23rd Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Ale
Karl Strauss Brewing Company

23rd Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Ale23rd Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Ale
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From:
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Old Ale
ABV:
12.3%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.07 | pDev: 9.83%
Reviews:
38
Ratings:
92
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 28, 2019
Added:
Feb 03, 2012
Wants:
  47
Gots:
  27
When we started brewing back in 1989, the closest thing in town to an English-style Old Ale came in a paper bag. Twenty-three years later, we like to think we had something to do with improving the local beer selection in San Diego. Our 23rd Anniversary Old Ale is indeed “old ale,” after spending a full year in American oak bourbon barrels. The result is an unblended and unmistakably complex strong ale with rich layers of toffee, molasses, dried figs, warming bourbon, and toasted oak. Save a bottle. Like us, this one gets better with age.
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Ratings by DCon:
Photo of DCon
Reviewed by DCon from Missouri

4.59/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Shared a 1 PINT 6 FL.OUNCE. Bottle of this w/ Keir @ the Royale in St. Louis, MO. Poured from the "Fake" Barrel Brand Labeled bottle w/ Black Foil over the cap into a 12oz Shaker Glass. Has no freshness/bottle date to be found.

Aroma- A strong single malt aroma starts this one off. This includes bourbon, oak, and malt. Very beautiful!

Appearance- Poured very aggressively and still no head. What gives? Has a copper colored body with great clarity. Leaves a few suds behind.
Mar 19, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of BucannonXC5
Reviewed by BucannonXC5 from California

4.34/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Type: 22-oz. bottle
Glass: Tioga-Sequoia 13-oz. tulip
From: La Mesa Wine & Spirits in La Mesa, Calif.
Price: $19.99
Purchased: March 8, 2019
Consumed: March 8, 2019
Reviewed as: Old Ale
Misc.: No bottled on date, but released in February 2012; Black foil on neck

Basically picked this up after walking into La Mesa Wine & Spirits and asking if they had anything barrel aged. Was told that they had this (and a few Saint Archer (#CraftAdjace) and I instantly picked it up when I saw that it was the 23rd anniversary (2012) and an ale aged in oak bourbon barrels. Disappointing it was warm on the shelves when I picked it up, but I wanted to try it. Untappd description read, “When we started brewing back in 1989, the closest thing in town to an English-style Old Ale came in a paper bag. Twenty-three years later, we like to think we had something to do with improving the local beer selection in San Diego. Our 23rd Anniversary Old Ale is indeed “old ale,” after spending a full year in American oak bourbon barrels. The result is an unblended and unmistakably complex strong ale with rich layers of toffee, molasses, dried figs, warming bourbon, and toasted oak. Save a bottle. Like us, this one gets better with age.” Well let’s see if seven years was too long to age. It’s been awhile since I had an old ale.

Poured a copper semi-clear color with 1-to-2 fingers of khaki fizzy head, which dissipated quickly. Some fast moving bubbles creeping up along the sides of the glass. Bad watery lacing. Poor retention. (Sight - 2.75)

Smelled plum, tobacco, toasted oak, bourbon, vanilla, caramel, toffee, purple grape, dark fruit and brown sugar. (Smell - 4.25)

Tasted even better than the smell. Got leathery tobacco, plum, toasted oak, caramel, toffee, smooth bourbon, brown sugar, dark fruit, vanilla and lightly toasted coconut. Not tasting that 12.2 pct. (Taste - 4.50)

Medium body. Oily texture. Average carbonation. Long, smooth, oaky finish. (Feel - 4.50)

Wow. For seven years later, this was fabulous. World-class old ale for sure. (Overall - 4.50)

4.36 | 96 | A
Mar 28, 2019
 
Rated: 4.4 by DavidHume from Virginia

Dec 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.09 by wethorseblanket from California

Aug 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.68 by greg4579 from Pennsylvania

Mar 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by zestar from California

Nov 02, 2014
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

3.94/5  rDev -3.2%
2012 vintage bottle from Shane. Thanks! Served in a snifter.

A - Off-white foam settles to pretty much nothing. Attractive transparent amber body. Could have stood for a bit more head, but not terribly offensive for the style and ABV.

