Oskar Blues Gordon (Whiskey Barrel)

Brewed by Oskar Blues Grill & Brew
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Lyons, Colorado USA

Draft @ Brick Store. Hands down, best oak-aged IIPA I’ve tried to date. Tons of oak, honey, and vanilla in the aroma and flavor. IIPA presence is still there, but more subdued. I love IIPA’s and have had some that were really hoppy, but I couldn’t drink more than one w/out feeling my taste buds burn. This one is really hoppy, but very dangerous due to its drinkability. Excellent brew. Much more complex than your average IIPA.

On tap at the Brickstore Pub. aroma of fresh spruce tips. flavors of vanilla sweetness. awesome hop finish would not quit! hazy golden hue, foamy cream on top. This was not as "sticky" as I remember original Gordon being. This was much more of an ideal IPA. This is exactly what an IIPA should be.

On tap. Poured a deeper and cloudy / muddy amberish color with an averaged sized frothy off white head. Aromas of whiskey, woody, pine, vanilla, and some caramel. Tastes of whiskey, wood/oak, vanilla, citrus, sugary, and caramel. I liked this one.

Cloudy brown appearance with faint head. Hops and oak on the aroma, but not overly bourbony. Similar taste with a smooth finish. The hops and bourbon oak in the flavor meshed perfectly.

On tap at Capital Ale House - Downtown on 06/04/2009. Somewhat hazy dark amber body with ruby highlights and a thin off-white head. Big oak, vanilla and caramel aroma with floral and citrus hops. Sweet whiskey, vanilla and caramel flavor with floral and citrus hops. Medium full body with moderately low carbonation.

Tap @ The Brickstore: Notes first. This beer especially when colder upon first being served was huge on fresh new oak. Woody and vanilla. But then as it warmed bourbon seemed to appear. Never overpowering but just a nice pleasant balance. I called Oskar Blues Grill and they said that it was bourbon barrel aged. So I am impressed that the oak could seem so fresh and new but be from a used barrel. I also like this better than the regular version. Poured a hazy brownish copper color with a medium sized creamy beige head. Big woody oak aroma. Vanilla and a strong (but balanced) backing of piney hops. Light bourbon notes appeared with warmth to the beer. The flavor has a great balance of acidic hops, vanilla, oak, malt and bourobn. The beer finished with malt and hops. Moderately bitter and semi-dry. Huge fresh hop burps from the high carbonation...Yum. Very nice indeed. It isn’t like drinking a hop killer and it isn’t like doing shots just a great balance. Nice warmth.

On tap at the Brick Store on 3/8/07 (Oak-Aged Gordon): Pours a transparent deep copper orange with a large, well-lacing frothy off-white head. Big, fresh, piny hoppy aroma has some sweet caramel malty notes with a nice, fresh, earthy, woody oaky presence with a touch of vanilla. Body starts with a nice light malty sweetness, good resiny hop flavor and the perfect balance of oak flavor with a slight hint of vanilla bourbon. Very drinkable with nice complexity. Finishes drier, crisp and bittersweet and hides the alcohol well. Much better than the regular version.

Draft at Brick Store Pub. Pours out a rosy amber with a small head. Sweet and fruity aroma with caramel and floral notes. Tastes of vanilla, citrus fruits, caramel and a hint of whiskey. Medium full body with a small amount of carbonation. My fiance loved this beer.