New Glarus Unplugged Bourbon Barrel Bock

Formerly brewed at New Glarus Brewing Company
Style: Doppelbock
New Glarus, Wisconsin USA

Bottle shared by theisti. Pours a pretty, clear, deep copper with a wisp of off-white head that quickly diminishes to nothing. After the head settles, this looks more like bourbon than beer. The aroma is of light, sweet bourbon and cardboard. This bottle is most assuredly oxidized. The mouthfeel is on the light side of medium-bodied and silky, with a dry somewhat astringent finish. Sweet and malty with fruity oxidized notes and a solid bourbon backing. None of the vanilla, oak and caramel described in the commercial description came through for me, nor did the Brett. The makings of a great beer are present, but the integrity of this particular bottle seems to have been compromised. I’d love a chance to try a sample that tastes as the brewers intended. Thanks again for sharing this one, Tim!

12 oz. bottle from CaptainCougar, shared with Gregis. Pour is a clear ruby-golden brown with almost ne head. Aroma of Bourbon and some oxidation (almost wet earth). Taste is more of the Bourbon and the oxidation comes through pretty strong initially, though settles down as it warms a bit. After it warms, a sourness is revealed. Body was much thinner than I was expecting. I missed some of the flavor profile others mentioned, and I wonder if this one was a bit past its prime.

Warm amber color, minimal whispy head. First impression is mostly bourbon, becoming toffee, candy sugar, caramel, and oak. Finish is lingering and chewy, with hints of rum soaked cherries. Has a warming quality to it, not sure if this is the alcohol or bourbon. Overall an easy sipping treat. Another winner from New Glarus.

Clear reddish orange amber with a thin film of off white head. Sweet vanilla and oak peaks out over a medium malty caramel malt. Maybe a little maple? A bit fruit? Apple? Full smooth low carbonation a bit viscous and slick. Big bourbon up in my face! Sweet oak, a bit of cherry, some apple, caramel. Smooth with big bourbon in the back. Char seems to provide this beer with some acidity. Tannic. Bourbony finish. Realy interesting. I don’t think I picked out hte Brett, but I’d like to find me another bottle and see what happens!

Bottle pours orange brown with fiz and no head. The aroma is of vanilla and malt. The flavor hits front on with bourbon, oak, vanilla, bock maltiness, and some sour notes. The palate is a bit fizzy and slight. Overall, this is tasty, and a nice take on a doppelbock.

12oz bottle. Pours a clear reddish-amber with a nice head. Aroma is sweet and strong, with an immediately noticeable boozy bite alongside caramel, vanilla, and hops. Taste is surprisingly light, smooth, and lingering, with an initially sweet flavor of caramel and vanilla opening up into a long, warm finish of wood and strong-yet-mellow alcohol. Disappointingly light body, but still a solid autumnal brew.

A delightfully creamy head with a cola-like appearance, smelling of walnuts, toasted malt, and burnt sugar. The flavor is superbly sweet with hints of oak, hops, corn, and of course, bourbon with a toffee and chocolate finish. Would pair quite well with aged goudas to match in their complexity.

This beer was more barrel than bock — and more bourbon than beer. Dark amber pour with small white head. The aroma is oaky and alcoholic — and lots of bourbon. There are notesof malts and some sweet caramel and toffee. The flavor is moderately sweet and lightly bitter/sour. Strong taste of bourbon. Thin to medium body, watery texture. Warming finish. I enjoy bourbon barrel beers when the bourbon and barrel add a nice complementary liquor and oak backdrop to a good beer. This isn’t one of those. Still far from drain pour, but nothing to seek out again.