Indian Wells Brewing Co. ‘Whiskey Barrel Brew’ Amber Lager. 12% abv. Deep ruby color. Thin ivory head that falls to a sustaining collar. Fair retention, little lacing. Nose of sweet amber malt, grain, corn, white bread.
Front taste is caramel, herbal hops, faint whiskey, wood expression on the back end. Dry finish. Aftertaste is treacle, bitter herbal, vegetal, yeasty. Aroma of a sweet bread emerges as the temp rises. Medium body. Mouthfeel is cool at first, warm-hot as the temp rises to room. Thin, tacky, boozy, slightly carby.
This is sadly a mediocre beer at best, one that doesn’t benefit from its whiskey barrel treatment, a technique that usually guarantees some level of richness and flavor. It feels and tastes like a bourbon barrel aged beer that been watered down. The thin body betrays its image of a big beer, while the flavor profile is plain and weak.
Mt first thought was that perhaps an amber lager is not ideal for a barrel program, because t then I remembered the world class barrel beers from Firestone Walker, whose brewmasters can make barrel aged gold from any category of craft beer. I’ve been disappointed by Indian Wells before, a contract craft brewery that seems to keep their creations at arm’s length. Today’s tasting is unfortunately no exception. Pass on this one.
From the brewery:
"Truly unique! We started with a special amber style beer to complement the beautiful glow of great whiskey and then racked our special brew - which is made with 2-row malt, Munich, and Caramel Malts with Noble & Mt. Hood hops - into freshly decanted Evan Williams bourbon barrels where it lagers until ready. The outcome is a perfect "sipping beer" with a wonderful flavor, aroma and whopping 12% alcohol content! This beer is made in very small batches, under carefully supervised conditions. We're certain every beer drinker will love our very special limited quantity 'Whiskey Barrel Amber'!"
[source: mojavered.com]
"As a young boy in the 1940’s, Cliff Fyffe used to contemplate the old, broken whiskey barrels in the Evan Williams Distillery Yard. He noticed the barrels were giving off the aroma of the aged Kentucky whiskey in the summer heat. Cliff shared this memory with the Indian Wells Brewing Co. founders, Rick and Greg, who suddenly had an inspiration! They reached out and contacted Kentucky whiskey distilleries and purchased used oak barrels for their own whiskey barrel aged beer. Indian Wells Brewing Co. then left these barrels in the direct Mojave Desert sun until ripe. When the barrels were ready, they brewed a special 'amber' style lager by using their own natural artesian spring water, filling the whiskey barrels and allowing them to lager down to 34-degrees for months. Our own delicious whiskey barrel aged amber lager. It pairs well with BBQ and is just great for sipping. We hope you enjoy drinking it as much as we enjoyed making it."
[source: bottle]
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| The beer was completely flat within minutes of the pour. |
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