Blunderbuss Old Ale
Brooklyn Brewery

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From:
Brooklyn Brewery
 
New York, United States
Style:
Old Ale
ABV:
8.2%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 8.14%
Reviews:
48
Ratings:
54
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 29, 2013
Added:
Jan 19, 2009
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DannyS:
Photo of DannyS
Reviewed by DannyS from New York

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Served in a standard pint glass, poured from my growler, filled at Community Beverage in Elmhurst, NY.

A - Just barely translucent rusty dark brown, no head save for a thin collar on the rim.

S - Coffee, dried fruit, molasses. A very robust and sweet aroma.

T - Unexpectedly sweet, showing off an impressive brown sugar and raisin character, backed up by bitter coffee and cocoa. Also slightly oaky.

M - The carbonation is low but peppy, lightening the weighty character or this thick brew. Syrupy, but oh so smooth.

D - Felt the alcohol on my first couple of sips, but as one goes, it mellows out. A great beer for sipping, though I'd recommend no more than one drink's worth.

Overall - A great choice for my first growler beer. Had this once before at the brewery itself, and I was just as impressed then as I am now. Another hit from my favorite local brewery.
Apr 08, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by Kelp from New Hampshire

Apr 29, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Nov 12, 2012
Photo of axeman9182
Reviewed by axeman9182 from New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
12 oz pour in a tulip at the Blind Tiger's Brooklyn Brewery night.

Brooklyn Blunderbuss Old Ale pours somewhere between a deep mahogany and maroon. There's about a finger of khaki colored foam the shows some head retention and a surprising amount of lacing. The nose is heavy on caramel, but there are lots of smaller, secondary aromas coming through the picture to liven things up. Cherry, orange infused honey, and oxidation all make brief appearancs. Caramel once again leads things off on the flavor front, but it's joined here by the nutty sherry notes from oxidation as a main contributor. In fact, the oxidized flavors probably pass caramel in terms of dominance, which makes them a bit too intense for my care. As with the aromas, cherries, orange, and honey appear to be content to play secondary roles. The mouthfeel is great, with a chewy, rich, full body, and carbonation at a high enough level to cut through all the residual sweetness, but not too high where it might get distracting. I first had Blunderbuss about a year and a half ago. I don't think the 18 months or so have done Blunderbuss any favors. It's still pretty solid right now, but the age has slightly diminished what was a great beer.
May 07, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by deapokid from Pennsylvania

Nov 24, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by tclapper from Maine

Nov 17, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by HopStoopid120 from Connecticut

Nov 16, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by thebouch01 from Pennsylvania

Nov 14, 2011
Photo of Rifugium
Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
First had: on cask at Mugs, Brooklyn, NY

It was good. Better than the lager anyway. Dark reddish brown pour from the cask with a healthy head. Aroma and taste was of dark dried fruits and dark sugars, with some alcohol on the tongue. A bit strong, but still moderately drinkable.
Apr 29, 2011
Photo of donkeyrunner
Reviewed by donkeyrunner from Massachusetts

3.49/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
at Bukowski's Inman Square. I asked for The Manhattan Project and this is what I got.

Dark burgundy with a thin, creamy white head--looks decadent. Half glass retention.

Aroma is fruity with caramel raisin and cherry oak standouts. Black forest cake malt.

Dark, sweet, fruit infused malt with toffee and raisin. Subtle, peeping alcohol and a light anis crisp at the end provide layered depth.

Good but I still felt underwhelmed.
Oct 26, 2009
Photo of Billolick
Reviewed by Billolick from New York

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Enjoyed on tap at David Copperfields in NYC, several months ago and reviewed from the notes I just found. Pours mahogony amber, the slight head my pour arrived with was medium tan and left espectable strands of lace on the glass. Ripe fruit, malt and raisin infused nose, this is a flavorful and malty old ale, with notes of more raisins, dark grains of malt, toffee, whole wheat toast and mild alcohol poking up now and then. Pleasant sipper, but I doubt much if any of this special offering remains around to be tried, too bad. Quality stuff from Brooklyn.
Sep 07, 2009
Photo of JoeBloe
Reviewed by JoeBloe from New York

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
on cask at the blind tiger -
a good old ale on cask - nice, sweet aroma with a taste of dried dark fruit - smooth going down with very well hiddden alcohol -
probably at it's tastiest in this form(cask) - i'd love to do a side by side with one from the tap -
Sep 03, 2009
Photo of SLeffler27
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York

4.08/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A dense, off-white froth blooms to one inch over a dark, auburn beer with a chill haze and orange highlights. Pours almost the consistency of thin maple syrup. The head eventually drops, leaving an uninterrupted coating of lace.

