Bourbon Barrel Bock
Weldebräu
- From:
- Weldebräu
- Germany
- Style:
- Bock
Ranked #91 - ABV:
- 6.6%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #32,309 - Avg:
- 3.63 | pDev: 14.6%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 10
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 11, 2021
- Added:
- Mar 02, 2008
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 5
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
Cuvée aged in Bourbon, Rum and Tequila barrels for 3 months.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Snowcrash000 from Germany
3.67/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear, pale golden amber coloration with a small, fluffy head. Smells of biscuity, caramel malt and grassy hops, with hints of vanilla, coconut and brown sugar. Taste is a decent balance of biscuity, caramel malt, grassy hops and lighter notes of vanilla, coconut, brown sugar and just hint of lime and peppery spice. Finishes bittersweet, with a very light bitterness and some biscuity malt, grassy hops, vanilla and coconut lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a light/medium body and medium carbonation.
While this is probably not quite what you would expect from a "Bourbon Barrel Bock", I think it's still enjoyable enough in its own right. Keep in kind that this is a 6.6% ABV Single-Bock, not a Doppelbock, which shows in a light coloration, body and malt complexity, with the grassy hops also coming through perhaps just a bit too much. On the other hand, the different barrels are actually noticeable, just not very intense due to the relatively short aging period. There's some vanilla from the bourbon barrels, coconut from the rum barrels and hints of brown sugar and peppery spice from the tequila barrels, which come through the least, here. The main disappointment is a relatively light body and mouthfeel, while there is a reasonable complexity to this, which is just lacking in richness. All in all a decent brew for the ABV, just don't expect it to be too rich or intense.
Feb 15, 2020While this is probably not quite what you would expect from a "Bourbon Barrel Bock", I think it's still enjoyable enough in its own right. Keep in kind that this is a 6.6% ABV Single-Bock, not a Doppelbock, which shows in a light coloration, body and malt complexity, with the grassy hops also coming through perhaps just a bit too much. On the other hand, the different barrels are actually noticeable, just not very intense due to the relatively short aging period. There's some vanilla from the bourbon barrels, coconut from the rum barrels and hints of brown sugar and peppery spice from the tequila barrels, which come through the least, here. The main disappointment is a relatively light body and mouthfeel, while there is a reasonable complexity to this, which is just lacking in richness. All in all a decent brew for the ABV, just don't expect it to be too rich or intense.
Reviewed by pasha_gasha from Netherlands
2.77/5 rDev -23.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3
2.77/5 rDev -23.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3
IMHO it doesn't taste and feel like a bourbon aged beer, even tho it tastes quite well.
Was a little disappointed bc I am a very big fan of barrel aged beers.
P.S. idk why it says no longer brewed, just got it REWE couple of days ago
Jun 03, 2019Was a little disappointed bc I am a very big fan of barrel aged beers.
P.S. idk why it says no longer brewed, just got it REWE couple of days ago
Reviewed by Beersnake from California
4.1/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from fridge temp. Pours orange and transparent - not a lot of head. Nose is bourbon, pine, leather, and citrus. Very nice. Taste is a hint of bourbon, malts, caramel, raisin. A bit sweet. Although the flavors are subtle with this lower ABV, the bourbon comes out nicely as it warms. Really very tasty. Mouthfeel is fairly light. Overall, I really like this beer and I'm a bit surprised by the lower ratings.
Jan 23, 2018
Reviewed by drmeto from Germany
3.74/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
L:
-pours a clear amber with a medium,foamy,white head
-medium to high carbonation visible
S:
-vanilla,coconut,balsamic vinegar,chocolate,oranges
T:
-vanilla,coconut,grassy,spicy
-finishes dry
-medium to high bitterniss for the style
F:
-medium carbonation
-light to medium body
-alcohol noticeable
O:
Not very complex.To me this is an example of a fairly average base beer being improved by barrel-aging.
