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John Henry 3 Lick Spiker Ale
Cold Spring Brewing Co.
- From:
- Cold Spring Brewing Co.
- Minnesota, United States
- Style:
- American Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 9.1%
- Score:
- 84
- Avg:
- 3.7 | pDev: 13.78%
- Reviews:
- 175
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jul 06, 2019
- Added:
- Jan 02, 2009
- Wants:
- 16
- Gots:
- 36
Three Lick Spiker Ale is brewed with three different roasted malts creating chocolate flavors and full body taste. After fermentation has been completed with our top fermenting ale yeast we infuse our brew with bourbon oak aged chips and let the extended aging process take over. Hints of bourbon and vanilla from the oak come through the aroma and flavor.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ppoitras:
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts
3.62/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
750ml bottle purchased as a single from somewhere localish.
Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/2" light brown head over the cloudy brown brew. Head recedes gradually, with lasting lace. Aroma is sweet and oaky.
Taste starts chocolatey sweet with a touch of fusel upfront, creamy in the middle, with a lightly boozy close and a lingering aftertaste, . Mouthfeel is pretty smooth, and drinkability is alright. Doesn't quite all come together as well as I would hope, but not too bad.
May 09, 2013Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/2" light brown head over the cloudy brown brew. Head recedes gradually, with lasting lace. Aroma is sweet and oaky.
Taste starts chocolatey sweet with a touch of fusel upfront, creamy in the middle, with a lightly boozy close and a lingering aftertaste, . Mouthfeel is pretty smooth, and drinkability is alright. Doesn't quite all come together as well as I would hope, but not too bad.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York
3.71/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Decanted from a 12 oz (355 ml) bottle into a conical pint glass; no production information therefore no idea how long this bottle has been sitting.
A: Pours a very dark brown to black color with a brief, quarter inch, tan head rapidly resolving to a rim leaving virtually no lacing.
S: Aromas of bourbon, vanilla, sweet coffee, and molasses predominate.
T: Sweet. Very boozy no doubt from bourbon barrels. Palate largely follows the nose. Relatively low bitterness creates a very limited counterpoise to the sweetness.
M: Full bodied with very little effervescence after decanting.
O: Fairly typical of a barrel aged, dark ales that have been allowed to remain in the bottle for a while. Certainly comparable to those and enjoyable enough given the style. Would not suggest with dinner, but rather with a rich dessert.
Jul 02, 2018A: Pours a very dark brown to black color with a brief, quarter inch, tan head rapidly resolving to a rim leaving virtually no lacing.
S: Aromas of bourbon, vanilla, sweet coffee, and molasses predominate.
T: Sweet. Very boozy no doubt from bourbon barrels. Palate largely follows the nose. Relatively low bitterness creates a very limited counterpoise to the sweetness.
M: Full bodied with very little effervescence after decanting.
O: Fairly typical of a barrel aged, dark ales that have been allowed to remain in the bottle for a while. Certainly comparable to those and enjoyable enough given the style. Would not suggest with dinner, but rather with a rich dessert.
Reviewed by ScaryEd from New Hampshire
2.96/5 rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
2.96/5 rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Poured from a 12 oz bottle dated 04/03/13.
Pours a dark mahogany color with a finger of khaki head. The head is gone in a hurry, settling into a halo around the top of the beer. Leaves very little in the way of lacing.
The aroma is pretty much straight up bourbon. It's a solid aroma but not what I expect from a beer.
The taste has plenty of roasted malts, vanilla, and bourbon. That's about it.
The feel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Slightly watery but relatively smooth.
Overall, a pretty mediocre beer. I honestly wonder if this would be better fresh. It's basically just bourbon with slight hints of beer in it. Not something I'd try again.
Mar 22, 2017Pours a dark mahogany color with a finger of khaki head. The head is gone in a hurry, settling into a halo around the top of the beer. Leaves very little in the way of lacing.
The aroma is pretty much straight up bourbon. It's a solid aroma but not what I expect from a beer.
The taste has plenty of roasted malts, vanilla, and bourbon. That's about it.
The feel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Slightly watery but relatively smooth.
Overall, a pretty mediocre beer. I honestly wonder if this would be better fresh. It's basically just bourbon with slight hints of beer in it. Not something I'd try again.
Rated by DucksFan16 from Tennessee
3.78/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
11/27/2016
Nov 27, 2016Reviewed by scotorum from Massachusetts
3.97/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
COLD SPRING (MN) JOHN HENRY 3 LICK SPIKER ALE 2/11/16
Bought a fourpack of this Minnesota BBA brew at a local store on recommendation. First I've seen anything by Cold Spring in my state.
