CooperSmiths Bourbon Barrel Stout

Brewed by CooperSmiths Pub & Brewing
Style: Sweet Stout
Fort Collins, Colorado USA

Almost an espresso type creme, more than a head, with a rich amber brown color. Definite hints of cream and black pepper flavors of the Horsetooth Stout base, while the flavor of bourbon quietly dances on your tongue.

On tap at the brewpub on 10/14/07: Pours an opaque black with a full-lacing froth of rich dark tan head. Sweet dark caramel, chocolate and bourbon nose is quite enticing. Body starts with good, rich viscosity for a sweet stout and low amounts of carbonation with a smooth, creamy dark chocolate and bourbon finish. Great balance and flavor with good drinkability.

This was just delicious! Rich and creamy with loads of milk chocolate. An ample dusting of cocoa powder, caramel and even a hint of nuttiness, melds with sweet vanilla bourbon notes. I could seriously drink this all night and never get tired of it. Great balance overall and throughout.

Date: 10/14/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

black, fine beige head, streaks of drippy lace, rich chocolate aroma with sweet dark caramel and vanilla ending with a touch of bourbon, creamy body, dark chocolate flavor, vanilla character adds sweetness, bourbon kicks in to add extra sweetness, light oak adds the only bitterness

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.9/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

The Bourbon Barrel Stout poured very beautifully. It was an opaque black with a big, tan, creamy, nitro-like head (though it says it is hand-drawn). The head lasted the entire pint and left some nice lacing.

The aroma was coffee, chocolate and some alcohol. Pretty subtle.

The flavor was roasted chocolate with some woody and alcohol notes. It was pretty sweet and sugary - a little too much so. It had a full and velvety mouthfeel.

Overall, I thought this was a good drinkable sweet stout. It’s more complex than the Horsetooth Stout, but a little too sweet for me. I remember their first batch of this (from a couple months ago) being much better.

From the Jug at the GABF, Colorado Convention Center 11/10/2007 Whisky aroma. Small white head. Black strong in alcohol and smooth on the palate with a warming dry bitter whisky finish.

#400! Pours an almost dark brownish black. Nice retention. Strong aroma of bourbon, and that drowns out most else except light chocolate notes. Flavor is a lot of milk chocolate and a decent amount of bourbon. Oated roast notes come in through the finish. Medium body, a bit watery. Overall a good one...could maybe use a bit more oats to make it thicker.

On tap at the pub. Poured a black color with an ample tan head that left great lacing on the glass. Aroma of roasted malt and sweet bourbon. Initial taste of roasted malts with some hints of chocolate that lead into vanilla and light bourbon spice notes. Slightly woody aftertaste. Alcohol comes out a bit as it warms. Nice, but I agree with Crosling that it could have used a bit longer in the barrel.