It's always a difficult task when deciding which brews to choose when doing a "XII's" (Twelves) review... For those who don't know, XII's is where I review two beers which have been distributed to the masses in vessels that are 12oz or less... Usually this is a fun venture and allows me to view the brews I often look over when solely searching for a bomber... But, lately I've been running into quite a few of duds when searching amongst the smaller containers, and it's frustrating because often times it's not just a single beer I've invested in... Though it does sometimes suck ass to have five beers left of a sixer to get through before I can justify going to get something new, it's all part of the journey, and helps me appreciate the brews which are truly exceptional...
I had initially gone into this edition of XII's with the idea that I'm gonna go for beers with exceptionally high ABV's!! I had my Avery "Uncle Jacob's Stout" alongside my DogFish Head "120 Minute IPA" for a quick while before I got to sit down and begin these write ups, and then it happened... I don't usually take the time to point out the beers I don't overly enjoy, but why the 120 Minute receives that much praise is beyond me!! Nevertheless, that brew received a healthy scratch for this write-up and Off Color's "Bare Bear," with it's weird, sexually charged graphic, filled the slot...
Off Color Brewing - Bare Bear [Finnish Style Sahti | Rye Beer Brewed With Juniper Berries] (12oz ---> Penrose Brewing Goblet : 7.0% ABV : 24 IBU)
Though it poured seemingly light, it still seemed as if the body of the beer was still on the fuller side... I poured it rather gently, as I've never had a "Finnish Style Sahti" before and didn't want to overdo the pour and have foamy beer overflowing from my goblet... A smaller, sandy colored, inch high head rose and descended on top of the beer in a relatively quick manner, and left virtually no lacing on the glass walls, nor did a retentive cap form from the settled head... The brew's an extremely deep orangish, red-brown, that's not entirely opaque but has a very cloudy, hazy hue to it nonetheless... On the nose are bready, roasty malt notes, some traces of what smells like a yeast with a bit of funk to it, along with some sweetness as well, the most distinctive aroma being honey... Upon tasting, I immediately noticed a very fruity essence to it, most likely being the juniper berries that it has been brewed with... Seeing as how I've never knowingly consumed an edible juniper berry, nor have I ever developed a very large hankering for gin, I'm not completely certain that's the flavor I'm detecting, but it's a fair guess... Along with those berries, a healthy dose of rye was present, giving the beer an extremely bready flavor profile, which complimented the fruity flavors as nicely as jam would toast!! I'm not entirely sure what style of beer a sahti is, but the second wave of flavors is predominantly that of a funky, Belgian like yeast... It has a slight funk to it, but nothing overbearing, as the doughy bread-like nuances carry over to help the yeast elements mellow out... The finish really rounds out the brew, and though it's rather crisp, the rye and juniper still manage to tango on the palate a quite while before dancing into the night... The mouthfeel on this beer is extremely nice, and fits the brew excellently... It's full enough to let the bolder, fuller flavors take charge the way they do, but it's light enough to allow the yeast play a strong role amongst all the other flavors... Overall, this beer is very well executed and could be easily enjoyed in the warmer spring months which are to come!! Another great brew - Cheers!! *** Post Script *** After looking into Sahti style beers, they originate from European farmhouses, are brewed with juniper berries and twigs, and are traditionally not hopped... I'm not entirely sure of Off Color's brewing process, but I do know they add "Nugget" hops to give the beer some balance, though the hop presence is hardly detectable!!
Avery Brewing - Uncle Jacob's Stout [Stout Aged In Bourbon Barrels] (12oz ---> Penrose Brewing Goblet : 16.9% ABV)
An extremely aggressive pour, that was directly into the center of the goblet from a decent height yielded a massive 3 inch milk chocolate colored head composed of large rocky bubbles. The head retention is amazing, as a matter of minutes passed by before it was solely a retentive cap sitting amongst a slightly soapy lacing left behind from the faded head. It's color is jet black and is opaque as a black hole in the furthest of galaxies!! A gentle swirl released a giant whiff of roasted malts, as well as a hefty dose of bourbon and vanilla on top of that!! After the bourbon hit my nasal palate, I was under the impression that this could very well be a booze bomb... I mean, 16.9% is no slouch with respects to beer ABV's, and six months is no short amount of time for a stout to be barrel aged, but this lil' devil had one hell of a warmth to it on the nose!! Among the bourbon elements, there are also hints of dark berries as well as a slight earthiness to it, something along the lines of wet stone and tobacco... Wow, this brew really packs a mouthful as it explodes with flavors as it hits the palate!! The initial elements I picked up were the sweets, more berry with some sweet chocolate and caramel woven in there as well... Though this brew is very forward when introducing all the facets of it's flavors, mid-palate is where it truly begins to flourish and spread its wings!! The sweetness, though pleasant in it's modest serving, is short lived once the stouts roasted malts show up alongside the barrel flavors imparted into the beer... The barrel aging brings with it both a heartiness as well as a sweetness which compliment each other and balance one another out excellently... The finish develops itself into an outstanding beverage, which incorporates multiple elements into an exceptionally well crafted brew... The bourbon barrel is, again, a foremost component amongst the flavors which continually develop well after this drink has entered my stomach... Though the 16.9% rears its head once again during the finish, and many of those elements ride a warm boozy wave whilst they develop, the warmth is actually highly enjoyable... The barrel develops into a warm bready flavor, whilst the the fruits meld themselves into sweet chocolate and smooth vanilla... There are traces of coffee, and some earthy tobacco-esque flavors in there as well, but they do tend to get overpowered by the boozy warmth and bourbon flavors in the long run though... Which, ultimately is not a horrible thing, since those elements are so enjoyable!! The mouthfeel on this beer is magnificent, it's extremely full and hosts the delightful flavors within this monstrous stout extremely well!! Overall this brew is outstanding on all fronts and has very few flaws to it... Could I have waited a year or 10 to have enjoyed this brew - ABSOLUTELY!! Am I glad I only waited a matter of hours to indulge in this outstanding brew - OF COURSE!! As with most Avery brews, this one is outstanding and further reinforces the reputation of high level artistry with which they brew their beers... Another great brew - Cheers!!
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