 thedm (3406), Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
Mar 21, 2008 Finally a decent beer to rate. Been a long time since I have had one as good as this. This draft brew from the brewery poured a large sized head of finely sized dark brown colored bubbles that were mostly diminishing and left behind a opaque no visible carbonation and an excellent lacing. . The mouth feel was weakly tingly at the start and strongly tingly at the finish with a strong bourbon aftertaste. The strong flavor contained notes of hops roasted malt vinous dark malt coffee and bourbon. The vinousness was there but very well hidden. It gave me the beer shivers which to me is a sign of an excellent beer! A wonderful best in class brew. This brew makes my top 20 brews of all time list.
hotstuff (3038), Indiana, USA
Mar 21, 2008 Draft at Big Rock Chop House & Brewery.Small tan head that fully diminished, virtually no lacing, opaque, no visible carbonation, and a black hue. Nose was bourbon, alcohol, oak, dark fruits, roasty, some caramel, dark chocolate, and vanilla.Wow! It was hard getting past the aroma as it was fantastic!!The flavor was bourbon, vinuous but not overly so, malty, chocolate, caramel, roasty, vanilla, and some licorice. Smooth mouthfeel and medium-full body.Wow!! Delicious! Extremely quaffable, nicely done, enjoyable to drink, nice balance, my favorite beer of the day at this establishment, definitely will have this one again if it is available, and absolutely worthy of a try.
Ughsmash (3004), Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA
May 1, 2008 Many thanks to whoever brought the 2005 vintage growler to DLD! Poured deep, viscous black with a deep brown head that stuck to the glass well. The aroma was rich and inviting with well-roasted dark chocolate, coffee, and sweeter brownie-like chocolates inter-laced with a significant barrel presence (sweet bourbon, vanilla, and toasted older oak).. this would make a mighty fine after dinner drink (or anytime for me). The flavor held serve with warm semi-sweet chocolate, vanilla beans, and dry-roasted coffee at the core surrounded and touched by sweet bourbon and toasty oak.. well-balanced and big all around.. the barrel and the underlying beer played well together. Heavier-bodied on the palate with a clean, dry, warming finish of chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon.. thankfully it stuck for quite some time. Although I didn’t spend as much time with this beer as I wanted to, it left perhaps the most memorable impression on me from the weekend.. which is saying a lot!
egajdzis (2970), Terrapin, Pennsylvania, USA
Jan 20, 2008 Poured an opaque black color with a small, dark tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, strong roasted malts, caramel, wood, and light alcohol. Really reminded me of Alesmith’s BA Speedway. Taste of roast, molasses, vanilla, wood, bourbon, and chocolate, with a bit of alcohol in the finish.
puzzl (1732), New York, New York, USA
Jan 19, 2008 Tap at Hop Devil. Probably the highlight of the fest for me (besides Paul’s homebrew). Looks like pure oil coming out of the tap. Big, boozy, heavy whiskey aroma seems like it may be a sign of things to come, but it ain’t. Flavor is calm, but refined, and as the beer warms breaks into an awesome complexity that is rarely found in bourbon stouts. Molasses, smoke, a nice chalkiness. Body is super-thick. Very good stuff.
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