31. Uinta Cockeyed Cooper Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine 2011

The Uinta Cockeyed Cooper (http://www.crookedlinebeers.com) was the draught beer offering I tried while perusing the wares at the Appalachian Vintner.  I decided to go with this based on the recommendations of the owner/worker at the store.  It was a 2011 vintage, which means that it had been aged for a year or so before they cracked it open.  I had struck out on the cask offering as they were out, and I came to find out that I struck out with the Cockeyed Cooper too!  I was only able to get about half a pint, but that would turn out to be plenty.  I did get a discount for my smaller glass though, so no complaints here!

The beer had a baker's chocolate color with two fingers of head.  Talk about long lasting.  I was eager to drink and I had to wait..and wait..and wait some more.  Then I got impatient and tried some.  But before I go on to the taste part, I wanted to talk about the lacing.  It was incredible.  Hung on the glass for dear life.  The aroma was somewhat off-putting.  I'm not quite sure how to describe it.  Bready?  I guess my first impression was along the lines of a dubbel, but there was just something that seemed off about it.  Maybe it was the fact that this beer is considered an American Barleywine, and something I've never had before.

The taste was different.  I detected bourbon, plum, malt, hops, caramel, chocolate.  It was very complex.  The bourbon and caramel would hit off first, and there was a boozy finish that let me know that at 11.1% ABV, this could put you down.  The plum and chocolate tastes would come around on the back end.  The beer was well balanced, had some significant body behind it.  The beer tended to incorporate a different taste when I drank the beer with the head, and then drank without it.  In conclusion, it's probably a little too complex of a beer for me right now.  I'm not sorry I tried it, but I feel that I can't quite appreciate everything that's going on here right now.  Oh well, I'll give it another crack in a year or so.

Grade: B-

Price Paid: $3.86 (Draught 6-8 oz glass)