Judge’s Review: 90 Rating – Old Wooden Head by Burnt Hickory Brewery

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By Michael Bury

Judges Rating: 90
Aroma: 20
Appearance: 5
Flavor: 36
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 19

Old Wooden Head by Burnt Hickory Brewery is being evaluated as a Double IPA (2021 BJCP Guidelines, Category 22A). It poured a deep amber to almost copper color with a slight haze. A tall cream-colored head leaves Belgian-like lacing on the glass.
The aroma on this beer needed a bit of warming to fully showcase its potential; when it was cold the caramel malt was prominent with restrained citrus hops and a bit of resin and pine. As it warmed up, the alcohol increased but the malt also took a backseat to the strong resin, grapefruit, complex citrus and pithy hop aromas.
After tasting the beer, I was transported back to my early days of drinking double IPAs. Strong malt characteristics mainly of grain and caramel is tempered by prominent hop bitterness to tilt the balance to the hops. The resiny, grapefruit, lemon, pine hop flavor is likewise intense. Well fermented with good attenuation despite the caramel. It’s a big beer with easily noticeable alcohol that’s still smooth and pairs well with the moderately full body of the beer.
Old Wooden Head reminds me of an old-school imperial IPA featuring significant malt character with pronounced hop bitterness alongside intense hop flavor and aroma. With its stronger level of alcohol, this beer was perfect as a nightcap judging experience.