Olde Hickory Bardstown Brand Ale Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Brewed by Olde Hickory Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Hickory, North Carolina USA

Bomber probably from durhambeer. Pours mahogany with a dissipating white head. Smells of bourbon, cognac, oaky, fruity, spicy, earthy, sweet. Excellent, complex nose. Tastes of oak, bourbon, raisins, vanilla, oak, some light tarte hints, a touch of warming alcohol. Outstanding!

Bottle, purchased at the OHB Taproom in downtown Hickory. Pours deep amber, very slight haze, with a very fizzy tan head. Aroma is bourbon, caramel, alcohol, and some citrus hops. Flavor is rich--lots of sweet and sticky caramel, the bourbon comes through strong in the flavor but for once it tastes good (I don’t usually like the bourbon beers--maybe bourbon barleywines are the thing!!). Very thick and sweet/sticky finish, with a strong warming alcohol taste. Excellent beer.

SourFest II. 2007 Vintage. Courtesy of Donny. Copper color with a medium head. Solid vanilla and oak aroma. Wow... quite a menagerie of flavors going on here. The oak and vanilla start strong, fading into a carmel and rich malt and barley flavor. Bourbon is definitely noticeable. Kind of a raisiny fruitiness towards the finish. Delicious.

Veery expensive bottle from bruisin ales. Caramel and buttery sweetness. Oak bourbon notes. Very good. Reminiscent of alpine great.

[2007] Poured a clear amber color with a small, off white head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of caramel, bourbon wood, resiny pine, sherry, vanilla, and alcohol. Taste of sticky caramel malts, smoke, tobacco, pine, light citrus, vanilla, and a bourbony alcohol finish.

Name: Bardstown
Date: 04/12/2008
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Hickory Hops

Appearance: cloudy dark burnt orange, fine off white head, bits of drippy lace,
Aroma: huge dark caramel aroma with lots of bourbon and vanilla sweetness balanced by a touch of background oak,
Flavor: big bourbon and vanilla flavor, lots of oak adds balance, dark caramel adds extra sweetness, lots of fruityness rises out of the sweetness but is restrained by the oak, long lasting bitter finish,
Overall: should age relly well to allow the fruity character to ripen
-------- /> Name: Bardstown
Date: 05/03/2008
Mode: bottle
Words: cellar party

bottle follows the draft very closely, gets very alcoholic upon warming

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 4/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

Bottle sample at Knoxville Brewers Jam 2009. Poured a hazy dark brown color with a minimal frothy off-white head that was mostly lasted and good lacing. Moderate to heavy toasted sweet, woody and whiskey aroma. Medium to full body with a smooth texture and flat carbonation. Medium to heavy toasted sweet malt and bourbon flavor with a medium to heavy sweet finish of moderate to long duration. This is a standout brew.

Pours a transparent copper amber with a spotty-lacing light tan head. Aroma of sweet caramely malt and bourbon oak with some complex light fruity notes. Body starts with a nice viscosity and caramel malty sweetness balanced with plenty of oaky bourbon and light fruity notes before a warming finish. A pretty nice barrel-aged barleywine, but could use a little time to mellow.