Berkshire Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout

Brewed by Berkshire Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
South Deerfield, Massachusetts USA

Dark pour with a small off white head. Aroma of some oak, vanilla, sweetness and light bourbon. Taste is sweet and not much bourbon with some vanilla. Weak.

(PPSG09, 22oz bottle) Dark brown body topped by medium tan head. Aroma is moderately sweet, Bourbon, light vinous, chocolate. Taste is moderately sweet, Bourbon, medium vinous, light vanilla, chocolate. Smooth medium-full body. A Bourbony Bourbon Bourbonator with trace elements of the underlying beer. That doesn’t mean I dislike it.

Bottle. Aroma of brown-sugary bourbon, some oak. Flavor quite sweet and bourbony with little nuance. Not much going on here, unpleasantly boozy and little more.

Bottle. Lots of vanilla and bourbon. Some light roast and chocolate as well. Not as complex as I would like for the style, but not bad either.

Bottle found amidst the choas of Peter’s NY gathering - tastes like any old mid-level IS at first - light roast, chocolate and vanilla - but the oak comes in and adds a lot of depth - very little bourbon, but there are strong, wine-like tannins that become very strong as the beer warms - the somewhat lighter body is also a welcome change - fairly good.

Sampled at the Ohio group tasting on DLD eve ’09. Dark brown pour with a medium tan head. Malty aroma that is also a bit tart. Tart and yeasty flavor balanced by chocolate malt and some booze. Definitely tastes more like a Belgian take on the RIS.

In short: A heavy on vanilla and moderately bourbonny imperial stout. Slightly below average for the style.
How: Bottle 22oz. Huge thanks to my new regular trading buddy Brad. Age unknown but consumed a few weeks after receiving it.
The look: Almost black body topped by a small persistent brown head
In long: Barrel jumps out on the nose with loads of bourbon and lots of vanilla. Taste is heavy on vanilla. Vanilla is even more upfront than the bourbon. Inexplicably minty. Medium roasted level. Some chocolate. Light dark fruits and light black liquorice presence. Something about the overall beer reminded me of those little digestive alcoholised chocolate/candy piece I get at some restaurants. Alcohol started to show as the bottle warmed up, and that’s not even a 9% brew. Medium body. Carbonation is very lively, maybe a bit too much so for the style. Very enjoyable if you really enjoy not being too enjoyed.

Sampled via 22-oz bomber during Dark Lord Day ’09. Pours a near opqaue dark amber brown brew with very little head if any. Aroma is complex, lots of dark pitted fruit, sweet toasted chocolate malt, coffee, and some green vegetable. Taste is thick and chewy with a very sweet tongue feel with flavors of toasted dark malt, vanilla, a hint of bourbon and some citrus. The finish is semi-sweet with a bourbon, vanilla and toasted dark malt aftertaste.