Arcadia Pappy’s Big Dick Bourbon Barrel Olde Ale

Brewed by Arcadia Brewing Company
Style: Old Ale
Battle Creek, Michigan USA

Draft sample at MBG Winterfest 2009. Poured hazy brown color with an average frothy white head that mostly diminished with fair lacing. Moderate toasted sweet chocolate malt and wood aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and flat carbonation. Medium balanced barrel flavor with a medium complex sweet finish of moderate to long duration. Better as a barrel version.

Labled as Pappy’s Big Dick at the MI WinterFest. Murky brown with very little head. Nose is great with vanilla and oak. Flavor is choco with a great bourbon presents. Big and chewy. One of my faves of the day.

Tap at Spuyten Duyvil. Amber coloured brew with a thin white head. Rich caramelly sweetness with a very strong sweet bourbony character. The bourbon here is quite lovely though... light and sweet with a prominent vanilla and even the grainy flavour of corn. Softly herbal and floral as it starts to warm up. The mix of oaky sweetness and bourbon really improves on the base beer significantly. It’s big and brash but it’s still quite restrained. I’ve got no complaints about this one.

Tap @ Spuyten Duyvil. Poured a hazy amber color with an off-white head. The aroma was nice and sweet. Bourbon and vanilla dominated. The flavor was even bigger on the bourbon and vanilla. Caramel acted as a base. Big long warmth on the finish. Medium to full bodied.

Tap at Spuyten Duyvil - poured a reddish brown - nose of bourbon, vanilla, herbal notes, and a little woody character - a little thin on the palate for its strength - a lot of vanilla and oak, a touch of coconut - a bitter herbal bit through the middle that doesn’t entirely work with the nuttiness and oak - not bad.

Had this brew at G.A.B.F. 08’’. Aroma is full of oak and bourbon. Color is a hazy golden/brown with a small head. Taste is a bold bourbon flavor with a hint of vanilla. After taste is very rich and sweet. Its an ok brew but a little too rich.

GABF 2008 poured a hazy amber with a lingering ring of ivory foam. Aromas of bourbon, oak, carmel, vanilla and spice. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of borbon, carmel, vanilla, oak and spice with a smooth warming bourbon finish.