A comforting, rich, malty molasses with tones of whisky, ginger, figs and plum embrace the nose.

This is a remarkably well-balanced brew with subtle flavors closely following the nose all the way through to the finish. Additions include strong sense of earthiness, some black tea and raisins while the alcohol is remarkably well kept.

An excellent companion for my Stone snifter glass, this full-bodied, creamy smooth beer with soft carbonation is surprisingly cleansing. The alcohol is surprisingly subdued, given its strong presence in the aroma.

This is an easily approachable old ale, suitable as a sipper, accompanying contemplation, reading, or as a nightcap. However, it is equally suited to compliment a rich meal or conversation.
Jul 03, 2009
Photo of MrMonkey
Reviewed by MrMonkey from Maine

3.92/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
on tap at Ebenezers in Lovell, ME.

Poured a very dark brown with lighter copper highlights when held to the light. A two finger tan head faded rather quickly leaving minimal lacing. Perhaps served just a bit too cold.

As it warmed up, the nose had notes of raisins, prunes, a touch of caramel, and some piny, spicy hops.

Taste was much like the nose, with raisins, prunes, burnt brown sugar, molasses, and a bit of caramel sweetness. Finishes with a spicy hop bitterness. Alcohol is barely noticeable.

Medium-bodied, well-carbonated mouthfeel.

Drinkable, but one is about all I need.
Jun 19, 2009
Photo of tmoneyba
Reviewed by tmoneyba from Ohio

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draft at Dilly Deli.

Poured dark brown color with an average frothy off-white head that was mostly lasting with excellent lacing. Medium toasted malt and complex aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and soft carbonation. Medium to heavy balanced bittersweet flavor and medium toasted bittersweet finish of moderate duration.

Solid Drinkable beer.
May 12, 2009
Photo of weeare138
Reviewed by weeare138 from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at TND...
Appears a rich golden toned copper with a 2 finger off white head that slowly fades into a mild head of fluff. Scattered bits of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of caramel, roasted nuts, cocoa, ripe fruits, raisins, and figs.
Taste echoes the aromas with flavorful raisins, cocoa, black cherries, notes of spice, and caramel.
Mouthfeel holds medium carbonation with sugary, nearing syrupy, with a warming boozineness that is more fit for aging. Stick this in a corked 750...please.
Apr 28, 2009
Photo of mhatters
Reviewed by mhatters from Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Served on tap at my house in a nonick glass

Beautiful copperronze color, dark but not black, thick head, tan colored, lacing on the glass. Lots of malts, sugar, fruit, alcohol in the nose, some hops but not overhopped. Great taste and mouthfeel, nicely balanced malt to sugar to slight fruit. Not a traditional Old Ale, but a great one. Strong finish,not overpowering.
Apr 18, 2009
Photo of FtownThrowDown
Reviewed by FtownThrowDown from Ohio

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours reddish brown in color. Very translucent around the edges. Smell is toffee, some malt and just a bit of spice and hops. Taste is some more of this unknown spice that I just can't seem to put my finger on. A little more carbonation than I like to have in my old ales. Very easy drinking with only the slightest hint of alcohol. Pretty decent beer. I would have liked to see some more body to it. It was a tad thin, with not enough of the classic toffee and big malty flavor. A different take and still a enjoyable beer.
Apr 17, 2009
Photo of DrJay
Reviewed by DrJay from Texas

4.22/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Hazy brown/bronze with a fine dark beige cap. Plenty of lacing with good head retention. Sweet and fruity aroma, a combination of malt, raisin, and plums. Bitterness was a bit on the low side, which let the malt and fruit flavours dominate. Toffee, plums, malt and raisins. Smooth texture, fine carbonation, a bit more than medium bodied. I thought this was very solid. It had a great English yeast character and was quite drinkable.
Apr 13, 2009
Photo of paulthebeerguru
Reviewed by paulthebeerguru from Florida

4.35/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: pours a very opaque deep brown, almost bombay mahogany. the brew has a well-equiped tan 'halo' head. mild retention rate. very nice lacing, almost like a well-endowed tripel.

S: huge notes of plum, fig, and some black currants. some serious clove in this which seems odd for the style. mild clove I expect, but its big in this.

T: great palate pleaser here. solid rich malts, big fruit notes, mostly fall fruits, apples, figs, with a hint of plums. big spice character.

M: medium bodied. solid mouthfeel. big and bold palate.
Apr 13, 2009
Blunderbuss Old Ale from Brooklyn Brewery
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 54 ratings