BridgePort Bourbon Barrel Old Knucklehead

Brewed by BridgePort Brewing (Gambrinus Company)
Style: Barley Wine
Portland, Oregon USA

Bottle: Poured an hazy deep amber/copper color ale with a medium size fomay head with good retention with some good lacing. Aroma of sweet barley malt with very subtle hints of toffee and bourbon. Taste is a mix between some sweet barley malt with some notes of toffee. Vanilla and bourbon notes are very difficult to notice. Full body with good carbonation and no alcohol was discernable. Not as compelx as I would have liked it to be but very good nonetheless.

5oz Taster - Fred Fest 2008 - Hair of the Dog Brewing - Portland OR
Aroma – Huge woody aroma, tons of malt and lots of fruit in the nose.
Appearance – Dark Amber in color, little to no head and clear.
Flavor – Woody, malty and huge barley wine flavor. Fruit essence in the flavor also.
Palate – Nice Mouthfeel, great texture with a dry finish.
Overall – This was a great beer for the day. Super woody this beer ages well. The Bourbon was subtle as the fruit and wood flavors where much stronger. A great winter warmer for sure.

Bottling No. 12. Aged over 6 months. Pours a dark and lightly hazy crimson colored body. A foamy, beige colored head leaves thin arches of lace behind on the glass. Aromas include tons of stewed raisins, caramel, cherries, figs, and a warm bourbon-vanilla oak influence. Flavors follow suit, sweet from the caramel and stewed dark fruits, with a subtle bourbon and wood component. Earthy hop notes do well to balance things out, taming the sugary components and enhancing drinkability. The bourbon is not overpowering here, which is nice. Medium-full bodied and sugary up front, the mouthfeel finishes dry and warm from the big alcohol content. Overall, this is a very nice brew, but having consumed it just prior to a BA Old Numbskull, it cannot help but be outclassed.

9/27/2009: BridgePort Bourbon Barrel Old Knucklehead (No 12)... Aroma: Cherry-vanilla bourbon with some caramel maltiness. Appearance: Bright reddish amber; collapsing beige head. Flavor: Caramel, prune, vanilla, hint of bourbon; decent hoppiness. Palate: Medium-bodied; mellow; cask-like mouthfeel; creamy. Overall: Decent attempt, but the regular Old Knucklehead is better.

22 fl. oz. bottle shared by alexsdad06. Thanks Brad! Rating #82 for this beer.

poured into a Duvel glass...loads of bourbon notes spill out...I want to bring it closer... Dark, opaque, deep, ruddy crimson brown, lush creamy head, Aroma seeps out leather, molasses, dark fruit, raisins, carob, spice...bright berries and cherries....burnished, rich, ridiculously full...malt and hops at play. Taste: huge whiskey flavor, big, beefy, lush and tasty. ..bodacious...thick and slick on the palate...sweet and luscious.... "a special brew...to be savored"... I am savoring! hot, sparkling, full of flavor, indulgent...a great swath of fat bourbon goodness all over the place. damn, it’s something else. An excellent indulgence, beautiful nightcap....I almost wished I’d saved it to share with friends, but...hell, I was thirsty!

From a 22-oz. bottle from BridgePort BrewPub--Deep ruby color with a small off-white head. Woody, boozy, grainy. Oak and bourbon in the background. Lots of fruitiness on the tongue. Very nice beer and quite affordable.

Thanks to toncatcher for bringing this to the Alesmith Release party line tasting. Aromas were very sweet with dark fruit flavored malts. Flavors were similar but almost too sweet. Alcohol in the flavor too. Just OK

Amber colored with a light head. Alcohol in the smell also malts, sweet. Some body that is sticky. Caramel heavy in the taste and smell. Dark fruits and surgary.