Weyerbacher Heresy

Brewed by Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Easton, Pennsylvania USA

12oz bottle into a snifter (2009). Straight pours deep opaque black with a 1.5-finger tan head that is thick but somewhat soapy that doesn’t stick around much and could be darker. The aroma is a bit of harsh bourbon and some oak - some alcohol, not super deep or complex, but with obvious vanilla, wood, and tannins. The flavor is big sweet malt up front with a hint of sour followed quickly by mild oak and bourbon characteristics including vanilla, wood, and tannins. This is then followed by stout flavors including mild dark chocolate and an obvious dose of coffee flavors. I really enjoy the mouthfeel and general way this beer goes down - really smooth and just feels great in the mouth for some reason - perhaps addition of oats or maybe the aging?

Bottle 65cl. @ post Borefts BF 09 hotel tasting
Clear dark brown color with a average to large, frothy, good lacing, mostly diminishing, light beige head. Aroma is heavy malty, dark roasted, coffee and chocolate notes, vanilla and wood notes. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and moderate bitter with a long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20091031]

A really interesting stout, this. Others commented about the strength of the oak flavor overcoming everything else in it, but that wasn’t my experience. It has an awesome overtone of almond -- almost marzipan -- that makes this a really pleasant strong stout. The aroma wasn’t anything terribly complex, but the taste really made up for that. A really drinkable stout.

Bottle at post Borefts BF 09 tasting. What a great run of beers we were on. Black, lasting tan head. coffee, all over it, lovely choc, smooth. and really drinkable. So well made.

Thanks to Ucusty for the bottle! Pours very dark brown/black with a thick and creamy brown head. Big bubbles. Aroma is alcohol, wood, chocolate, coffee, raisins. Body is a bit thin, probably due to the barrel effect. The flavor is fruity with plums and raisins. Also chocolate and a nice roasted quality in the finish with a touch of peat and wood. Its a tad astringent and not as full as I would like, but very tasty and nicely incorporated barrel treatment.

Sampled from 12-oz bottle shared by deliriumfest. Pours an opaque near black colored brew with a thin tan head that quickly dissipates to a film top. Aroma of toasted dark malt, a little soy, black licorice, coffee and vanilla. Taste is full bodied, smooth and thick, with flavors of toasted dark malt, coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and a touch of vanilla. Finish is semi-sweet with some chocolate/vanilla aftertaste and then a soy finish with alcohol warmth. Impressive Imp Stout.

Tar pour with a half finger beige head. Upon opening, I was literally blasted with oak. It felt like I was at a sawmill. Other aromas that come through: roast, booze, 100% cocoa chocolate, coffee, smoke and vanilla. Flavor is loaded with bourbon and vanilla- I’m a sucker for this combo. Very sweet- toffee and caramel sneak in with copious roast and some creamy cocoa nib. Slight warming booze quality near the finish. I’ve heard this was over oaked from a friend- I think they’re dead wrong. Coffee mocha sneaks in as well to create a well rounded gamut of flavors. Palate is thick, silky, alcoholic (despite the relatively low abv for the style) and somewhat dry. I was very impressed- I think this is under rated.