Unobtanium is a barrel-aged English-style Old Ale that ages for six months in a bourbon barrel, soaking up all sorts of amazing whiskey character as well as hints of oak and vanilla. The name was taken from an old aerospace/engineering term for a specific material or object (often imaginary, impossible or highly improbable to obtain) needed to complete any given project.
And, before you ask, we did not take the name from the elusive metal in Avatar. James Cameron reportedly named the substance as an inside joke to his fellow techie/gear-heads. Our version is much tastier, though. (Description provided by company)
Comments
Sit down and drink this
Unobtanium is a dark caramel in the glass with a filmy ring. Light lacing goes on the glass at first.
It smells of oak and vanilla with dark fruits peeking through.
Taste is stronger on the dark fruits with the vanilla and oak adding complexity to the flavor. So yummy.
Feels med-bodied with a light spark of carbonation to maintain interest.
Hard hitting old ale
Straight to Ale's winter release of Unobtanium is mentioned by StA fans year round. This past spring, I talked to a guy in the taproom who said he had a case of Unobtanium bombers in his basement. He likes to break a bottle out every now and then. This was followed by the confession that he woke up a few times the following morning, not remembering much but seeing two empty bottles on the coffee table in front of him. That is the power of the taste and booze level of this beer.
Unobtanium is a dark caramel in the glass with an off-white ring and no lacing. The bourbon blends nicely with the dark fruit aromas of the yeast blended with the old ale booze when I take a sniff. The taste doesn't highlight the bourbon as much, it rounds out the dark fruit and sugary flavors more than altering the focus of the base brew. At 11.5% ABV, you definitely need to enjoy in small amounts.