I bought three bottles of this when it first hit the GA shelves a few months ago, just getting around to opening one this evening.
22 oz bottle, $6.99 across the board in Atlanta, GA, USA.
The Weyerbacher anniversary series has a mixed reputation. Often described as being too big for their own good, they have been reported as muddled, difficult to drink and generally poorly balanced so I’m approaching this with a little trepidation and relatively no expectations. At close to 14.0% ABV, there is plenty of potential for a messy, difficult brew to say the least. We’ll see.
Poured into the Terrapin 22 oz snifter in small doses, there are no surprises in the appearance. Jet black with an inky viscosity. Head is very small, lace hardly present. A few spots of coffee mocha film and swirls atop the ruby red highlighted body.
Nose is mainly a sinus clearing alcohol bomb, but despite its obvious nature, it is not horribly overpowering in the taste.
Tastes reflect the nose. It’s alcohol rich, but it’s drinkable. Don’t get me wrong, the heat IS there but it is smoother than one would think it would be. Bitterness is in check, this reminds me of a fine Scotch. The burn is mild but definitely there! Not shocking. To say that the alcohol is “well hidden” would be a stretch, but it does seem manageable to me. Not an easy feat to achieve with such a massive brew.
I do not find this particularly complex just very a big alcohol bomb. Having said that, it is MUCH better than I expected. Age on this will be very interesting.