Carlyle Bourbon Barrel Cherry Stout

Pours a pitch black with a thin light brown head. Aromas of coffee, chocolate, bourbon, cherries, and alcohol. The flavor was LOTS of bourbon up front with chocolate and a hint of cherries at the end. Very good, but the cherry is overly dominated by the bourbon.

Arrived to the table a very dark black with a dense tan head and fine carbonation. Aroma is reminiscent of a black forest cherry cake, lots of dark chocolate and cherry aroma, the cherry sweetness smells like a very good cherry syrup. Flavor is all cherry chocolate cake, very light black patent roast at the end with some dryness, almost no alcohol and a light bourbon end. Low carbonation, med-heavy in density for mouth feel. Overall a very good brew for a desert beer, cherry flavor is perfect an not overwhelming one bit.

on tap at brewery black with thick brown head the first thing i noticed was the bourbon didn’t make you feel like you were drinking whiskey it was very mild it said they were 17 year old bourbon barrels i dont know if thats what mellowed it or just being a stout not an imperial stout non the less i really enjoyed this beer

Very nice bourbon barrel stout with a great cherry flavor. A very good late night sipper

On tap at brewpub

There were three special releases the day I visited - this and two Belgians. Given that the other two packed a little more of a punch I started with this. According to the board it is their normal stout aged for 16 months in Woodford Reserve barrels. However, do not be deceived - since the base was not an imperial stout this one is not an automatic entry into the Top 50. Still, it is pretty enjoyable despite a few oddities.

Aroma / Appearance - The nose coming off of this beer is one of the most unusual I have come across in a bourbon barrel aged beer. I’m not sure how they did it but the combination of bourbon, cherry pie filling, peaches, lemon and sea salt creates a very interesting sensation. I am reminded of the smell of Jolly Ranchers. The beer giving off this aroma is a deep black with a thin sandy head.

Flavor / Palate - Creamy bourbon, peach Jolly Rancher, pears and cherries create a very sweet fruity introduction. As it fades the stout characteristics come out strongly as black coffee. The malty dry finish wipes away the last remnants of sweetness. The alcohol is well hidden but this is still a definite sipping beer.

Black and headless, this has an aroma of Boubon, sweet cherries, dark malt, and a bit of vanilla. The Bourbon carries the flavor, the malt, cherries, and oak playing a subservient role. This ale now has a 6.2% abv rather than the posted 5.8%. No matter. Not bad, but not great.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp?PlaceID=2247>Carlyle Brewing Company, Rockford, IL<font size=-1>

Had this one on draught at the brewpub. A bit too alcoholic in the finish for me. It’s still pretty good though. I’m very impressed by Carlyle’s stuff.

Tap at the brewpub: Light color for a stout but still really dark in color. Definate smell of cherry and possible roasted malts. As far as taste: Excellent! Some flavor of barrel however mostly choclate and cherry. Kind of mild overall but definatly not a bad thing. One of the better cherry stouts out there.