R&D Bramble Berry Bourbon Barrel | New Glarus Brewing Company
Brewed by:
New Glarus Brewing Company
Wisconsin, United States
newglarusbrewing.com
Style: American Wild Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.50%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
Also know as Wild Barrel
We are happy to announce a very limited release of a new R&D brew, Diploma Master Brewer Dan Carey’s Bramble Berry Bourbon Barrel. Bramble Berry Bourbon Barrel is a spontaneously fermented Wild Brown Ale from our Wild Fruit Cave. Expect a bright blend of forest fruit backed Oaky barrel notes. Great for aging or drinking today!
Added by UWBadgerFan4Life on 07-17-2015
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 254 | Reviews: 59
3.52/5 rDev -17.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
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.
354 characters
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
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.
354 characters
4.1/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bottle thanks to Ian
20 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bottle thanks to Ian
20 characters
4.75/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.53/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
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.
370 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
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.
370 characters
4.43/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.48/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
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.
381 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
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.
381 characters
4.62/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
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.
663 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
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.
663 characters
4.29/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
3.75/5 rDev -12.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.25/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.42/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.22/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
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.
251 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
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.
251 characters
3.5/5 rDev -18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.27/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.55/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
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
675 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
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
675 characters
R&D Bramble Berry Bourbon Barrel from New Glarus Brewing Company
Beer rating:
4.29 out of
5 with
254 ratings
0 characters. We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with ≥ 150 characters.
In English, explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately tried the beer. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.