Clown Shoes Beer Ride The Lion Wee Heavy Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Clown Shoes Beer Ride The Lion Wee Heavy Ale - Malt Beverage with Natural Flavor and Aged in Bourbon Barrels. I picked up this bottle at Cork 'n Bottle Liquors (here) in Fremont, CA. They have a great selection of craft beer as well as a number of beers on tap.  Add Cork ‘n Bottle to your list of craft beer destinations.

Commercial description: “Descended from a notorious clan of Scottish lore, head brewer Dan Lipke channeled the Tartan tapestry encoded in his DNA to create a formidable Wee Heavy. The beer has been aged 100% in fresh bourbon barrels. Ask yourself, “Who needs to ride the lion?””

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a murky caramel color with a dense khaki colored head and good lacing.

Aroma: Caramel, toffee, brown sugar, dark fruits, bourbon, oak, coconut, vanilla, peat and a touch of smoke.

Taste: Malty upfront with caramel, toffee, toasted malts and butterscotch followed by brown sugar, dark fruits, vanilla, oak, bourbon and peat.  Light earthy, nutty and smoky flavors are also present.

Overall: Complex, balanced and delicious, Clown Shoes Beer Ride The Lion Wee Heavy Ale is yet another excellent beer from Clown Shoes.  This 11% ABV offering is a “must drink again” sort of beer. It is a touch boozy, but it falls directly into my wheelhouse.  A great beverage!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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