and a slight hop backing.
T: Similar to the aroma this stays pleasantly focused on its barley wine roots. Bourbon smacks you in the face once you swallow but the aftertaste comes back around to the malty goodness. Mildly sweet.
M: Full body with low carbonation. Very warming on the belly and a touch hot on the tongue. For the ABV its reasonable.
Overall a very well done beer. You can really tell a good beer went into those bourbon barrels. To anyone into a rich and complex beer, I'd recommend this in a second.
876 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
8.5 oz pour into a snifter at the Tap and Mallet. From notes last night.
A: Pours a hazy ruby brown with no room for any head. Hardly any visible carbonation. Head leaves some lacing behind.
S: Center stage on the aroma is the barley wine characteristics. Bourbon is certainly present but doesnt overpower the base. Complex aroma, loads of roasted malt and a slight hop backing.
T: Similar to the aroma this stays pleasantly focused on its barley wine roots. Bourbon smacks you in the face once you swallow but the aftertaste comes back around to the malty goodness. Mildly sweet.
M: Full body with low carbonation. Very warming on the belly and a touch hot on the tongue. For the ABV its reasonable.
Overall a very well done beer. You can really tell a good beer went into those bourbon barrels. To anyone into a rich and complex beer, I'd recommend this in a second.
876 characters
4/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Different than the oak aged bottles more commonly found. Bourbon aromas significant. Dark with little head though some lace. Smooth above average mouthfeel. Alcohol well hidden by big chocolate and spice. Sweeter side of everything which made it dangerously drinkable.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Different than the oak aged bottles more commonly found. Bourbon aromas significant. Dark with little head though some lace. Smooth above average mouthfeel. Alcohol well hidden by big chocolate and spice. Sweeter side of everything which made it dangerously drinkable.
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4.5/5 rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Barley's Taproom in Asheville. Review from notes. Served in a goblet.
A - dark brownish amber, almost a plum color; soft off white head; decent retention
S - caramelize apples, bread, candy sugar, dark fruits
T - burnt sugar, alcohol, bread, sweet caramel, dark fruit, raisins, plums, figs
M - incredibly warm, borderline boozy, full bodied, moderate carbonation
This is a BIG beer. It has great flavor, solid body, and smooth drinkability. The alcohol content is definitely noticeable and at times can detract from the flavor, but overall it was a great barleywine.
581 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Barley's Taproom in Asheville. Review from notes. Served in a goblet.
A - dark brownish amber, almost a plum color; soft off white head; decent retention
S - caramelize apples, bread, candy sugar, dark fruits
T - burnt sugar, alcohol, bread, sweet caramel, dark fruit, raisins, plums, figs
M - incredibly warm, borderline boozy, full bodied, moderate carbonation
This is a BIG beer. It has great flavor, solid body, and smooth drinkability. The alcohol content is definitely noticeable and at times can detract from the flavor, but overall it was a great barleywine.
581 characters
3.57/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Growler to CBS snifter.
A - Medium toffee-brown colour; very slightly translucent. A small layer of cream coloured bubbles scattered across the top of the beer.
S - Sweet caramel initially, followed by bourbon, oak and lighter vanilla notes. Some brown sugar and toffee aromas present in the background. The barrel qualities definitely dominate the nose.
T - Barrel characteristics up front - bourbon and oak with a touch of vanilla. Caramel, toffee and brown sugar come through in the background from the base beer. The ABV is very well hidden. The barrel dominates the base beer in this one and it is somewhat one dimensional, although still enjoyable.
M - Medium body with watery at times. Light carbonation.
717 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Growler to CBS snifter.
A - Medium toffee-brown colour; very slightly translucent. A small layer of cream coloured bubbles scattered across the top of the beer.
S - Sweet caramel initially, followed by bourbon, oak and lighter vanilla notes. Some brown sugar and toffee aromas present in the background. The barrel qualities definitely dominate the nose.
T - Barrel characteristics up front - bourbon and oak with a touch of vanilla. Caramel, toffee and brown sugar come through in the background from the base beer. The ABV is very well hidden. The barrel dominates the base beer in this one and it is somewhat one dimensional, although still enjoyable.
M - Medium body with watery at times. Light carbonation.
717 characters
3.15/5 rDev -18.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
On tap at Southern Tier Brewing Company in Lakewood, NY.
Pours a deep dark red color, with a little bit of visible carbonation, small half inch head, and not really any lacing.
Smells insanely sweet and boozy, some caramel, booze-soaked dark fruits.
The taste is similar. Just way too boozy, I wish it hid the alcohol better. Wet brown sugar, alcohol, caramel, booze, booze, booze. Some sweet bourbon flavors are hidden.
Thick, full, syrupy body and mouthfeel. No carbonation noticed. Not all that drinkable.
Maybe it's just me, this beer rates pretty high, but I really didn't like it.
591 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
On tap at Southern Tier Brewing Company in Lakewood, NY.
Pours a deep dark red color, with a little bit of visible carbonation, small half inch head, and not really any lacing.
Smells insanely sweet and boozy, some caramel, booze-soaked dark fruits.
The taste is similar. Just way too boozy, I wish it hid the alcohol better. Wet brown sugar, alcohol, caramel, booze, booze, booze. Some sweet bourbon flavors are hidden.
Thick, full, syrupy body and mouthfeel. No carbonation noticed. Not all that drinkable.
Maybe it's just me, this beer rates pretty high, but I really didn't like it.
591 characters
4.09/5 rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I had this on-tap at Max's during Baltimore beer week. Served in a sample glass.
Appearance: The beer pours a dark reddish amber color with a small layer of off white head that goes away completely.
Smell: Sweet with a mild hop bitterness and lots of warming alcohol. I'm getting some brown sugar and dark fruit along with the bourbon note.
Taste: Brown sugar and dark fruit sweetness right off the bat. There is a slight hop bitterness throughout the sip. I'm getting some fairly warm bourbon, good for a cold night. Along with the other sweet flavors I'm getting some caramel and a touch of coconut. Slightly bitter in the finish.
Mouthfeel: The body is a bit on the syrupy side of medium with lots of tingly carbonation and a dry finish.
Overall: This is a nice bourbon barleywine. The high abv was apparent, but I still liked it and it wasn't too harsh. The flavors all mixed together well.
899 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I had this on-tap at Max's during Baltimore beer week. Served in a sample glass.
Appearance: The beer pours a dark reddish amber color with a small layer of off white head that goes away completely.
Smell: Sweet with a mild hop bitterness and lots of warming alcohol. I'm getting some brown sugar and dark fruit along with the bourbon note.
Taste: Brown sugar and dark fruit sweetness right off the bat. There is a slight hop bitterness throughout the sip. I'm getting some fairly warm bourbon, good for a cold night. Along with the other sweet flavors I'm getting some caramel and a touch of coconut. Slightly bitter in the finish.
Mouthfeel: The body is a bit on the syrupy side of medium with lots of tingly carbonation and a dry finish.
Overall: This is a nice bourbon barleywine. The high abv was apparent, but I still liked it and it wasn't too harsh. The flavors all mixed together well.
899 characters
Bourbon Barrel Backburner from Southern Tier Brewing Company
3.86
out of 5
based on 100 ratings.