Four Peaks Bourbon Barrel Kilt Lifter

Brewed by Four Peaks Brewing Company
Style: Scottish Ale
Tempe, Arizona USA

pours a shade darker than the normal KL... slightly hazed with a creamy dense tan head and drippy lace. the smell reminds me of the sun tea the wife makes... floral, cream, caramel malt, vanilla and just a touch of bourbon spice. weak flavor... also, it seems to be drier having spent time in that barrel. flavors of cocoa butter, earthy spice akin to black peppercorns, vanilla, cereal grain and really smooth watered down bourbon. it tastes like they topped off half a barrel of beer with water... not flawed, just muted. odd decision to put a mediocre beer in bourbon in the first place?? medium bodied with a slick mouth feel. these do go down awfully easy though... why is the largest brewery in the state the only one pushing the envelope?... huge props for trying and keep the fun stuff coming.... 6/3/6/3/15/3.3

Snifter at the Tempe location. Pours a black tea color with a creamy beige head. Smells of fruit punch, vanilla, and toasted coconut. Starts out much the same, but deadens in a Cheerio cereal flavor on the mid palate. Better than the original, but the base beer just can’t stand up.

On tap at Four Peaks in Tempe. Pours a very deep ruby brown/red with next to no head. Aroma is bready bourbon, rich malts, and a definite sour twinge. Flavor is thinner than expected, has lots of deep malt flavors with definite oak tannin and bourbon nuances, balanced by that sour twinge. This beer is way better than the original and perfectly balanced. One of the tastier beers I’ve had in the past year. Very interesting and worth seeking out if you get the chance.

On tap at Four Peaks Tempe. Pours a barely opaque reddish brown with a very small soapy off white head that quickly subdues into a ring of film. Aroma is sour mash, bourbon, wood, caramel with a sour twinge that stands out. Flavor is oak, bourbon (light watered down bourbon), caramel, dark fruits, tannins, peat, some earthy notes. Body is thin and the beer is not as sweet as a normal Kilt Lifter. All of the flavors are in balance and meld together nicely. Much different than expected, but still very good.