S - Lots of bourbon and oak, bread and toffee malts. Even though the barrel presence is heavy, the beer is surprisingly mellow. Fairly restrained sweetness for the style; a bit more burnt than cloying. Perhaps a touch of marmalade.

T - Taste is a bit more simplistic. Heavy emphasis on oak, with light whiskey and a fairly neutral bready malt backbone. Perhaps a bit simplistic; really needs a bit more sweetness to balance the barrel notes.

M - A bit thin for the ABV, but still decidedly medium. Tannic, dry, with a hint of lingering stickiness. Not much alcohol presence at all. Lower carbonation.

D - About what I expected; a solid barrel-aged old ale that has a few shortcomings. Still, it's easy to drink and one of the stronger offerings I've had from this brewery.
Aug 26, 2014
Photo of Alieniloquium
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida

3.79/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
650 mL bottle poured into a snifter. Reviewed from notes.

Appearance - Deep amber. Not much of a head. A few chunks around the edges.

Smell - Simple nose. Bourbon, oak, vanilla, and caramel.

Taste - Again, it's simple, but nice. Bourbon, vanilla, toffee and brown sugar. Dries out quickly with an oaky finish.

Mouthfeel - Astringent and boozy. Oaky in the finish. Medium body.

Overall - It certainly isn't a complex beer. Lots of barrel and some caramel malts to back it up.
Jun 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by madtowndmb1 from Wisconsin

Jan 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by BarrytheBear from Wisconsin

Jan 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by mendvicdog from Maryland

Dec 17, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by AirborneBeer from Maryland

Nov 24, 2013
Photo of beagle75
Reviewed by beagle75 from Iowa

3.89/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bomber into a half-pint chalice.

A: Slightly hazy, medium amber color with a fine peripheral ring of off-white bubbles. Scant lacing remains on the glass.

S: Rich treacle laced with candied orange peel and heady spirituous vanilla.

T: Begins off-dry, with caramel and mild dark cherry fruit. Bourbon is featured in the middle, only slightly oak-influenced, but so is an assertive breadiness that seems entirely driven by English malt rather than yeast. The finish is booze-soaked, showing some fruitcake that seems ester-driven in the high alcohol presence.

M: Medium viscosity, syrupy and slightly acidic on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: A fine (and rare) old ale by a West Coast brewery, it generates an interesting mix of traditional malt-derived qualities as well as a fair amount of barrel influence.
Aug 02, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by robwestcott from Indiana

Jul 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by Kelrel9 from Maryland

Jul 10, 2013
Photo of jegross2
Reviewed by jegross2 from Illinois

4.11/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Reviewing the 23rd Anniversary Old Ale from Karl Strauss Brewing Company out of San Diego, California.

Score: 92

February 2012 vintage bottle served in a tulip taster glass and enjoyed on 03/01/13 from a bottle I brought to the Beer Temple to share with the store's customers. Review is from iPhone notes

Appearance: Bourbon caramel color. Virtually no head off the pour, and what little head there is quickly and totally settles. Minimal lacing, but the brew leaves oily streaks on the side of the glass. 3.5/5

Smell: Very smooth, no booziness. Vanilla, caramel, stale hops, and smooth/sweet bourbon notes. Some oakiness too. 3.5/5

Taste: Taste is much better than the nose. This brew practically smacks you over the head with delicious vanilla flavor with notes of caramel, cocoa and smooth bourbon. Less sweet than the nose led me to believe, but it's still a "sweet" (but not cloying) malty brew. I love the bold vanilla/caramel flavor of this brew! 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, viscous, with minimal carbonation. Nice maltiness and a little stickiness. 4.25/5

Overall: The aroma and appearance were not anything particularly special, but the taste was divine. While not the most complex barrel aged beer, I loved how bold the vanilla and caramel flavors were. I think this is drinking about as perfect as it will get (in act, the nose was a little stale from the faded hops), and I do not see this benefiting from further aging. It tastes like how 100% Cuir is currently drinking with less complexity. Open your bottles now!

Cost: $12 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.
Jul 06, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by SanDiegoBeerLove from California

Jun 07, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by HaveUSeenMyCellar from California

May 26, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by SocalKicks from California

May 26, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by SDStoneEnthusiast from California

May 25, 2013
23rd Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Ale from Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 92 ratings