Schlafly Special Release Bourbon Barrel Ale

Brewed by Saint Louis Brewery
Style: American Strong Ale
Maplewood, Missouri USA

First, huge thanks to brother Lou (bluesandbarbq to those on BP) for sending me this beauty. I was able to share it and about 14 other beers for my brothers 44th birthday party and it was fantastic.

The beer pours out a solid copper/amber color, clear with a pillowy off-white fluffy merengue head. Big time vanilla in the aroma, with waffle-cone-like aroma’s wafting upward combining the cooked caramel, vanilla wrapped goodness all around. On the palate, the strength of the beer is the bourbon-y goodness that asserts itself right there...on the spot. The bourbon, some caramel, the vanilla, some alcohol...all done incredibly well. This is my first beer from Schlafly and damned if it wasn’t firing on all cylinders right from the get go.

Bottle thanks to nqualls. Clear red-brown, with a thin off white ring. Aroma is vanilla, light bourbon, oak, caramel. Taste is thin, light carbonation bite, oak, bourbon, vanilla, caramel.

Thanks to Paul for this awesome beer. I’ve been holding onto it for my last beer, with the exception of the other bourbon i have set away for at least a year. Pours a beautiful copper-mahogany colour with a modest sized off white head. (Just saw fret put the same head description, whoa!) I’m all stuffed up from all the drywalling i was doing today but i can detect a bit of bourbon. Taste was smooth and mouthfilling with some whiskey and almond notes shining through. Rich cherry, apple and cinnamon flavours on the finish. Just a faint touch of bitterness rounds out this well balanced brew. Thanks Paul for sharing this great beer with me!

The Dan Journal #270. Tasted 7/2/09. 12oz bottle. Filtered with a dark golden hue. Spiraling ring of off-white head. Aromas are a syrupy and woody note. Nutty notes with a mild burn in the nostrils. Medium bodied with a super smooth body. Sticky finish with a faint hop presence. Good mild burn with great malts.

12oz bottle. Pours clear amber with a thin off-white head. Malty nose consisting of caramel, bourbon, vanilla, tobacco and cat food. Creamy vanilla flavor with a boozy finish.

Bottle from Nqualls. Thanks for getting this up on Bowling Green. Pours amber with a dissipating off white head. This thing smells like cut Bourbon. Medium bodied with ultra fine carbonation and a slightly syrupy texture. The flavor really follows the description, as you sense the characteristics of each blend. Vanilla and oak on the barleywine side, and caramel and citrus from the Pale Ale side. The finish is definitely all bourbon, but more of the sweet vanilla side of it. Interesting blend- and what I like is that its not too hot or boozy. This does lack some hops to bring more balance and complexity to the table, but that is just a personal opinion.

Pours amber brown with a nice off white head. Aroma is caramel with hints of vanilla and bourbon. Taste is nice pale malts, with hints of vanilla and oak coming through. Not bad, I like the experimental draft (which is still on tap at Liquor Barn Springhurst) a little better than the bottle version, although the bottle has a tad bit more bourbon flavor.