New Glarus Unplugged Bourbon Barrel Bock

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

bottle going on two years shared by psprings... coppery orange brown pour with a small whitish head. the aroma is rude with bourbon... at first. luckily it settles down to reveal aged grain, vanilla, warming spiciness, chocolate, sugar cane, wood, minerals, an odd tartness and a distinct note of rotting fruit. if you can imagine a combination of barley, apple juice, red grapes and red grape juice mixed together and you forgot to put it in the fridge so it didn’t spoil... that would be it. it is strange for sure. intriguing. perplexing... the palate is surprisingly not sweet. the bretts and age must have done their business... the flavor is really grape-y... kinda like tart spoiled red wine/sour fruit mixed with wood, grain, spice, watered down bourbon, vanilla and brown sugar (if it can be imagined without the sweetness). the medium body is a bit syrupy yet tartness keeps it drinkable and makes my brain hurt while i try to figure this thing out...8/3/6/3/15/3.5

pours a ruby brown. Nose is bourbon, sweet malts, caramel, wood, vanilla, floral hops and slight funk. Flavor is much the same as the nose with a great malt backbone. Good full body. One of the better UnPlugged.

How did I forget to rate this? Lots of bourbon in the flavor. Sweet, bocky flavor, some caramel, grain. No hops. Flavor again has bourbon, and it is a bit too much for me. A fine beer, if you like a lot of bourbon. Well made for sure.

Courtesy fantomas23. Pours a dark brownish red color with a small, foamy white head that settles to a thin film. The aroma shows dark fruits, figs, tart cherries, toasted caramel, and vanilla laden oak. The aroma is really nice showing great depth with a touch of bourbon throughout. The flavor is malty up front with caramel and chocolate, followed by dark fruit, cherries, and oak flavors. The bourbon is very well integrated never overpowering any of the flavors. Vanilla from the oak comes through to smooth things out as well. Medium bodied, smooth with subtle carbonation and long lasting finish with bourbon kissed fruit on the finish. This is a great beer, and a great example of the use of bourbon barrels.

Appearance: Pours a nearly clear, dark amber body with a frothy, off-white head. Smell: Sweetish, candylike nose with notes of caramel, brown sugar, vanilla sugar. Dash of spice countered with another dash of sugar. Plus, the boozy wafts and fruity scents of dark fruits and maybe a bit of cherry as well give it a schnapps-like zing to it. Taste: Decidedly sweet taste of caramel candy, dark brown sugar, and toasted grains. Fruity tastes of ripe, juicy plums, cherries, and raisins. Bourbon blessed notes of vanilla and lightly toasted oak along with the merest bit of tannic astringency. Pinch of spice. Very slight Brett quality, but, for me, it’s tucked away deep in the background. Earthy hops with just a mere touch of bitterness for the commercial break, then it’s back to swimming in deep, sugar-coated malts and bourbony accents. Finishes sweet and warming with lasting tastes of sugar and spice. Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium-low carbonation. Smooth, even luscious mouthfeel. Drinkability: Quite good and an all-around enjoyable sipper that’s perfect as a soothing nightcap or even as part of a complete, healthy breakfast! Another hit in the Unplugged series.

Got this one in a trade from leftmindedrighty. First New Glarus beer. A: Poured a leathery copper with a thin and quickly fading head layer. S: Sweet boozy bourbon aroma. Barrel aged familiarity. Caramel. Brown sugar. T: Not as boozy as the nose, but still delicious. Toffee/caramel flavors. Brown sugar continues. M: Full bodied, but not too heavy. A nice barrel aged beer. I wish they all could be this balanced. D: Sneaky stuff. Really good! I haven’t had barrel aged beer this balanced. Whether it is the bock, the age or the beer all together, this is a great combo.

Thanks be to the Cheeseman. Thick, syrup, lots of oak in the aroma. Dark fruits, more oak in the flavor. Pretty good.

12 oz. bottle. Pours a clear deep amber/mahogany color with a medium sized off white head with good lacing. The aroma is fruity emphasizing cherries, raisins, and apricot?, light bourbon, moderately sweet malt, and a touch of Brett. The flavor is toasted, vanilla, oak, bourbon, cherries, and mild yeast. The mouthfeel is wonderfully smooth and full. This rating is from notes, but I am interested to see how this one has aged.