Wood Werks Barrel Series #3: Imperial Rye Brown - Great Divide Brewing Company
Presentation
4.19 / 5 on UNTAPPD
The Wood Werks Barrel Series #3: Imperial Rye Brown from Great Divide Brewing Company is an imperial rye brown ale aged in rye whiskey barrels. Released as a limited edition in fall 2018 as part of the Wood Werks series, it clocks in at 12.6% ABV and was bottled in 355 ml (12 oz) formats. It is the third entry in the Wood Werks lineup (after a Belgian-style sour ale and a Flanders-style sour brown). For this version, Great Divide “revisited the often-overlooked Brown Ale style, making it bolder and incorporating a high proportion of rye.” Brewed in small batches, the Imperial Rye Brown was available only briefly (August–September 2018) and sparked real enthusiasm among craft beer fans.
Detailed Flavor Profile
This beer delivers a particularly rich and complex aromatic and flavor spectrum. On the nose, expect intense malty notes (caramel, toffee, chocolate) interlaced with barrel character (vanilla, oak, spirit warmth). The palate opens with malt sweetness reminiscent of caramel and toffee, accented by pronounced chocolate tones. The texture is described as rich, smooth, and full-bodied, providing a decadent, velvety mouthfeel. Mid-palate and finish reveal the rye and barrel character: spicy and earthy rye notes followed by vanilla, oak, and a touch of whiskey itself. The finish is sweet and warming, with lingering alcohol heat that envelops the palate. Overall balance leans toward malt richness and barrel depth, with just enough rye spice and spirit to prevent heaviness. Many tasters highlight flavors of vanilla, caramel, and molasses alongside a noticeable alcohol presence, confirming the beer’s layered complexity. In sum, Wood Werks #3 presents a deep and harmonious profile, marrying the malty sweetness of a rich brown ale with barrel-driven oaky and spirituous depth, all sharpened by rye spice.
Brewing Method and Barrel Aging
Wood Werks #3 is built on a classic Imperial Brown Ale base, elevated by rye additions and long barrel maturation. Top-fermented in the imperial brown ale style, it employs a grist of varied barley malts with generous amounts of malted rye and rye flakes in the mash. Rye in the grain bill “spices up” the brown ale with distinctive earthy spice and rustic bread notes. After primary fermentation, the beer aged over 13 months in oak barrels previously used for 10-year-old rye whiskey. Choosing rye whiskey casks echoed the brewing rye, intensifying spiced and warming dimensions. Barrel aging imparted whiskey and oak characters while rounding texture and softening the alcohol. Head brewer Brandon Jacobs noted the goal was to explore rye in all its forms: “whether via rye whiskey barrels or grain additions, rye yields comforting beers with spicy notes perfect for autumn.” The extended maturation enriched the beer with vanilla, toasted oak, whiskey, and oxidative complexity, smoothing out its high ABV. The result is an intense, accomplished beer uniting traditional fermentation skill with the refinement of extended wood aging.
Key Ingredients
The Imperial Rye Brown’s atypical profile stems from its ingredient mix. A base of barley malts (likely pale malt plus specialty malts) provides malt structure with caramel, toffee, and chocolate flavors. Rye malt and rye flakes—used in significant proportion—add spicy, toasty, breadlike notes rarely found in brown ales, as well as contributing to mouthfeel with a slightly drier, rustic edge. Hops are not emphasized; bitterness is only for balance, with IBUs not listed, implying moderate to low levels. Likely low-aroma varieties were used to counter malt sweetness without masking barrel nuances. A robust top-fermenting ale yeast handled the rich wort to reach 12.6% ABV. The defining “ingredient” is the rye whiskey barrel itself, which infused vanilla, oak, and whiskey tones into the beer during maturation. Together, barley and rye malts, spirit-soaked oak, measured hopping, and resilient yeast collaborate to produce Wood Werks #3’s layered complexity.
Expert Reviews and Recognition
The Wood Werks Barrel Series #3: Imperial Rye Brown earned strong praise from critics and enthusiasts alike. BeerAdvocate rated it 93/100, placing it among their “exceptional” beers. On BeerTasting, it achieved an impressive 4.65/5 (albeit from few reviews). It did not collect major competition awards (e.g., Great American Beer Festival or World Beer Cup), likely due to its limited run. Nonetheless, Great Divide Brewing Company itself commands respect, with 18 medals at the GABF and 5 at the World Beer Cup, underscoring consistent quality. It is no surprise this Imperial Rye Brown was hailed in the craft community as a bold success, blending innovation (rye malts, prolonged barrel aging) with technical execution.
Consumer Impressions
Drinkers echoed critical acclaim. On Untappd, Wood Werks #3 averages around 4.2/5 from over 3,000 ratings—a notably high score reflecting broad approval. User reviews emphasize its aromatic richness, with many citing vanilla, caramel, and molasses alongside warming barrel character. One seasoned drinker remarked that “the brown ale is the perfect vehicle for barrel aging,” highlighting how the malt-forward base complements whiskey and oak. Others call it “powerful” and “deep,” best enjoyed slowly for its layers of flavor. Overall, consumers describe Wood Werks #3 Imperial Rye Brown as an exceptional beer, rich yet balanced, memorable for its interplay of malt sweetness, whiskey warmth, and rye spice. Many conclude it elevates the brown ale style through originality and complexity.
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