Old Knucklehead No.12 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged)
BridgePort Brewing Co. / Brewpub

Old Knucklehead No.12 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged)Old Knucklehead No.12 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged)
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From:
BridgePort Brewing Co. / Brewpub
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
10%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 10.8%
Reviews:
63
Ratings:
68
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 26, 2016
Added:
Feb 21, 2008
Wants:
  16
Gots:
  2
IBU's: 60
ABV: 10.0%
Color: Dark Amber, Toffee
Ingredients: English and American hops, blended with three types of pale and roasted malts.
Description: A barley wine style ale that is aged in American Oak Bourbon barrels, creating notes of vanilla, toffee and sherry.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by dqderrick:
Photo of dqderrick
Reviewed by dqderrick from California

4.18/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A
Dark brown, slightly cloudy. Some sediment...

S
Very light vinegar barrel aged smell.

T
Dee-lish. Low-low sweetness and just a little bitterness from the hops. Bourbon is showing up throughout each sip.

MF
Very bubbly but smooth and playful on the palette.

D
Very drinkable. I also poured a splash of Woodford Reserve bourbon. Smelled and tasted... wow. As the beer got warmer, I picked up more bourbon.

OK, one last thing... I poured some of the bourbon in wit the beer. Why? Because it was there. I enjoyed it but I'm sure Woodford and Bridgeport wouldn't be happy...
Mar 31, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.67 by gratefulbeerhead from Indiana

Dec 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.92 by jason_nwx from Oregon

Dec 19, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by tbeq00 from California

Dec 11, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by nmann08 from Virginia

Jun 14, 2013
Photo of TMoney2591
Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Served in a goblet at Haymarket.

If only Bridgeport were Canadian, then they could call this beer "Old Canucklehead". (Yeah, I stole it from X-Men...) Anyway, it pours a clear sunset brass topped by a finger of dirty cream foam. The nose comprises perfume-y sweetness (as vague as that description), some potential oak (still not sure, though), and a light nuttiness. Yup, everything is all ephemeral and vague and whatnot. The taste brings in more of the same, along with a vein of whiskey for the sake of it. The body is a straight medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a smooth-ish feel. Overall, a decent barrel-aged barleywine, but nothing to get at all excited about.
Feb 16, 2013
Photo of kencarman
Reviewed by kencarman from Tennessee

3.1/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
"No longer available?" Update BA! This is the newest edition, a new "new edition that makes me wonder, "Why did they bother?" More an aggressive, higher (somewhat taste-wise) abv amber than barleywine. Out of balance. Nose and taste and MF: upfront oak with almost no bourbon as this year's edition promises. A bit sticky, but barleywine can get so. This is probably the only barleywine sense that matches other bws. Could parameters: could use more malt and more everything but oak sense.

Don't get me wrong. Not a bad beer, but one dimensional and less bw than it should be. I will age and reassess.
Jan 26, 2013
Photo of Beerzebub
Reviewed by Beerzebub from California

3.61/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Have no idea how old this is, probably 2008 since that's what other reviews seem to say. Poured from a bomber into a Bruery glass, probably about 50 degrees.

Murky reddish-brown, small beige head, looks fine.

Smells like fruit leather, with some malt and wood, not rich and enticing like one would hope, but kind of interesting, not bad.

Tastes pretty good: grape/raisin, tasty caramel malt, fairly mild bourbon barrel, mild oxidization, and a surprising amount of hop flavor and deep earthy bitterness. Good balance between sweet and bitter, finishing completely dry; fairly long earthy bitter finish. Maybe there are some unattractive tannins from the wood or grain husks in the background in the finish, but the hop bitterness covers it up pretty well so it's hardly noticeable.

Medium-full bodied, some richness, easy to drink, and pretty enjoyable given my low expectations.
Jan 05, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by t0rin0 from California

Sep 02, 2012
Photo of vkv822
Reviewed by vkv822 from Oregon

3.27/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
22oz bottle into tulip snifter.
2008 vintage.

Pours a dark red with a foamy light, toffee colored head.

