New Glarus Unplugged Bourbon Barrel Bock

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

decaturstevo’s 2008 Zapit Tasing Tasting. Sample from a bottle thanks to decaturstevo. Dark copper red with a slight off white head. Aroma is strong smokey bourbon, vanilla, and oak. Taste is light chocolate, caramel, then a rush of bourbon.

This one pours a dark hazy amber that clears up as it warms. There is very little head or carbonation and no lacing. Smell is overwhelmingly bourbon and oak, which suits me fine. There is some caramel malts and vanilla as well underneath the booze. The taste is much sweeter than the nose suggests with lots of sweet malts, caramel and vanilla. The bourbon is present but less dominant though it comes through pretty strong in the finish along with the wood. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and slightly thin with almost no carbonation. The flavors were a little disjointed in this one so I wouldn’t rate it among my favorite dobbelbocks. Still a tasty brew especially for bourbon lovers.

12oz bottle. Pours a cloudy burnt orange amber with a small off white ring for a head. Massive nose of Bourbon, oak, and vanilla. Flavor held all of the same elements as the nose with a added light booze kick, I’m guessing around 8%. The barrel aging really takes this beer to another level, great stuff!

In short: An unbalanced sweet digestive beer with a strong candy flavour. Not my thing.
How: Bottle 12oz, about 1 year old. From hopscotch, thanks a lot Eric
The look: Clear amber body with almost no head
In long: Nose is sweet with hints of barley and red-liquorice candies. Body is crisp. Carbonation is relaxed. Taste is rather simple with of focus on sweet treats. Hard-candies of all kinds including some spicy ones, red-liquorice candy-stick, digestive alcohol candies (rum and such), vanilla and a good shot of crème de menthe to top it all off. Forget about the hops, there’s no balance in this beer. Despite its name, there’s no real bourbon character present. Some barrel vanilla maybe but no bourbon. If it wasn’t for the bubbles, this could pass as a digestive drink. Quite drinkable but about as balanced as a one-legged blind-man with a 30 pounds back-pack.

Bottle acquired via trade with iowaherkeye...Thanks Joey!!! Now this is a beer that infuses the bourbon barrel with the brew delicately. It accentuates, rather than overwhems, the palate. If I wanted bourbon, I’d buy a bottle!!! Absolute artistry!!! Aroma is brown sugar, toffee, caramel and a slight nuttiness. Oak, vanilla, and bourbon (of course) find their way to the nose but more subtly. All of the aromas work their way into the flavor. Tasty, drinkable, and fairly complex. Thanks again Joey for a great trade!!!

[Bottle] shared by JK. Pours deep brown with a medium tan head. Aroma is caramel nicely balanced by vanilla and bourbon. Flavor matches, with a nice melding of flavors and great balance.

A big thanks to the great trader that hooked me up with this one (not remembering off hand). This one has a warm amber color with a reddish tinge. Overwhelmingly sweet aroma with some rich vanilla, oak, cereal, and dark fruit. Flavor has a light barrel taste with just enough oak, vanilla, and woody funk. Sweetness is well managed by the barrel and results in a smooth and very drinkable brew. I am always a fan of NG beers and this one delivers as well!

12oz from ucusty - thanks, David! Lovely amber pour, with a slight but very fizzy head. Nose is typically suggestive New Glarus oaking, with vanilla leading strongly along with woody flavors, and hints of the bourbon to come. I wonder, is this fairly easy sipper using Uff-da as the base beer or is it a new recipe? Either way, it’s a very pleasant brew - rich but still drinkable, chewy malts but hints of the promised Brett, and a nice sting from the bourbon on the finish. Another winner from this great brewery.