Arcadia Pappy’s Big Dick Bourbon Barrel Olde Ale

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

Light amber-brown. Vanilla nose with some chewy old ale-ness. Light molasses, with hints of alcohol towards the finish. Some brown sugar. The base beer does not seem like a compelling proposition and nothing comes together for me here.

On tap at Capones. Poured a deeper amberish color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of mainly bourbon, and vanilla. Tastes of the same...stronger bourbon, vanilla, caramel, and some citrus. The bourbon was definitely present all the way around in this one.

Courtesy of hopdog. Pours mahogany with a white head. Smells of oak, boozy, sweet, earthy. Tastes of caramel, bourbon, honey, earth. Enjoyable.

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.

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.

2009 MiBGWF (Pappy’s Big Dick BA Old Ale): Coppery almost brown deep hue with some head and an oily appearance. The nose is RYE WHISKEY along with some apricot, marzipan, bread, grains of paradise, bittersweet chocolate and a touch of wood. The taste is a big bold malt layer quickly balanced by snappy whiskey and barrel overtones. Fruity and boozy but in a good way. The mouth feel is oily, heavy and aggressive around the edges, warming upon the chest. This is a beer that is not afraid to be what it is, a full flavored Barrel Aged monster.

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.

Many thanks to Steve for the handbottle!.. I don’t think he could’ve filled it any higher.. poured clear garnety-amber with a two-fingered, creamy cap of beige head. The aroma picked up toasted whiskey, oak, and dark fruit on a sour impression over more fruit and some honey.. a little vinegary. The flavor was just delightful.. tangy whiskey and oak opened again, with warm caramel, toffee, and fruity character rolling onto the middle.. a second wash of vanilla and toasty oak followed, then it finished warm and tart with a nice array of malts and tasty barrel. Medium-plus bodied with low-moderate carbonation on the palate.. it didn’t quite flow great, but it was solid.. very glad to have tried it!