WeeHeavySD (1871), San Diego (Hillcrest), California, USA Oct 5, 2008 Bomber from masonjer. Thanks. Shared with my girlfriend Cyn and friends over dinner. Pours black with a tan head. Nose is sweet, smoky, malty with a touch of bourbon. Taste is sweet and malty with a big malty back bone, well balanced and tasty. FeloniousCaper (465), Illinois, USA Oct 1, 2008 22oz Bomber
Recieved this in an ongoing trade with hoppymeal, thanks again Derek! Sustenance pours black with deep chestnut highlights when backlit. A creamy two fingers worth of mocha head rose on the pour and as it slowly fell left thick sheet lacing down the glass. Each drink leaves great, thick drink lines behind. The head eventually settles to a half finger cap atop the black body.
The first thing that hits my nose is the effects of the barrel "soaking" as the bottle implies. Damp oak, bourbon, and vanilla come forward in that order of intensity and although the barrel aging is most prominent it’s soft and allows the schwarz to come through nicely. Each swirl of the glass brings along a solid roastiness and espresso. A mouthwatering beer the second I bury my nose in the glass.
Flavor keeps in stride with the aroma. Roastiness and coffee grounds upfront lay the foundation for the barrel aging. The maltiness is present throughout the drink allowing the bourbon to be a complimenting, as opposed to dominating, characteristic. The damp oak falls back compared to the aroma. The bourbon is brought to the front, followed closely by vanilla, and last but certainly not least is the damp oakiness. The bourbon finishes things off with a nice heat and hit of booziness. This is a super high quality schwarz from Short’s.
One of the reasons I love schwarz biers is the body. This follows stride with some of the best but adds a bit of creaminess from the barrel aging. Medium body that leaves a slickness on the tongue.
For a barrel aged beer this is highly drinkable. The lighter body and a manageable abv keep this flowing without a problem. As a matter of fact I’m drinking this glass way too fast. I can’t slow down.
I thought this would be a good beer, just as all Short’s beers are, but I didn’t expect to be drinking something so good. This is a phenomenal beer. So many barrel aged beers are over the top in whatever liquid the barrel previously held but Short’s hit it on the head here. Another great beer from a brewery that’s becoming one of my favorites with every passing beer I drink.
6/7/08 incutrav (521), Woodbury, Minnesota, USA Oct 1, 2008 Shared bomber bottle w thirstyneck. Nice roasty aroma, some bourbon in there too. Mild sweetness, i didnt find the bourbon aspect to overpowering, as in others. Raisen/plum in there, followed by a little vanilla kiss. Nice brew! JCB (1071), Durham, North Carolina, USA Sep 12, 2008 22oz from GrandCruDrew - thanks! Nice reddish black body with a modest tan head, fairly minimal lacing. Initial notes in the aroma are brown sugar, slight yeast, and dark fruits. Not nearly as many roasted flavors as I’d expected, which was a mild disappointment, and the result was that the yeast flavors (which lasted throughout) clashed just a bit with the very well done barrel-aging, with wood, slight vanilla, and bourbon flavors emerging. Pleasant finish but not quite up to snuff. lb4lb (1462), Austin, Texas, USA Sep 5, 2008 Thanks to thickfreakness for sharing this biyatch!
WOOOOOOOO!!! DRINK DRUNK BEER BOOZEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Pours dark brown with light tan head. Smell is roasty and lightly smoky. Taste is slightly chocolatey and roasty with some strange light tartness. Fuck. I guess it was a bit above average. I LIKE FIRE PONIES!
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