Flossmoor Station Derailed

Deep cola brown and burgundy with a cream-colored wisp & halo, elegantly presented in a snifter. Bittersweet chocolate morsels and raspberries in the aroma remind me of opening a box of Fannie May cream chocolates. A chocolatey, fruity, sweet/tart flavor becomes all tart berries late with a low bitter finish. Mid-bodied and soft in the mouth. Didn’t quite pair well with chili cheese fries, but I seldom like to pair beer with food.

<font size=-4>From an old notebook. Draught snifter January 6, 2008 at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp?PlaceID=292>Flossmoor Station, Flossmoor, IL 60422<font size=-1>

Sweet/tart notes in this oddly blended concoction kept putting me off a bit...I did enjoy the fairly robust alcohol notes, chocolate, bourbon. oak, and ’nilla...but this one eluded me a little. Nice experimental effort though.

On tap at Flossmoor Station. Poured murky deeper brown with a well-retained creamy buttered toffee head.. this looked delightful! Unfortunately the other elements of the experience did not live up to the looks.. The first impression on the palate is bourbon mixed with cleaning solution.. smoky caramel and chocolate fell behind, but a ways back there.. some herbal and citrusy notes jump out at times.. this just struck me as messy and off-balance. The flavor was a notch down from there.. strong vanilla, bourbon, and alcohol-based cleaner rise over smoky caramel, traces of dark fruits, and chocolate.. some interesting pepper and sour fruit skin notes show around the edges, but cannot save the drink.. I think this spent too much time in the barrels, and the blend of styles didn’t work for me. Overall, this was too sour with too much going on.. and it didn’t blend well together.

Draft sample at brewpub. Poureed hazy dark dark brown color with an average creamy off-white head that mostly lasted with good lacing. Moderate to heavy cherry, woody and alcohol aroma. Medium body with a sticky texture. Heavy woody cherry bittersweet flavor with a heavy bittersweet finish of long duration. Good standout brew.

sample at the station. pours dense dark brown with off white head. nose is intensely sweet with licorice and caramel. flavor is mostly earthy and beets. some barrel notes coming though but this wasn’t enjoyable. is this rated so high because its barrel aged?

tap at FS....poured a semi-transparent dark brown that was almost black accompanied by a light tan head....nose of dark fruits, tobacco, and bourbon. the barrel became more prominent as it warmed....a weird combination of sweet and sour in the flavor. loads of caramel malt and dark fruits backed up by subtle barrel aged qualities....i feel the same way that BBB does. i had one and that more than did it for me. glad to try though.

Tap: Deep brown hue with some reddish highlights, initial nice head but faded and produced some spotty lace. The aroma indeed as notes of bourbon, vanilla and wood along with some caramel, chocolate, fig, molasses, and a hint of pipe tobacco. The taste starts with a massive vanilla, chocolate, and nutty character. There are some subdued notes of fruit and herbs somewhere in there. The finish is oaky bourbon and boozy. The mouth feel is sticky and heavy with a light medicinal tone. A weird hybrid that does not show any one beer character. I dunno, I like it but not sure I would want much of it.

Snifter. Sometimes blended beers are created because the base beer has a "problem," and Matt did post that they weren’t wholly satisfied with the Wooden Lubricator. This beast does mitigate some of the character of a BA beer that can turn people off. Brownish black in the glass with an eighth-inch brown foam. Heady alcohol smell, but not eye-watering like a strong whiskey. Still shows a little sourness from either brett and/or dry stout. The bourbon taste is a little lighter, giving this a better balance and "brighter" character. Interesting combination of strong bock and stout style.