Big Sky Bourbon Barrel Aged IPA

Brewed by Big Sky Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Missoula, Montana USA

On tap ar the Happy Gnome in St. Paul, MN. Pours a hazy rusty orange brew with a small off-white head that dissolves to a fair lacing. Aroma has the bourbon/wood scent with hints of Red Delicious apples, caramel and some citrus hops. Taste is medium body, lightly carbonated, smooth and a little syrupy. The hops gives this a dry finish but the bourbon taste sweeten out the hop bite that most IPA contain. It also has a long finish taste.

On tap at the happy gnome. Whoa. Boubon on the nose with some heavy citrus hops. Small off-white head on this hazy orange beer. Long duration on this bourbon flavored beer. The bourbon balances out, even overwhelms the hops. Smooth long bourbon finish.

Tap at the Happy Gnome. Clear shade of rust orange. The barrel is more apparent than the bourbon in the aroma, although the effect of the booze on the clementine hops is sort of interesting. Bourbon flavors of sweetcorn and caramel finished with a peated malt/wet wood taste. Lacks layers of complexity, but makes up for this with simple strangeness.

Dark amber pour with a head that is off-white. Nose is all orange and hoppy. Big hoppy up front then a nice toasty woody flavor comes out. Very nice and balanced flavor. For being aged 10 weeks in the barrel, bourbon is slighty there on the finish.

#911

On tap at the 4th anual Festival of Wood and barrel Aged Beer festival at GI Wriglyville Nov 4th, 2006.

Listed in the booklet as "Big Sky IPA" then saying "India Pale Ale aged in a Heaven Hill Barrel." I assume that this rating goes here rather than creating a new entry into the database. Now I dont have a rating entered for the Big Sky IPA but I do believe that I had it and remember that I enjoyed it but I am like uber intense on putting in what I had so maybe I really didnt have it. Clear copper orange with a thin white head. Nose is sharp with metallic hops. Taste is tangy sharp bitter hops with some cream and hints of vanilla. Agressive and hop strong but didnt really have much of a presence of bourbon. Maybe thats just the way BA IPA are.

<!-- B -->Bottle<!-- /B --> Pours a nice deep amber with a lasting off white head. Sturdy, and persistant lacing all the way down the glass. Big full woody, malt aroma and plenty of citrusy hops. Flavor is not as bitter as the aroma led me to gess, but full bodied and hefty. Moderately carbonated and a dry bite at the end. Thanks to <!-- B -->Buck Dich<!-- /B --> for bringing this one back.

1 L Bottle Pours out a auburn red. topped with a white head. A great juniper and citrusy note. A++ Thanks Buck Dich

1L Bottle: Clear dark gold with a large off-white head initially. Eventually it goes down to a small head as well as sticky lacing. Wonderful hop aromas of junipers and sweet citrusy notes. The hops taste prevails as well as a small bit of sweetness from the bourbon barrels. Awesome taste. To me, I really like the feel -- full and creamy. Another good brew from Big Sky! Thanks Bück Dich for sharing.