Killdozer American Barley Style Ale
 

Review Date 6/1/2023 By John Staradumsky

           

Kennesaw, Georgia’s Burnt Hickory Brewery has closed its doors. They announced on their Facebook page that this would happen on May 31st, which was yesterday as I type. It was my intention to get down there one last time, but I was sick over the weekend, such that I didn’t even drink any beer. My wife got worried and wanted me to head to the ER.

The good news is Burnt Hickory plans to reopen in a new location. We hope that is soon, and will be on the lookout for news on this. In the meantime, I broke out a can of Burnt Hickory Killdozer American Barley Style Ale. The can I am here to tell you about is the 2018 edition which I have been hanging onto to see how well it ages.

I recall buying a 4-pack of this beer at Target, though I can’t remember how much I paid for it. I drank a can shortly after purchasing, in June of 2019, and took these notes:

Killdozer pours to a beautiful reddish amber color with a light cap of foam and a bready barley nose. Taking a sip, the beer has loads of caramel up front, stewed malts, berry fruit, fresh cracked malts, and a warming alcohol finish though it doesn’t seem it’s 13% alcohol by volume.

The label says:

This is a NON barrel aged version for all you gotta drink it now people. Drink responsibly because we love you!

The can I am drinking now with 5 years of age proves I am not a “gotta drink it now” people. Barleywines, though, barrel aged or not, are amongst the best styles to age in my opinion.

Killdozer is named for the rock band of the same name. Burnt Hickory has a penchant for naming beers for rock bands.

Burnt Hickory Killdozer American Barley Style Ale with 5 years age pours to a murky dark brown color with a light wispy head and a nose of sweet brown bread and caramel. The caramel pops even more with a sip and the fresh cracked malt still is apparent, but the other notes I got drinking fresh have faded. Dark fruity prune is apparent and notes of toasted bread with the crusts on emerge. The beer is quite boozy with warming alcohol in the finish.

When you reopen, Burnt Hickory, please brew this one again. I think I have another can around somewhere and I will let that one age a little more. If I truly do have one, I’ll be back to tell you about it.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??

 

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled, Canned

(D)=Draft





 

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