Quercus Vitis Humulus
Brewed By: Otter Creek Brewing
Brewed In: Middlebury, VT
Type: Barleywine
ABV: 12%
Brewed With: Malts: 2-row, Wheat, Vienna, Crystal, Munich, Aromatic; Hops: UK Goldings, Strisselspalt
What they say: “QVH is our brewers’ tribute to the mighty oak, luscious grape, and humble hop. The homage begins with a bold 27 degree plato barley-wine, warm-fermented with Bohemian lager yeast, then blended with Sauvignon Blanc grape juice and fermented a second time with a pure culture of Champagne yeast. When this intricate brew was complete, our brewers aged it on lightly toasted French Oak. The six week journey through our brewery results in a deeply complex ale which clocks in at 12% ABV, with 38 IBU.”
Website: Otter Creek’s page automatically gets a point for no “Are You 21?” splash page. The site is laid out with some frames, and tabs with pop-up branches across the top for “Our Brewery,” “Otter Creek,” “Wolaver’s” (their Organic branch), a store, and News & Events. At the bottom are graphics for current releases, clicking on it brings you to that beer’s entry. Not bad.
Why this one, Show? Otter Creek is a local New England brewery from which I’ve been meaning to acquire some reviewable selections. I found this in my local Beer Guy’s store during a small Otter Creek tasting, and it looked too unique to pass.
First Thoughts:
Head: Bubbles up thick, then leaves a nice white ring around the top of the beer.
Nose: Not unlike white grapes, also a bit of leafiness.
Color: Dark cherry wood
Presentation (5): Comes in a nice 24-oz bottle with graphics of a field and tree in soft focus. “Otter Creek Imperial Series” is written in a stylized font written across the top. Almost passed on this one b/c I thought they were hop vines. Lots of info on the bottle like the story of the beer, ingredients used, and ABV and IBUs. It’s a departure from their standard label scheme, which is a nice touch. 5
Originality (5): Barleywine fermented once with lager yeast, then blended with Sauvignon Blanc grape juice, then fermented again with champagne yeast, and then aged in French oak barrels? Is there any way this is NOT getting the full score here? 5
Body (10): There is almost no carbonation to the sip, and looking at the bubbles lazily rising here-and-there in the glass confirms this. There is a slight tingle on the tongue, but the back of the sip has almost a syrupy quality to it. The mouthfeel is nice, though, and this is something that can be easily sipped. I credit the oak-aging. 8
Taste (10): For those expecting a beer that tastes like wine, this may not be the right fit for you. There’s definitely a grape presence in the taste, but it mixes well with the hop bitterness. After starting off slightly sweet, the flavor ends on a dry note; I can’t tell if this is the oak I’m tasting or the wine. A cursory glance at wine websites informs me that some varieties of Sauvignon Blanc can be dry. Those things combined just make it into a pleasant-tasting beer—this isn’t bad, just not what I was expecting from something included in this “extreme beer” article. As it warms in the glass, as with most strong ales, the flavors mellow and blend even better. 8
Efficiency (10): High scores here, naturally, with this being an easy drinker with a very impressive ABV. In the time it took me to finish one 25 cl tulip glass, I was already feeling a bit heady. Otter Creek has wisely put this into 24 oz. bomber bottles, and one of those is really all you’d need. 9
Versatility (10): I would stack this beer up against anything you’d use a good hearty wine for. The sweet-to-dry flavors would compliment a good roast fowl dish, strong or smoked cheeses, or even some herbed olive oil pasta. At less than $10, this would be a great bottle to bring over to a friend’s place for a dinner party or get-together. Or, if you’re like me, something new to hit your beer palette with to see what shakes loose. 6
Final Score: 41 – Great Beer
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