Tweet

 

acquired in trade from duckboy probably 2 years ago or so.

was a little worried that this one might have lots its fastball like so many other beers in my cellar... but it has held up beautifully. plenty of bourbon still kicking.. some vanilla. it has a nice, hearty kick.

very drinkable and dangerously smooth at 10.5%.

i would turn to this one again for certain. my guesstimate is that this one can sit for a while longer and still be a great beer.

Served In: Snifter

2009 Bottling; Sampled May 2009
A vigorous pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces a three finger thick, nicely brown stained, dark tan colored head. The beer is quite black in color, though it has a touch of a brown tint to it if you look closely. The beer remains quite opaque if held up to the light, though it might pick up just a touch more brown. The nose leads with notes of toasted coconut and vanillin, lightly spicy bourbon and roast malt back this up quite nicely, but the first two are definitely the dominant note. After digging a bit deeper some notes akin to a burnt nuttiness, others that distinctly remind me of a chocolate liquor and a sharp, slightly acrid, dark roast coffee in the finish. There is perhaps a touch of burnt vegetal notes in the aroma as well. Not a bad aroma, though it can be a touch harsh at times.

The beer hits my tongue with a touch of a lush texture, not quite creamy, but definitely with a substantial heft. The beer has a light sweetness to it, much of the sugars here seem to be well roasted such that they don’t contribute to a simple sweetness. The roast character adds a sharpness to this beer in the middle and moves towards a roast bitterness and a touch of acrid roast character in the lingering finish. After a bit some burn acidity is also noticed in the finish.. The Bourbon barrel induced flavors are not nearly as ripe and inviting as the aroma was. Here the barrel influence adds a spicy, slightly hot note to the finish, though there is a touch of buttery oak and maybe a hint of vanillin, but the lush coconut character seems to be entirely lacking. The roast, burnt malt character does have a touch of nuttiness to it in the finish, but it is mostly dominated by the sharp roast notes.

This beer ends up being a bit too harsh, I wish it maintained the richness and balance of the nose in the flavor, but it just gets a bit too harsh in the end; there is just too much of a dominating, sharp, roast character in the flavor.

Served In: Tulip

Thanks to franksnbeans for sending me this beer about 2 years ago! Finally decided to pop this one open. I shared this beer with a few friends at the Bruery's 1st Anniversary party (5-16-09).

Pours like any other imperial stout, dark with and with a very small head, just a few bubbles.

Toasted almonds (I love this in BA beers!), soft milk chocolate, vanilla, toast, and with a medium-low bourbon aroma in the background. This beer seems to have mellowed very well, not very intense or boozy but well integrated. A touch of multi-grain bread and vanilla wafers. Now I'm getting more of a dark chocolate aroma with oak and some wet grains.

Taste is very similar to the aroma, nuts, toasted oak and almonds, dark chocolate and toast in the finish. Alcohol kind of numbs the gums at first. Some vanilla in the aftertaste. Even just a step above from the aroma, very tasty. Medium-low carbonation and good body on the palate.

I hope the 09 release ages this well.

Served In: Snifter