Weyerbacher Blasphemy

Brewed by Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Easton, Pennsylvania USA

April 2007 - Really nice. Light caramel pour with decent head and lacing. Strong aroma of oak and fruit. Nice blend of fruit, caramel and even a hoppy bitterness. Really strong oak/bourbon barrel which makes this beer a tasteworthy twist on a good style. Really good.

Pours with a frothy, initially fat-two-finger thick, light tan colored head that sits on top of a rich, reddish-tinged, amber colored brew that shows a lightly hazy, red-tinged, honey color when held up to the light. The aroma starts out sweet and fruity, but quickly picks up vanillin oak aromas and touches of oak-derived butterscotch. These notes are followed by deeply caramelized malt aromas, spicy wood notes, some toasty grain and more concentrated fruit notes of prunes and raisins. Touches of spicy, lightly warming alcohol towards the finish add some complexity, but somehow this seems to be missing a depth and richness that one would expect from the nose of a Quad, much less an oak aged one.

Slightly soft and chewy up front, a nice, prickly carbonation adds a bit of zip to the middle of this brew and it even seems to dry out a bit in the finish. The beer is sweet overall, though not quite sticky, and this accents a middle that tasted distinctly of bananas; it is distinct enough that I don’t know how I don’t get any banana notes in the aroma. It is perhaps a bit over carbonated for the chewy, lightly viscous texture as the two seem to clash a bit, but a quick swirl of my glass takes care of that. The oak adds lots of character to the flavor without drowning out the base beer; the middle sees a mix of soft vanillin and light tannins kick in, while as we move to the finish the beer first picks up solid butterscotch, then spicy oak notes and a touch of tannic astringency that lingers on for quite some time. Other fruit notes of prunes, fresh (though concentrated) figs, light cherry flavors and a touch of apricot; this last combines with a light nuttiness and the lightly noticeable alcohol to produce a flavor combination reminiscent of Amaretto.

One of the better Weyerbacher beers that I have had. I get the sense that the base beer here (a Quad) would not be as complex or tasty as I would want from the style, but the addition of the oak adds an extra dimension that really helps to make this beer work.

22 oz. bottle, from slob - thanks man. Pours a deep ruddy orange-bronze color with a moderate sized off-white head. Aroma of dark fruit, lots of wood and bourbon notes, vanilla, fig, clove and raspberry. Sweetish, with molasses, citrus, candi sugar, spice, blackberry, brandy cedar, alcohol and of course a lot of bourbon barrel flavors. This one is a little over-oaked for me. Full body, gently tingly carbonation.

A deep amber/brown pour with a slight gooey head and lace. A boozy aroma with hints of caramel. A flavor that is almost hot even to my standards. Maltiness and abv dominste the flavor as well. Carbonation is agressive but mouthfeel is solid. A really big abv flavor for just 11% not one of my favorites.

Smallish offwhite head. Amber body. Deep complex wooden oak vanilla and spice aroma with herbal caramelly fruity vinuous notes. Deep sweet alcoholic toffee and caramel taste with fruity apple and alcohol notes. A touch of vanilla as well. Excellent, but maybe a bit too alcoholic. (0.341l bottle from yngwie.)

Pours an amber color with a white head. Aroma is caramel, raisins, oak, vanilla, and alcohol. Flavor is malty, caramel, vanilla, oak, and alcohol.

Appearance: Pours a hazy, dark copper body with a small, fizzy, white head. Smell: Oaky, alcohol-drenched aroma. Lesser notes of raisins, vanilla, toasted coconut, and malts, but you can easily foresee the punishment coming up in the flavor. Taste: Strongly oaken and boozey all wrapped up with a harshness. No surprises there. Unfortunately, it squashes the delicate vanilla, coconut, and malt flavors. Mild spiciness. Hint of nut shells. Golden raisins marinated in ethanol. Boozey, astringent finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: Maybe a few years in the cellar would help Blasphemy come together better, but as it stands, I’d rather just stick with the QUAD. Even the dude on the label is struggling to keep it down.

22oz - Cloudy red, no head, bourbon and chocolate on nose. Creamy blueberry coating the palate, yielding to an astringent assault. Reminded me of a sherry.