The aroma is a smooth blend of bourbon, caramel, oaky vanilla, dark fruits and some faint sherry and light booziness.

The taste is a bit one dimensional, slightly oxidized sherry notes, finishes with some bourbon and caramel.

Surprisingly there is still quite a bit of carbonation, and the body is a bit thin.

A decent beer, I wish the taste had lived up to what the aroma led me to expect, and the mouthfeel wasn't quite what I look for. I can't really see this benefiting from any more aging.
Jan 01, 2012
Photo of Eldalonde
Reviewed by Eldalonde from Ohio

3.35/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A - This pours a murky golden color with a nice thick head.

S - Smells of heavy caramel, vanilla, toffee, chocolate, fruits, and a bit of earth. Rather complex aroma to this.

T - Sweet caramel and strong hops with a bit of chocolate. The finish is a touch bitter as well.

M - A little thin, but nothing distracting. Perhaps a touch sticky

Overall, the aroma was bit odd as well as the flavor. Not sure if it was just the bottle or what, but this oddity did detract from the overall enjoyment of this.
May 27, 2011
Photo of ccrida
Reviewed by ccrida from Oregon

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Picked up a case of these on release almost exactly 3 years ago, had one fresh, wasn't impressed, and forgot about the rest (although it looks like I must have traded one off early on). Poured into my Delirium snifter, Old Knucklehead No. 012 is garnet with a sizable tan head that is slow to settle and leaves scattered lace.

Smell is malty, a bit oxidized, hint of bourbon, like the watered down last swig in a glass on the rocks that were melted, caramel.

Taste is pretty darn good, the malt is richer then I expected, a little bit of grape, with a hint of vanilla from the bourbon barrels. Nice hop presence, stronger then fresh actually, leafy. Bit of raisin as well. Oxidation will probably start to become predominately negative soon, drink up.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side, soft and sticky.

Drinkability is pretty good. Much better then fresh, and while still not a mind blower, a bit on the simple, restrained side, it's come together nicely, exemplifying all I look for in an aged BW. I'll drink most of the rest in the next year, and save just a few for the long haul.
Mar 06, 2011
Photo of alleykatking
Reviewed by alleykatking from Indiana

3.62/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from 22oz bottle.

A- Pours a deep amberish brown color. One and a half finger light tan head shows medium retention. Light streaky lacing on the sides of the glass.

S- There is some nice caramel and toffee like aroma in the front. Light bourbon notes linger around with some even lighter vanilla notes. Some earthy tones in the ending make a interesting ending for this beer. There is almost like a grassy hop in the backing to. The aroma seems to be less hot than I remember it from the first time around.

T- Caramel and toffee notes hint with a light alcohol presence in the front. Earthy tones as well toward the middle balance out a sweetness that most barleywines have with this one being no exception. Light bourbon notes blend well with a toffee like addition toward the ending. No real oak flavors come out but there is a sweet alcohol ending in this beer.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation is a little light for the beer I think. Caramel and toffee malts are left on the palate with a hint of darker fruit. Aftertaste is alcohol and darker fruits. Medium-heavy drying on the palate from the alcohol. Flavors were a little muted at times but blended well I feel overall. Light off flavor at times but good flavor overall.

D- This is a fine BA barley wine. Nothing over the top and a little settle at times. The ABV shines throughout the entire beer which can be heavy at times to take in. Overall I would say this beer is either about to hit its prime drinking or on a begining downfall from top.
Dec 03, 2010
Photo of accordselux
Reviewed by accordselux from Minnesota

3.77/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Pours a deep dark brown.

The head is a creamy color that seems almost gray.

The beer smells earthy, with hints of sweet chocolate.

The taste is of leather, tobacco, and molasses, with the vanilla flavor of the barrel aging.

There is a bit of oxidation, and the alcohol is still potent enough to burn a bit on the way down.

Was not sure what to expect. I would probably not drink this again, but since it was a one time, that doesnt' seem to be an issue. I'd like to have tried it fresh...
Sep 17, 2010
Photo of Arbitrator
Reviewed by Arbitrator from California

2.03/5  rDev -47.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Chilled bottle into a glass. Shared a recent tasting. From notes.

