New Glarus Unplugged Bourbon Barrel Bock

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

Poured a rubish color with average head. Aroma was STRONG bourbon and oak. Flavor was much the same, i had a hard time tasting anything that resembled beer. The bourbon was very overwelming and a mess big time.

Bottle (12oz). Shared with blankboy & lagerloather, my bottle via trade with Ughsmash. Deep ruby-copper, average off-white lasting head. Initial aroma - bourbon and sweet tangerine, then alcohol and grassy hops - I like it, not TOO bourbony. Taste follows, with hints of chocolate toffee - very warming and balanced. Thick, syrupy body, alcoholic and somewhat still mouthfeel - very good; excellent malt and more-or-less restrained bourbon presence.

Pours clear, brown, with no head. Fresh, clean brett-style aroma with some sweet bourbon aroma. Moderate mouth feel with a sweet, lightly cherry and caramel flavor. Bourbon slowly slips through. Phenomenal flavor!

Courtesy of Styles

Bottle: The aroma consists of apple, caramel, cherry, vanilla, moderate oak, and faint alcohol. It pours a bright transparent reddish-orange with a half inch off-white head that leaves behind a thin webbing of lacing. The flavor starts with apple, faint caramel, light vanilla, and moderate cherry. the finish has some faint floral and oak notes. The bourbon is very light and takes a back seat to the oak.

Bottle. Aroma of vanilla, oak, caramel, and a slight alcohol hotness. There’s also some sweet roasted malt, grassy hops and a hint of butterscotch. Pours a rich amber with dark copper highlights. Interesting flavor profile: roasted malt, toffee, dry wood, granite and a slight sourness on the finish. Medium to fill bodied with decent carbonation. Interesting use of the brett... I’m interested to see what a year of cellaring does to this one.

Bottle courtesy of Monger: Poured a light brown color bock with a small foamy head with limited retention and some lacing. Aroma is dominated by bourbon notes with light vanilla notes also noticeable. Taste is dominated by bourbon and vanilla notes with a good dose of malt and sweetness to balance the barrel. Body was about average with some medium carbonation. I appreciated the fact that the bourbon was not too hot and covered the whole taste and no explicit notes of alcohol were discerned. A bit one-sided overall but still an enjoyable beer from a fine brewer.

12oz bottle. English pint. Aroma is tannic oak, tart cherries, vanilla, lemon, cream with underlying brown sugar and bourbon. Reddish copper color with a small, but persistent head. Taste is tannic oak, cider, black pepper, alcohol, cinnamon, dark and light fruits, caramel, with a tart, flanders reddish taste that lurks in the background and is the dominant flavor into the finish. Very complex. The bourbon barrel is a little much, but it will fade and make this an amazing beer in a couple years. Luscious body but finishes dry due to, at least; tannins, tartness, & alcohol.

8/03/2007: New Glarus Unplugged Bourbon Barrel Bock pours a nice, clear ruby-honey-amber color. It is sweet and malty to the nose with hings of oak and raisin. A sweet, toasted and lightly roasted malt flavor is accompanied by wonderful flavors of bourbon, raisins, and other dark, dry, and aged fruits. The medium-bodied beer has a smooth texture. This is a big beer that doesn’t come across as huge. It is really well-blended and kind of like a light barleywine laced with some bourbon. Very good! Another great beer for New Glarus and one of my favorite of the recent Unplugged beers.

12 oz bottles sent to me by buckybeer shared at the Cincinnati RateBeer Gathering. Thanks for sharing! Rating #70 for this beer...