Feel the Heat: Biggest (non-BA) Booze Bombs?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by jmasher85, Mar 16, 2017.

?

How strong and boozy do you generally like you beers?

  1. Light and chuggable

    15 vote(s)
    12.7%

  2. Mild but present

    39 vote(s)
    33.1%

  3. Smooth but with a rough edge

    72 vote(s)
    61.0%

  4. Hot and boozy

    20 vote(s)
    16.9%

  5. Pretty much diesel fuel

    8 vote(s)
    6.8%
Multiple votes are allowed.
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  1. jmasher85

    jmasher85 Savant (1,169) Mar 27, 2015 Maryland

    I've always been a lover of high gravity, heavy duty beers with high alcohol content and bold flavor. Every once in a while, I need to go through a cool-down period and manually lower my threshold by drinking and appreciating milder, lighter beers. I recently hit this period again, just in time for "Abstinence April" (my annual sober month), after recently drinking beers like KBS, SN Bigfoot, Samichlaus Classic, and their Helles, and realizing that despite them all being pretty high abv, only in the first and the last did I pick up any "booziness," and one of those is aged in bourbon barrels.

    So now I'm just curious to know, what are the hottest, roughest, most alcoholic-tasting non-spirit barrel aged beers you've had, good or bad. I specify non-spirit barrel aged because soaking anything in a whisky or rum barrel will make it taste boozy - it almost feels like cheating for the purposes here. :stuck_out_tongue:

    So for me, off the top of my head, the above-mentioned Helles (but their Classic is surprisingly smooth for 14%), Rochefort 10 has a clove-like fusel burn, Trader Joe's Fat Weasel, which is surprising for a moderate 7% abv ale, Dogfish 120 Min IPA, DESTIHL Antiquity Rye Ale, a couple other barleywines but fewer than you'd think...that's all I can come up with right now. You?

    Also, since polls are fun, we'll toss on in here: how strong do you like your beer to taste and feel?
     
    #1 jmasher85, Mar 16, 2017
  2. dennis3951

    dennis3951 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 New Jersey

    I never want "diesel fuel" enjoy the 4 other options.
     
    #2 dennis3951, Mar 16, 2017
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  3. Prince_Casual

    Prince_Casual Savant (1,236) Nov 3, 2012 District of Columbia
    Trader

    Boulevard Rye on Rye on Rye tastes like rye whiskey mixed with a really dry ESB
    Bruery White Oak tastes like bourbon and hefeweizen

    not exactly what you asked for but those are my top two
     
    #3 Prince_Casual, Mar 16, 2017
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  4. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Fusels (acetone) are a flaw and turn me off every time. It is only semi related to high gravity beers, in that it's harder to get a proper fermentation in one. But they really shouldn't be "hot".
     
    #4 TongoRad, Mar 16, 2017
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  5. thebeers

    thebeers Grand Pooh-Bah (5,837) Sep 10, 2014 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    What I want in a beer changes with the style, the weather and my mood, but....

    I remember a distinct vodka-like burn the first time I had Hi Res that I really enjoyed.
     
    #5 thebeers, Mar 16, 2017
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  6. Harrison8

    Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Rye on Rye on Rye is really a session whiskey. I love it.
     
    #6 Harrison8, Mar 16, 2017
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  7. ecpho

    ecpho Savant (1,183) Mar 28, 2011 New York

    I find that Sixpoint beers generally run way too hot for me - not something I enjoy, one of the reasons I avoid their beers. Like @TongoRad I've always thought the feeling of alcohol in beer was a flaw too.
     
    #7 ecpho, Mar 16, 2017
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  8. thebeers

    thebeers Grand Pooh-Bah (5,837) Sep 10, 2014 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm stort of in a hybrid camp when it comes to judging based on style. There are definitely boxes I want ticked and some things I would consider an obvious "flaw." Over time though, I've tended to become more forgiving of things like alcohol content, clarity and bitterness. If an element seems intentionally included, I'll consider more whether it's to my taste than whether or not it's to style.

    I can totally see someone not wanting heat in a DIPA though, and it's definitely not something I'm looking for every day.
     
    #8 thebeers, Mar 16, 2017
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  9. ecpho

    ecpho Savant (1,183) Mar 28, 2011 New York

    At this point I enjoy beers up to about 8% ABV and I gravitate towards the breweries that can make interesting and flavorful beers under that ABV. Too many breweries imperialize everything, add whatever adjuncts are lying around, etc. For me simpler and better crafted is what I like. Boozy 9-11% ABV IPAs just don't have much complexity when they get that heavy. Also stouts that high in alcohol get too syrupy.
     
    #9 ecpho, Mar 16, 2017
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  10. thuey

    thuey Pooh-Bah (1,705) Nov 13, 2015 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Nothing ruins an IPA for me like boozy taste.
     
    #10 thuey, Mar 16, 2017
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  11. MostlyNorwegian

    MostlyNorwegian Pooh-Bah (2,236) Feb 5, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    Not a fan of boozy heat in my beer. That heat mostly just gets in the way of enjoyment.
     
    #11 MostlyNorwegian, Mar 16, 2017
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  12. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I see that you recognize this, but your poll is a different conversation. :confused:
     
    #12 zid, Mar 16, 2017
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  13. jmasher85

    jmasher85 Savant (1,169) Mar 27, 2015 Maryland

    I know, but meh. :stuck_out_tongue: No sense in more threads.
     
    #13 jmasher85, Mar 16, 2017
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  14. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Pooh-Bah (2,890) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    I've had a couple of Evil Twin, non-BA beers that were too hot for me...I can't recall the specific names, it's been a few years
     
    #14 TonyLema1, Mar 16, 2017
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  15. Jag237

    Jag237 Initiate (0) Aug 23, 2014 Virginia
    Trader

    Its been a while since I've had one but I feel like Duclaw Colossus would fall into that category
     
    #15 Jag237, Mar 16, 2017
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  16. The_Snow_Bird

    The_Snow_Bird Grand Pooh-Bah (3,557) May 7, 2015 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    A nice strong one for me is Founders Imperial Stout
     
    #16 The_Snow_Bird, Mar 16, 2017
  17. Lucular

    Lucular Grand Pooh-Bah (4,367) Jun 20, 2014 Maryland
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    To reply to the thread title: 120 Minute is at the top of the list of non-BA booze bombs for me.
     
    #17 Lucular, Mar 16, 2017
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  18. Scott17Taylor

    Scott17Taylor Initiate (0) Oct 28, 2013 Iowa
    Trader

    I like boozy beers, but I have to be in the mood for them. For the most part I like a gentle warming if I'm having anything high abv.
     
    #18 Scott17Taylor, Mar 16, 2017
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  19. drunkenmess

    drunkenmess Pooh-Bah (2,668) Mar 27, 2015 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Off the top of my head...
    Stillwater On Fleek Imperial Stout
    13% abv and can taste every bit of it
    Great beer all around tho.
    Very enjoyable!

    Im sure theres more but dont wana' think that hard today. :wink:

    CHEERS
     
    #19 drunkenmess, Mar 16, 2017
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  20. Hoos78

    Hoos78 Maven (1,327) Mar 3, 2015 Ohio

    I'll echo the suggestions of Resin and Hi-Res. I also find their (Sixpoint) 4Beans and 5Beans to be awfully boozy.
     
    #20 Hoos78, Mar 16, 2017
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