Aug 01, 2017-pours a clear amber with a medium,foamy,white head
-medium to high carbonation visible
S:
-vanilla,coconut,balsamic vinegar,chocolate,oranges
T:
-vanilla,coconut,grassy,spicy
-finishes dry
-medium to high bitterniss for the style
F:
-medium carbonation
-light to medium body
-alcohol noticeable
O:
Not very complex.To me this is an example of a fairly average base beer being improved by barrel-aging.
Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia
3.78/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From the bottle, it pours a slightly hazy amber with a small head, quickly dissipating. Some bourbon in the nose, along with some malt. The bourbon flavor comes through, along with some malt and alcohol. I found it decent overall. My bottle was a bit old as I purchased it a bit ago and stored it.
This beer also shows the type of hop used: Green Bullet and provides the IBU: 28.
Jul 01, 2016This beer also shows the type of hop used: Green Bullet and provides the IBU: 28.
Reviewed by moose1980 from Germany
3.75/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Description on bottle states that it is aged for 3 months in bourbon, rum, and tequila barrels. A short time, but it got my attention.
Clear, light amber with a two-finger, off-white head that slowly dissipates, leaving thin lacing. Aroma is bourbon heavy, with a sweet caramel/toffee like malt character also. Slight smokiness in the background. Simple, but inviting. Taste is also pretty straight forward, with slightly sweet bourbon notes.
While certainly far from having the complexity most of us have come to expect in many barrel aged beers, it is a 6,6% bock that only spent 3 months in the barrels. Taking that into consideration, it's a decent beer.
May 23, 2016Clear, light amber with a two-finger, off-white head that slowly dissipates, leaving thin lacing. Aroma is bourbon heavy, with a sweet caramel/toffee like malt character also. Slight smokiness in the background. Simple, but inviting. Taste is also pretty straight forward, with slightly sweet bourbon notes.
While certainly far from having the complexity most of us have come to expect in many barrel aged beers, it is a 6,6% bock that only spent 3 months in the barrels. Taking that into consideration, it's a decent beer.
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Texas
2.18/5 rDev -39.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2
2.18/5 rDev -39.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2
Nabbed this at Ambrosetti in Berlin.
BOTTLE: 33cl format. Brown glass. Black branded pry-off crown cap. Simple black and white labels. Best before: 13.10.16.
Reviewed live as a (barrel aged) bock given the name and label. 16 degrees plato. 28 IBU. 6.60% ABV. Spends 3 months in bourbon, rum, and tequila barrels. I guess they called in bourbon barrel bock instead of barrel aged bock for marketing reasons...but a scant 3 months has me skeptical. Why not just dip the beer for a day and call it good?
HEAD: Off-white colour. Decent thickness. Somewhat frothy. Not real creamy. ~5cm wide. Retention is pretty good - ~7 minutes.
BODY: Clear copper of average vibrance. Clean, lacking any visible yeast.
Appears well-carbonated. It's a basic bock appearance - nothing unique or special here.
AROMA: Has some very raw unrefined barrel notes, where all I'm really getting is a generic barrel sugar character. This reminds me of some of the really dreadful Ranger Creek barrel aged beers out of Texas. Faint vanilla, barrel sugars, raw sugarcane...it's all very artificial and seems way too sweet, as though trying to present a facade of real barrel aging. Vanillin comes to mind. Malt profile is bright.
To style, there's no hop profile that's overt. Yeast profile is just clean ester-free lager yeast.
Those hoping for vivid or expressive notes of bourbon - let alone rum or tequila or oak - will be severely disappointed. Aromatic intensity is high for a bock.
TASTE: Yup, that artificial barrel sugar taste runs rampant through the flavour profile, eclipsing any traditional bock malt backbone. Artificial vanilla/vanillin. Suppressed Munich malts. Barley. That's really it...
No rich white oak, no spicy tequila (though let's be thankful that ain't present), no authentic rum, no genuine vanilla bean, no peat, no genuine bourbon with notes of subtle coconut...why barrel age this bock at all, aside from the marketing gimmick?
