Estes Park 10th Anniversary Bourbon Stout

Date: 10/18/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

black, scant tan head, bourbon aroma with sweet vanilla, rich chocolate flavor, nice sweetness, the bourbon is an extra dimension instead of taking over, a touch of chalky character,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **/4

Poured very very dark brown color with a reddish hue. Thin tan head. Aroma of aged roasted malt with some fruity notes. The aroma was smooth and creamy with some bourbon, chocolate and vanilla. Chocolate and vanilla flavorwith a lightly tangy/tart roasted malt. Some aged notes.

One of a group that was being saved for a special tasting but ended up as a Tuesday night sipper. Almost opaque black body with no trace of head. Aroma was subtly coffee, some roasted nuts, smoke, oak, and a wisp of bourbon that barely supports the word in the name. Much too thin fopr a stout. Somewhat pleasant flavor but much ado about nothing. A bourbon stout, especially an anniversary edition calls for something special. This was not.

Dark chestnut. Light tan head fizzles into nothingness. Ordinary scents of vanilla beans, raisins, and tobacco saturated with bourbon. Lifeless, fuzzy carbonation. Softly bodied. Faint soured plum acidity plagues the initial sip as salty tannins lightly hug the palate. Scantly rich and overly husky with earthy malts and bourbon derived corn flavors. Fluffy nougat center smoothes over the gritty cola and caramelized sugar edges. Oversweet vanilla-infused caramel compounds the sogginess, as there’s nary a hint of brisk char and oakiness to compensate for the profound lack of firmness. Finishes unfruitful and persistently muddled with fuzzy tannins, as lesser notes of caramel, cola, and vanilla linger on. Although the alcohol is well concealed, this is far too husky and sweet. And the dull carbonation certainly doesn’t help.

Black color, very small tan head. Aroma has cherries, vanilla, burbon, slighlty sour. Flavor is malty, sweet, with faint burbon notes, a little cloying.