Bottled way back in 2013. Hoping there will still be some BBA flavor.
Poured from the 12 oz. bottle into a Unibroue Blanche de Chamblay flute.
a; Clear dark ruby with a finger thick offwhite head which receded to even surface foam and very dense lacing.
s: Bourbon.
t: Initially follows the nose along with some smoke. Dry finish with some mild dark fruit notes developing. 9.1 ABV is well covered. Bourbon flavor is less evident later, perhaps a result of the age on this.
m; Light to medium, ok body and above average carbonation tingle.
o: A pretty good BBA brew, which I'd call a porter despite the unusually high ABV, although I have no issue with it being called an American Strong Ale. Should enjoy the other three.
Feb 12, 2016Bought a fourpack of this Minnesota BBA brew at a local store on recommendation. First I've seen anything by Cold Spring in my state.
Bottled way back in 2013. Hoping there will still be some BBA flavor.
Poured from the 12 oz. bottle into a Unibroue Blanche de Chamblay flute.
a; Clear dark ruby with a finger thick offwhite head which receded to even surface foam and very dense lacing.
s: Bourbon.
t: Initially follows the nose along with some smoke. Dry finish with some mild dark fruit notes developing. 9.1 ABV is well covered. Bourbon flavor is less evident later, perhaps a result of the age on this.
m; Light to medium, ok body and above average carbonation tingle.
o: A pretty good BBA brew, which I'd call a porter despite the unusually high ABV, although I have no issue with it being called an American Strong Ale. Should enjoy the other three.
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
2.58/5 rDev -30.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2.58/5 rDev -30.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Comes out light brown and dark yellow, almost nothing for a head and what was there wasn't long for this life. Aroma was more alcohol than wood.
Taste again was driven by the alcohol. Doesn't seemlike it was barrel aged, moreso like they made a boilermaker. Too bitter, dark fruit, aged, impressions. You can look for all the nuances from the wood, but I just couldn't find them.
Dec 31, 2015Taste again was driven by the alcohol. Doesn't seemlike it was barrel aged, moreso like they made a boilermaker. Too bitter, dark fruit, aged, impressions. You can look for all the nuances from the wood, but I just couldn't find them.
Reviewed by dpgoblejr from New Hampshire
4.61/5 rDev +24.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.61/5 rDev +24.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Bottled date of 04/03/13. Enjoyed on 11/13/15. Two and a half years old now. Must be the explanation for a $3 price tag on a 22oz bomber. Pours a very nice dark brown color with a tan, foamy, head. Aroma of vanilla, oak, and tannin rise up. Flavors of oak wood, vanilla, burnt sugar and molasses mix perfectly. Medium to full feel on the palate and just a hint of burn from the bourbon and abv. I'm perplexed by the overall low ratings on this well crafted and pretty balanced aged ale. If I ever saw this again I'd be game. Only wonder what it tastes like fresh but age sure has done it well!
Nov 14, 2015Reviewed by bushbeer75 from Michigan
3.59/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.59/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz brown bottle with a hard to read "produced on" date of 7/24/12 ink jetted on the shoulder
.
John Henry 3 Lick Spiker Ale poured into my tulip glass a very dark brown and some might say black hue. A 1-finger tan head was produced and quickly shrank to a thin collar of foam with no lacing. The nose is of roasted malt with chocolate and smoke also noted. The smell of bourbon and oak was almost nonexistent. The taste like the nose was dominated by roasted malt and a stronger presence of chocolate and bourbon was noticed. Mouth feel is pretty smooth, a little chewy and medium bodied.
This ale is approximately 3-years old. As a result of its age I feel it has lost some of its bourbon and oak flavor, However, I have not had a fresh ale so I have nothing to compare it to.
Jun 22, 2015.
John Henry 3 Lick Spiker Ale poured into my tulip glass a very dark brown and some might say black hue. A 1-finger tan head was produced and quickly shrank to a thin collar of foam with no lacing. The nose is of roasted malt with chocolate and smoke also noted. The smell of bourbon and oak was almost nonexistent. The taste like the nose was dominated by roasted malt and a stronger presence of chocolate and bourbon was noticed. Mouth feel is pretty smooth, a little chewy and medium bodied.
This ale is approximately 3-years old. As a result of its age I feel it has lost some of its bourbon and oak flavor, However, I have not had a fresh ale so I have nothing to compare it to.
Rated by aussiebeer from Illinois
1/5 rDev -73%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
1/5 rDev -73%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
This was a drain pour, but I can't remember why
Jun 19, 2015
John Henry 3 Lick Spiker Ale from Cold Spring Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
417 ratings
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