Brewed By: Pipeworks Brewing in Chicago, IL
Purchased: 22oz bottle (Batch #193) bought at Binny's in IL; 2013 (bottled 8/27/2013)
Style/ABV: Wee Heavy, 9.5%
Reported IBUs: ?
After the kind of so-so Central Waters Scotch Ale, I've decided to crack open another local Wee Heavy. About Pipeworks:
Pipeworks has humble roots. The brewery was founded in Chicago in 2011 by Beejay Oslon and Gerrit Lewis. The duo were both homebrewers that met while while working at West Lakeview Liquors. In 2011, they began to raise money for their brewery using the online Internet site, Kickstarter. Olson and Lewis were both educated at De Struise Brewery in Oostvleteren, Belgium. With that knowledge, and the money from their kickstarter, Olson and Lewis created a unique brewery that is smaller in size, and intended to brew smaller batches of beer. The company's motto is "small batches, big beers." And indeed, since the brewery has been around, they've been releasing a lot of one-offs and small batch releases. The goal is to release a new beer every week. You can read more about the brewery at their website HERE.
I have an older bottle of this (Purple Wax - pre 2013), but decided to go with the newer release. The older one should have some nice age on it by the time I decide to drink it during the Winter months. The back of the Last Kiss states:
"Last Kiss is a rich and seductive ale brewed in the Scottish Wee Heavy Style. Hints of vanilla and fenugreek compliment a lucious and complex malt profile. Fermented near lager temperature, subtle spice and rich malt notes make this a perfect ale to enjoy with a loved one, next to the fireplace. End a cold winter night with one."
Pipeworks Last Kiss Wee Heavy
Popping off the cap resulted in some nice smoke, and the beer poured with good carbonation and all that. In low light the beer looks cola-black, but is more like ruby red or brown. I ended up with a finger of bready, brown head that settled into a nice brown ring of carbonation. Swirling the beer does kick up some head, and there's some nice alcohol legs on this. Bright light confirms the beer's lack of complete opacity around the edges, but the middle is all murky orange/brown. There's some tiny carbonation streams in this too.
Even with a cold, sinus infection, allergies, whatever...my nose is totally blunted....I can confirm that this smells pretty damn good. I'm getting deep complex roast, bread, some complex smoke and peat with hints of meat and grill, some chocolate/coffee, and a bit of vanilla. There's a syrupy note on the nose too...with more coffee sweetness and maybe a hint of dark fruits?
The taste if fat and sticky, with flat carbonation and some noticeable booze/heat. The booze and heat is reminiscent of rum thanks to the brown sugars and hints of spice layered on all the malty sweetness you get here. I'm getting some roast, caramel, sugary syrup, hints of chocolate/vanilla/coffee, and some very dark fruits.
This has flat carbonation, and a pretty solid punch of booze. It's also fairly sticky, with full-bodied mouthfeel. Still, I'm not having a hard time drinking this, even at 9.5%. Palate depth is good, complexity is low to average. I wish there was a bit more peat/smoke in the taste, but what can you do. This one leans towards malty sweetness, with some roast/coffee up front, followed by some booze; you get big syrupy chocolate/vanilla in the middle, with some rum spice; the back end has some alcohol, rum, and a sticky sweet finish.
Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)
I'm feeling a Light Above-Average on this. I'm digging this, and as this warms it really starts to pop. The vanilla is strong in this beer, and the booze with the sweetness makes for a really nice malty sipper. This would be the perfect Winter brew, and that's probably when I'll pop my other bottle. I feel like this could have a little more carbonation, and maybe they could kick up the smoke/peated malt. I'll go against the crowd and say that they shouldn't oak/bourbon barrel age this. This beer would be great if they threw in some chili peppers...think about that. As far as food pairings go: ice cream, cake, chocolate fondue, ribs, or BBQ. Nice.
Random Thought: Seriously though, fuck colds. Fuck allergies. Fuck sinus infections. I'm on so many decongestants I'd probably test positive for amphetamines right now. Tomorrow is suppose to bring the rain, followed by what will hopefully be sweet, sweet relief.
Style/ABV: Wee Heavy, 9.5%
Reported IBUs: ?
After the kind of so-so Central Waters Scotch Ale, I've decided to crack open another local Wee Heavy. About Pipeworks:
Pipeworks has humble roots. The brewery was founded in Chicago in 2011 by Beejay Oslon and Gerrit Lewis. The duo were both homebrewers that met while while working at West Lakeview Liquors. In 2011, they began to raise money for their brewery using the online Internet site, Kickstarter. Olson and Lewis were both educated at De Struise Brewery in Oostvleteren, Belgium. With that knowledge, and the money from their kickstarter, Olson and Lewis created a unique brewery that is smaller in size, and intended to brew smaller batches of beer. The company's motto is "small batches, big beers." And indeed, since the brewery has been around, they've been releasing a lot of one-offs and small batch releases. The goal is to release a new beer every week. You can read more about the brewery at their website HERE.
I have an older bottle of this (Purple Wax - pre 2013), but decided to go with the newer release. The older one should have some nice age on it by the time I decide to drink it during the Winter months. The back of the Last Kiss states:
"Last Kiss is a rich and seductive ale brewed in the Scottish Wee Heavy Style. Hints of vanilla and fenugreek compliment a lucious and complex malt profile. Fermented near lager temperature, subtle spice and rich malt notes make this a perfect ale to enjoy with a loved one, next to the fireplace. End a cold winter night with one."
 |
| Pipeworks Last Kiss Wee Heavy |
Popping off the cap resulted in some nice smoke, and the beer poured with good carbonation and all that. In low light the beer looks cola-black, but is more like ruby red or brown. I ended up with a finger of bready, brown head that settled into a nice brown ring of carbonation. Swirling the beer does kick up some head, and there's some nice alcohol legs on this. Bright light confirms the beer's lack of complete opacity around the edges, but the middle is all murky orange/brown. There's some tiny carbonation streams in this too.
Even with a cold, sinus infection, allergies, whatever...my nose is totally blunted....I can confirm that this smells pretty damn good. I'm getting deep complex roast, bread, some complex smoke and peat with hints of meat and grill, some chocolate/coffee, and a bit of vanilla. There's a syrupy note on the nose too...with more coffee sweetness and maybe a hint of dark fruits?
The taste if fat and sticky, with flat carbonation and some noticeable booze/heat. The booze and heat is reminiscent of rum thanks to the brown sugars and hints of spice layered on all the malty sweetness you get here. I'm getting some roast, caramel, sugary syrup, hints of chocolate/vanilla/coffee, and some very dark fruits.
Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)
I'm feeling a Light Above-Average on this. I'm digging this, and as this warms it really starts to pop. The vanilla is strong in this beer, and the booze with the sweetness makes for a really nice malty sipper. This would be the perfect Winter brew, and that's probably when I'll pop my other bottle. I feel like this could have a little more carbonation, and maybe they could kick up the smoke/peated malt. I'll go against the crowd and say that they shouldn't oak/bourbon barrel age this. This beer would be great if they threw in some chili peppers...think about that. As far as food pairings go: ice cream, cake, chocolate fondue, ribs, or BBQ. Nice.
Random Thought: Seriously though, fuck colds. Fuck allergies. Fuck sinus infections. I'm on so many decongestants I'd probably test positive for amphetamines right now. Tomorrow is suppose to bring the rain, followed by what will hopefully be sweet, sweet relief.
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