Berkshire Julios Bourbon Barrel Aged Scotch Ale

Brewed by Berkshire Brewing Co.
Style: Scotch Ale
South Deerfield, Massachusetts USA

Date: 12/16/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

clear dark brown, wispy beige head, streaks of drippy lace, sweet bourbon and dark caramel aroma with a nice vanilla character balanced by the oak, sweet sticky body, sweet bourbon flavor enhanced by the vanilla and balanced by the oak, dark caramel comes in from the back to add the scotch character, light earthyness,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.8/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

Hazy amber-red. Banana, fruity, some light toffee character. Soft, a little spritzy. There’s some barrel and alcohol towards the finish. Soft caramel is the main component, though.

22oz bottle acquired in trade with CaptainCougar (thanks!). Poured a medium to deep ruby-red color with a large sized of white head. Aromas of bourbon, vanilla, wood, earthy, and some caramel. Tastes of bourbon, vanilla, wood, caramel, and some nuts. I liked the bouron, woody, and vanilla in this. Alcohol content well hidden.

Bottle… O-Town Christmas Gathering ‘07… Cloudy caramel-colored ale with orange highlights and a small, creamy, off-white head. Great retention. Sweet bourbon and vanilla nose with lesser notes of caramel and toffee. Medium to full-bodied with restrained carbonation. The woodsy, vinous flavor features medium sweet-caramel and lightly bitter sourmash. Not overly boozy. Finishes sweet and earthy. Kudos to CaptainCougar for providing the samples!

Pours a transparent copper amber with a thin, frothy light tan head. Aroma of rich oaky fresh bourbon with a touch of sweet caramel malt. Starts a little thinner than expected with a good sweetness and oaky, earthy bourbon character with a mild bitterness toward to peaty, smoky finish. Warmer bourbon complexity thoughout. A decent BA Scotch ale.

@dmacs UFC100 Gathering-I got as bonus in trade with mcox90, thanks–22oz bomber–pours a thin tan head and copper color. Aroma is bourbon, medium malt-caramel. Taste is bourbon, medium malt-caramel, dark fruit-cherry, alcohol, hops bite. Too much alcohol, too hot.

Bomber. Pours amber with a tan head. Smells of bourbon, caramel, clove and some woody hints. Taste is boozy with the bourbon overshadowing the scotch ale base. Some caramel creeps in only to be taken again by some alcohol. Mouthfeel is slick with a finish that is too bourbony. The bourbon actually interferes with the enjoyment of this brew.

My Bottom Line:
Vanilla-like bourbon notes overtake the light caramel malts, while red fruit and alcohol warmth aim for complexity.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A veil of foam tops the nearly translucent mahogany.
-The long wooden barrel character is a tad abrasive if you’re not into that sort of thing.
-The soft carbonation makes for some serious sipping, as the flavors are intense.
-I would have preferred a few more residual sugars to try and balance out the bourbon barrel presence which, right now, is too brash for me.

Bottle.