Big Bear Bourbon Barrel Aged Double IPA

Brewed by Big Bear Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Coral Springs, Florida USA

Draft… Lightly hazy orange ale with a small, creamy, off-white head. Good retention. Earthy, citrusy nose – pine, leather, grapefruit and only a rumor of oak. Maybe some Munich, caramel and/or crystal malts. Surprisingly, no bourbon. Full-bodied with a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and prickly carbonation. Bitter! Hearty malt backbone, but mainly just kick ass, earthy, grapefruit and pine hop bitterness. Lengthy, very bitter, almost-caustic finish. If I were a hophead, I would be ecstatic about this one, but I’m more of a bourbon barrel, imperial, big time malty, double IPA guy. This beer leaves me wanting more malt and a more refined flavor. I would have enjoyed this bourbon barrel aged beer a lot more if it had actually been aged in a bourbon barrel. The bitterness is way too intense and sharp for my palate. Also, maybe would be better on cask or nitro.

Hazy amber. Big hoppy nose is very woody with papaya notes. Bitter, refreshing, herbal, woody, citrusy...fun stuff. Very complex yet seamlessly integrated. Outstanding.

Cloudy amber dark orange rusty color. Smells like a pine forest with lots of evergreen, cedar, and a slight sweetness. Super quaffable, dangerous. Bursting with flavor, with an astringent tobacco finish and hints of smoke. Great hopping, excellent brew.

tap at Jupiter brewfest. Great beer! orange color with a nice light head. Aroma has some great citrus hops with some woodsy notes. Flavor is a nice kick of hops with some woody malts. This beer is delicious. Matt really knows his beer!

On tap at the JCBF, pours a orangish gold, cloudy. Big time nose of grape, citrus, and a bit of mollasses (from the barrel aging maybe?). Taste is amazing. Hugely hoppy and very bitter which is not my thing but tempered by an amazing smooth roundness to the malt, definitely some vanilla lingering in the finish along with the orange and grapefruit. Complex and brilliant, many felt this was the best in show, I’d be hard pressed to argue.

on tap-pours a foamy/bubbly off white head and cloudy gold color. Aroma is citrus/pine hops bitter. Taste is grapefruit, citrus/pine hops bitter, good balance with medium malt-some sweet. Nice for 1 or 2. OK carbonation.

On tap. A little below 9% ABV. Amber pour with a hoppy vanilla nose. Impressive double IPA. Good balance of hops and alcohol with an excellent smoothness delivered by the barrel aging. The floral, hoppy and vanilla components follow throughout the taste and leave a pleasant, slightly bitter finish. Great Florida brew.