Your best and worst beers >14% ABV - Go!

Great topic! I’ve rated about 75 beers at 14% or above. Without even looking I can tell you higher math is near the very bottom, absolutely despise that one and I’ve tried several times.

My highest rated was also Bourbon Paradise at 4.65, I think I had 2-3 bottles at like 13 dollars per 12 oz and felt that was money well spent, such a terrific beer. I also had very high marks for BC Midnight Orange, I love the combination of chocolate and orange and that one hit the sweet spot squarely for me. I didn’t hate any of them really (likely rated higher math way higher than I should have considering the thought of it makes me shudder); super simplistic sweet stuff like Samichlaus Helles wasn’t much to my liking though.

 

I've only rated 4 above that line. My highest rating was for bcbs, my first bottle ever last year and I was shocked that it actually exceeded my expectation and definitely justified the hype. However the one that stands out in my mind, and that I wish the brewery would make again was ventana special bitter from odd fellows brewery. I thought it was going to be an English bitter, instead it was a beautiful monster brewed with redwood tips. I will buy out the stock if I ever see it again, super unique and flavorful and well balanced. Way too drinkable.

Worst was DKML, absolute garbage. But it did make a great sidewalk slam mixed with some nice grapefruit juice

 

Worst: Dogfish Head Higher Math and Founders DKML

Best: Avery Uncle Jacob's and Prairie Bourbon Paradise

 

Best

I sorted my Untappd by ABV and rating, and found a high frequency of DFH, Avery, The Bruery, Fremont, and Goose Island. Out of this group the most frequency is Fremont.

DFH Raison D’Extra
DFH Fort
DFH WWS
DFH Higher Math
Anything BA from Fremont
Avery Rumpkin
Avery PumpKYn
Bruery Melange #3
Bruery Cuivre
BCBS and Variants
Perrin No Rules
Trillium Barrel Aged Macaroon

Worst

I sorted my Untappd by ABV and found nothing below 3.5 and only a handful below 4. Apparently, I really like high ABV beers. Or just know which high ABV beers I really like.

 

Added.

 

The best;

1. BCBS Vanilla = 4.67 (my highest score to date)
   
2. BCBS 2018 Prop = 4.67 (my highest score to date)
   
3. BCBS Orange = 4.62
4. Kuhnhenn Solstice Stout = 4.56
5. Prairie Pirate Bomb! = 4.54
6. Hoppin' Frog Plum Tuckered-Out Double Double Porter = 4.45
7. Prairie Bourbon Paradise = 4.37
8. Avery Pump[KY]n = 4.34
9. BCBS = 4.33
10. BCBS Wheatwine = 4.33

Then the bottom three;

• Deschutes Abyss Rum-barrel = 3.83 (dashed my expectations)
  
• Founders DKML = 3.81 (probably generous)
  
• Avery Rumpkin = 3.18 (sugar with some beer added)

Analysis; of the 32 beers I've reviewed that are over 14% ABV, I've scored 26 of them 4.0 or higher. Guess I'm into ABV and barrel-aging.

 

Accepted

 

I think it was right at 14% but I really miss Samichlaus (needed at least a year on it). I never see it in my area anymore and it a great once in a while sort of beer. Almost drank like a damn port

 

Side note to World Wide Stout being on the list is should be aged at least 3 years, every 5+ year old has been absolutely amazing, rating the taste on it an easy 5, my official review of a well aged bottle is 4.85.

 

Worst one has to be Black (Kuro) by Mikkeller. 2.37 avg, but an even lousier 1.75 on the flavor & overall. To date, one of the most bitter THINGS I've ever put in my mouth.
Second worst is probably Uncle Jacob's Stout by Avery. The 2.32 avg is lower, but the overall is "only" 2.25. I have to wonder if this was an off bottle or an off palate day, but it just seemed harsh without a bold flavor to back it up.

The best one IMO is Bourbon County by Goose Island, 4.27 avg with 4.5's in flavor and overall. This is the score fresh - with a year or so of age on it, it's one of the few beers damn close to the elusive 5/5 rating.
Second best is Java Cask by Victory. I didn't bother to review it, but that's only because I loved it so much to actually give a shit reviewing it. 4.39 avg, 4.5 flavor & overall.

 

BEST:
Chocolate Rain
Old Perseverance
120 Minute IPA
Callipygian
Cuivre
Bourbon County Brand Stout
Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout
Uncle Jacob's Stout
Old Stock Cellar Reserve (Aged In Wheat Whiskey Barrels)
Smoking Wood - Rye Barrel-Aged (exactly 14%)

WORST:
Forêt Limousine (Medium Toasted)
Higher Math
Rumpkin
BrewDog Paradox Jura

 

Best - handjee
Worst - turtledogg

 

Best:
Perrin No Rules
Prairie Pirate Bomb
GI BCBS
Bruery Black Tuesday
Bruery Grey Monday
DFH WWS
3 Floyds Dark Lord
Revolution Cafe Deth
FW Parabola
Hailstorm Vlad the Second
Victory Java Cask
Founders DKML

Worst:
DFH Olde School
Bruery Blue BBLS
Avery Rumpkin

Apparently I like high ABV beers.

 

I've had nine that fit the criteria. DKML was my highest rated, at 5's across the board. (YMMV. ) Pirate BOMB was a close second, at 4.96. The worst, if you can call it that, was Evil Twin Molotov Cocktail Heavy, at 3.42.

 

I loved Smoking Wood and accidentally ommited it from my list. wonder if they still make it. I never see it anymore.

 

Hey, once you're above 14%, anything tends to taste OK after a while.
But if I have to commit myself, Founders DKML and DFH Higher Math are at the bottom of my 14+% list; Goose Island Rare BCBS (2015) is at the top.

 

As a barrel aged stout drinker I could list a multitude of 10-14%ers that are terrific, so I won't do that. Instead I will rank the top and bottom of the 27 beers I've had over 14% ABV.

Ranking those scoring above a 4.5 for me (best to worst):

1. Goose Island, Rare
2. Fremont, The Rusty Nail
3. Goose Island, Bourbon County Brand Stout 2014-2015
4. Anchorage, Time Waits for No One
5. Taxman, Evasion
6. Prairie Artisan Ales, Bourbon Paradise

And the bottom five personal scores over 14% ABV (best to worst):

1. Revolution, Deth's Tar
2. Deschutes, Conflux Series 2: Collage
3. Avery, Pump[KY]n
4. Avery, Rumpkin
5. Prairie Artisan Ales, Pirate Bomb!

 

Best - Dragon's Milk Triple Mash 17% 4.57. And Wolverine State Massacre 14.5% 4.66

Worst - DFH 120 at 18% I think it was?. Syrupy booze. 1.59. SA triple bock. 1.09 I think I gave it. Straight filtered defecation.

SA triple bock and DFH 120 were the only beers I've ever hated at such a strength.

* Promptly logs out for the next 6 months *

 

I don’t usually drink too many heavies in this range, but some have been good so far.

Prairie BA Birthday Bomb 2019 &
Samichlaus Schwarzes (2011 & 2014) are the best I remember recently.

Had a 2014 Mephistopheles that was still hot as hell and hard to drink, Molotov Heavy is pretty atrocious, and 120 is rough unless you have the patience to age it for 5+ years. Didn’t care for standard BCBS much either.

In this ABV range there’s more bad-to-iffy than truly good.