Not imbalanced, to be fair. There's some flavour here, it just isn't very good. Above average flavour duration and intensity.
All I'll add is that this seems more Maibock than bock - not that the brewers seem to care (or, if I may, even know) about German style traditions to any extent whatsoever.
TEXTURE: Smooth, wet, unrefreshing, artificially creamy, adequately carbonated. This texture is fine, but fails to accentuate specific notes or to elevate the beer as a whole.
OVERALL: Hat tip to Welde Bräu's marketing department for controlling the lineup...the name of this beer alone ("ooooh! Bourbon barrel!") will sucker many a foreigner into making his/her first and last purchase of it. I find this a passionless attempt at a cash-grab, seizing the opportunity of the bourbon barrel trend to make a quick buck. There's no soul in this (ostensible) bock, but drinking it does demand reflection...Americans probably created this market. Soon we'll have pilsners thrown into vermouth barrels for a week just so they can label the beer "barrel aged." I implore you to be a better man than me, vote with your dollar, and avoid this shlock. For all of us.
D (2.18) / AVOID
Feb 17, 2016BOTTLE: 33cl format. Brown glass. Black branded pry-off crown cap. Simple black and white labels. Best before: 13.10.16.
Reviewed live as a (barrel aged) bock given the name and label. 16 degrees plato. 28 IBU. 6.60% ABV. Spends 3 months in bourbon, rum, and tequila barrels. I guess they called in bourbon barrel bock instead of barrel aged bock for marketing reasons...but a scant 3 months has me skeptical. Why not just dip the beer for a day and call it good?
HEAD: Off-white colour. Decent thickness. Somewhat frothy. Not real creamy. ~5cm wide. Retention is pretty good - ~7 minutes.
BODY: Clear copper of average vibrance. Clean, lacking any visible yeast.
Appears well-carbonated. It's a basic bock appearance - nothing unique or special here.
AROMA: Has some very raw unrefined barrel notes, where all I'm really getting is a generic barrel sugar character. This reminds me of some of the really dreadful Ranger Creek barrel aged beers out of Texas. Faint vanilla, barrel sugars, raw sugarcane...it's all very artificial and seems way too sweet, as though trying to present a facade of real barrel aging. Vanillin comes to mind. Malt profile is bright.
To style, there's no hop profile that's overt. Yeast profile is just clean ester-free lager yeast.
Those hoping for vivid or expressive notes of bourbon - let alone rum or tequila or oak - will be severely disappointed. Aromatic intensity is high for a bock.
TASTE: Yup, that artificial barrel sugar taste runs rampant through the flavour profile, eclipsing any traditional bock malt backbone. Artificial vanilla/vanillin. Suppressed Munich malts. Barley. That's really it...
No rich white oak, no spicy tequila (though let's be thankful that ain't present), no authentic rum, no genuine vanilla bean, no peat, no genuine bourbon with notes of subtle coconut...why barrel age this bock at all, aside from the marketing gimmick?
Not imbalanced, to be fair. There's some flavour here, it just isn't very good. Above average flavour duration and intensity.
All I'll add is that this seems more Maibock than bock - not that the brewers seem to care (or, if I may, even know) about German style traditions to any extent whatsoever.
TEXTURE: Smooth, wet, unrefreshing, artificially creamy, adequately carbonated. This texture is fine, but fails to accentuate specific notes or to elevate the beer as a whole.
OVERALL: Hat tip to Welde Bräu's marketing department for controlling the lineup...the name of this beer alone ("ooooh! Bourbon barrel!") will sucker many a foreigner into making his/her first and last purchase of it. I find this a passionless attempt at a cash-grab, seizing the opportunity of the bourbon barrel trend to make a quick buck. There's no soul in this (ostensible) bock, but drinking it does demand reflection...Americans probably created this market. Soon we'll have pilsners thrown into vermouth barrels for a week just so they can label the beer "barrel aged." I implore you to be a better man than me, vote with your dollar, and avoid this shlock. For all of us.
D (2.18) / AVOID
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