R&D Bramble Berry Bourbon Barrel
New Glarus Brewing Company

3.52/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by Sabtos from Ohio

Muddy caramel with a fuzzy light tan ring.

Smell exhibits tons of woody whiskey but also a good blackberry accent that leans acetic, finished by a toasty char.

A good frothy fizz introduces semi-bitter apple skin followed by blackberry, hot whiskey, sour plum and a hint of caramel. It's less sour than the nose suggested, but the finish is cotton dry.

Apr 02, 2018

4.1/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by spinrsx from Canada (ON)

Bottle thanks to Ian

Sep 11, 2017

4.53/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by danh53 from Florida

I didn't try this fresh, but I assume its really coming into its own with a little age. Musty basement and oak add great complexity to the smooth vanilla and berry core. I get dark cherries, blackberries, raisins, and green apples and the aroma is even better. Red wine and vinegar notes add something nice, Medium carb and mouth feel. Very well balanced. Seek this out.

May 17, 2017

4.48/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by jhavs from New York

Not the prettiest brew, but rich layers of dark fruits, soft and balanced tartness. Smooth, but not hidden barrel in the aroma.

Flavor is tart sour cherry, dark candied cherries, figs and soft Bourbon background. Everything balances together nicely to form a delicate but complex brew.

Higher side of medium body and perky carbonation.

Excellent brew, my favorite NG I've tried.

Feb 27, 2017

4.62/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
by gibgink from Missouri

Bottle given to me by javanoire. Sat on this one for a while before enjoying, as when she gave it to me she said that the brewer suggesting waiting about 6 months. So I waited a little longer than that. Pours a muddy brown, almost like dirty river water, although light does come through. Smells fruity. I was told this was hot coming out of the gate, but man has time done it well! There are delicious sweet fruity notes, which are then followed by a faint bourbon sweetness. It is hard to achieve that in the sense where a bourbon sweetness usually dominates or overpowers other sweet flavors, but not here. The fruit flows over to the barrel. Terrific.

Feb 13, 2017

4.22/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by frasergrove from California

Pours a medium hazy dark amber body, a light head that dissipates. Aroma has touches of vanilla and cherry pie, with earthy bits and some mild tartness. Flavor is super smooth, nice balance of tartness, fruit, and woodsy hints. A very delightful beer.

Nov 27, 2016

4.55/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
by rudzud from Massachusetts

Received in a trade, shared with JLindros.

A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice hearty darker berry jam hue with a one finger off white head that fades to leave nice lacing.

S - Aromas of big raspberry jam galore, huge seedy raspberry. Nice bourbon, really good raspberry notes, excellent buttery barrel notes.

T - Taste is similar to the nose, very nice berry funk. Good tart berries, jaammy sweetness. Tons of raspberry fruit. Nice lightly oak barrels. Delicious.

M - Mouthfeel is nicely carbonated, crisp, tart.

O - Overall this was a very good wild ale. Excellent raspberry notes and bourbon, really solid. Very very well crafted.

Serving type: bottle

Oct 21, 2016

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by jlindros from Massachusetts

Thanks to rudzud

Pours a big thick frothy head fades at a fair pace, little sticky lacing, murky dark iced tea reddish color.

Nose huge raspberry, wildberry, generic gamble berry, little tart seed, mild sweet creamy malt, black raspberry ice cream, little tart.

Taste brings mild sweet creamy malt, big berry, raspberry, blackberry, wildberry, little tart berry and mild bitter seed, touch bitterness, jammy berry, fair acidity. Finish sticky little flemmy, lingering berry jam and mild seed.

Mouth is med bod jammy fleshy decent carb, fair acidity.

Overall quite nice.

Oct 21, 2016

4.29/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by Benish from Wisconsin

Appearance: poured a beige red color with no translucence or clarity. The head was light red in color. It's like unfiltered fruit juice.

Smell: sweet jammy raspberries, oak and funk. Very inviting.

Taste: jammy and earthy raspberries throughout. Sour and tart with the beer finishing more tart at the end. Becomes slightly bitter midway through, seems coming from the bourbon. It's not so complex but the raspberries shine through so well.

Mouthfeel: rich and medium bodied. Almost chewed as if there is raspberry purée.

Sep 25, 2016

4.21/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by Davepoolesque from Massachusetts

Murky brown in appearance. Reddish hue. Earthy, tart, sour, berry and oak. Complex. Some brett funkiness. Short, dry oaky finish. all the flavors come together to strike a nice balance. Really good.

Sep 08, 2016