Weyerbacher Blasphemy
There’s a reason you’ll see more than a few beer reviews of Weyerbacher products on this site. They make some tremendous beers. From tasty Old Heathen Imperial Stout to the outrageously cellerable barleywine, Blithering Idiot, the company puts out some of the best brews available on the East Coast.
That said, it’s pretty much a no-brainer for me to pick up any of their products that may be new or that I have never had before at the drop of a hat. I know going into one of their beers that there’s a high percentage that I will love it. And this bourbon barrel aged Belgian Quad is no different.
Weighing in at 11.8% ABV, Blasphemy is a devilish beer that’s for sure. It’s a brute of a beer with a large alcohol footprint and assertive bourbon character that may be a bit too much for some folks, but it’s also a characteristic that I can see mellowing out nicely over time.
Appearance
Blasphemy pours a slightly hazy, rusty brown with a small, light tan head that fell quickly to a thin collar.
Aroma
The nose on this one is lively. Wafts of wood, moderate bourbon, vanilla, candi sugars, caramel, dark fruits and a little Belgian yeast rise from the surface of the beer. There is a solid booziness to it that lets you know it’s not a small beer by any means.
Taste
Much more Belgian character shows in the flavor with a fairly heavy handed blast of bourbon and alcohol heat that lingers in the chest for a good long while. There is a good amount of woody vanilla, bourbon, caramel, dark fruits, spciy yeast and a solid sweetness throughout the drinking experience. This is a big beer that’s probably a little too boozy for its own good at the moment. The brew is medium bodied with a fairly viscous mouthfeel and semi-dry finish.
Overall
This 2012 bottle of Blasphemy was a big beer. It’s probably a bit too big right now. It definitely needs some time to mellow in the bottle and allow all of the flavors to mingle a bit and come into their own. I made a point after first trying this beer to grab a couple of other bottles to store away for some time. I’m hoping the booziness of the beer fades a touch as it matures. That said, I still enjoyed the brew quite thoroughly and can’t wait to open up one of the other bottles in a year or so.
Rating: 3.75/5