A: Pours a deep ruby color (hard to see since we were outside in the dark), with decent head and some lace.

S: Toffee, caramel, restrained bourbon (a surprise; for some reason I just expected this to be really strong), earth.

T: Same as the nose: it's not a bourbon bomb. It's not that complex in flavor, either. The base beer seems muted and doesn't bring out much besides toffee. The caramel itself blends well with the bourbon. There's some earthiness that balances out the sweet flavors, which is nice. But this is your typical Starter Barleywine with Starter Bourbon Barrel flavors. No oak, vanilla... the age hasn't done any complexifying wonders.

M: Surprisingly thin-bodied, and oftentimes watery in the finish. Wow, terrible.

D: Bourbon-barrel barleywines aren't THAT common, but this isn't in Perfect Storm or CW or Kuhnhenehehnehhhafhasfujsfdgn territory. It's simply poor.
Jun 26, 2010
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

3.11/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Bomber shared by Arbitrator on BA.

Pours a hazy mahogany-brown color with a good-sized light beige head.

Aroma is caramel, oak, and some resinous hops.

Flavor is somewhat sweet caramel malts, oak, bourbon, and slight dark fruit notes.

Medium-bodied with a smooth mouthfeel and a good carbonation level.

Not very good for a barrel aged barleywine, but not terrible. Drinkability is OK.
Jun 24, 2010
Photo of ClockworkOrange
Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A 22 ounce bottle, 2008 vintage, purchased from Liquid Solutions (RIP) upon it's release. Uncapped and poured into my standard shaker glass. Old Knucklehead appears a murky crimson brown with about a finger of fluffy off white foam. Nose and flavors consist of caramel, raisins, not too much bourbon barrel action here, sweet malts, plums, some wood, slight sourness, mild brown sugar notes. Body could be a bit fuller for a BW. Decent carbonation and very little alcohol heat. Worth trying if you have the chance.
Mar 02, 2010
Photo of BigMcLargeHuge
Reviewed by BigMcLargeHuge from Arizona

3.83/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Courtesy of RB's own fishingnet, you know what I like. Pours copper with tan head. The aroma is a bit bourbony to go along with pine, malt sweetness and fresh wood. The taste has yummy rich sweet malt notes mixing with wood, a couple of dashes of vanilla and a moderate thick layer of caramel. Pretty damn good stuff.
Oct 07, 2009
Photo of HopHead84
Reviewed by HopHead84 from California

4.07/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Consumed on 08/19/2009 and poured into a snifter. Received in a trade with Fishdawg71. Thanks Geoff! Judging from my cellar inventory list and from the date of the earliest review entered into Beer Advocate, this beer is roughly 18 months old.

When I uncap the bottle the air is suffused with the aroma of bourbon. The beer pours dark rust with a fizzy light brown head that rises roughly an inch above the elixir. A little lacing is left clinging to the glass when the head recedes in an under a minute.

The aroma is somewhat muted until it fully warms, but when it does notes of toffee, brown sugar, caramel, and ample bourbon come through. Vanilla, dates, alcohol, and an earthiness are also apparent. I also get a little butterscotch. The bourbon really complements the nose.

The flavor is boozy, sweet, and bitter. The taste is reminiscent of caramel and toffee, with bourbon soaked dates. The hops are surprisingly strong, imparting a medium level of bitterness and some earth and pine notes. The finish is sweet, with bourbon and lingering booze heat.

The beer is medium bodied with too much carbonation. I swirled my glass around for 30 minutes and now I'm digging the mouthfeel, but it initially there was excessive carbonation.
Aug 20, 2009
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.67/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Lasting soapy head on medium cloudy golden body. Expecting it darker, really. Bourbon aroma. Above average mouthfeel. A bit drying and boozy. But essentially, this is ale conditioned in wood, it works, though it is one dimensional, it is balanced between sweetness and some bitterness.
Aug 09, 2009
Old Knucklehead No.12 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged) from BridgePort Brewing Co. / Brewpub
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 68 ratings