Sunday, December 18, 2022

510. Upland Brewing Co. (Bloomington, IN) - Bourbon Barrel Teddy Bear Kisses W/ Cacao & Hazelnut

“You guys like Nutella?! Well, brace yourself [sic], Hazelnut TBK is coming. The delicious flavors of chocolate and hazelnut are the inspiration for this beer. The rich chocolaty, roasty coffee, and molasses flavors that combine with the oaky, bourbon, and vanilla flavors of barrel aging are complimented [sic] by the subtle hazelnut to make a delicious treat. As is our custom with most variants, the hazelnut is present but not overpowering, allowing the barrel aged beer to be the forefront. Reminiscent of flavored coffee, Nut Goodies, or chocolaty Nutella, it’s a treat for your mouth. Special processes and special ingredients used: Boiled for 3 hours to increase gravity as well as caramelize sugars. Molasses and dry malt extract are added to the boil to increase gravity as well. Aged on Cholaca, a liquefied cacao nib product. After aging 4 weeks we transfer the beer into Willett bourbon barrels and age for 7 months and recirculated [sic] with hazelnut extract.”

The first sip is mostly alcohol, and it leads you directly to the strong flavor from the bourbon barrel. There’s a little bit of sweetness in there to round it out, but any other flavors that might be present are almost entirely buried in this disappointing bait and switch. They’re there, but they’re in the weeds—far to the east of subtle. (And if you can separate the molasses from the bourbon barrel, you’re a better beer taster than I am.) The alcohol is so strong (11% ABV) that it even overpowers their bad writing.

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