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Barrel Thief

Colorado
United States
Odell Brewing Barrel Thief IPA
Judges Ratings 
1 Review
88
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Appearance:
6 / 6
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Description 

The hop has met its match! Barrel Thief is an Imperial IPA that was stolen from the brewhouse and stashed away in medium toast, new American oak barrels. The brew features a notorious tropical fruit hop character that tangles with hints of vanilla, dried fruit, and toasted nut from its time served in the barrel.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
9.4%
Judges Review 
Jason Johnson's picture
Judges Rating:
88
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

This is a very gorgeous beer, pouring a hazy -- but bright -- golden color with a thick mousse-like off-white head. The aroma is quite complex, with lots of fresh woody oak, some thick vanilla and ripe mango. I don't get a lot of traditional citrus and pine hop aroma, but the mango is very prominent. The malt profile is hidden a bit by the oak, which is a bit heavy. As it warms, the malt does come forward with some honey-kissed bready character, but I wish the oak was a bit more subtle and the mango-like hop profile shined a bit more. Overall though, the aroma is very good.

The flavor is fresh oak-heavy as well. There is a lot of mango/tropical fruity hops as a secondary flavor. The bitterness is soft and nice -- not bracing or harsh at all. The malt comes through a bit more in the flavor and is bready with a touch of toast. The flavors are just a bit broken apart so with age they would blend together quite nicely. The alcohol is not hot, but very noticeable, with a bit of a tingling, prickling sensation.

Overall the beer appears a bit young to me and would benefit from some aging of, at minimum, a few more months. The hop choice is pretty cool because I personally like the newer hop varieties and find the bitterness and flavors they provide to be interesting. If there are any traditional American hop varieties in there, I didn't pick any up. The beer is something you would certainly want to check out. Maybe get two of them: one to drink right away and one to age and try again later. I have the feeling this beer will shine in six months or a year down the road. The alcohol is pleasant already so it isn't too harsh to drink now, but the flavors are still a bit disjointed at this time and need time to meld together.

Brewery Introduction

Odell Brewing is now the 34th largest craft brewery in the country distributing beer to just 14 states.. While the brewery crafts a variety of beers, its roots are built on British styles. Innovation and creativity meet balance, consistency and quality in each brew.

This balance is a not... Read More

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