Full Sail Black Gold Imperial Stout Bourbon Barrel Aged

Brewed by Full Sail Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Hood River, Oregon USA

22oz bottle shared by pepsican. Thanks. poured a deep dark brown color with just a bit of orange light coming through around the edges. Aroma was of bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, molasses, alcohol, and raisin (roughly in that order of intensity). Medium to full bodied and boozy with a warm splash of alcohol. I tasted vanilla, bourbon, toffee, and a dash of cinnamon. The aromas and flavors imparted by the barrel aging dominated, but this was still a decent beer IMO.

Big thanks to franksnbeans for this one. Shared with many. Black pour with a thin tan head. Strong bourbon aroma. Flavor was bourbon, chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, oak, bourbon, and maple syrup. Got to be a bit much after a bit, very rich. Being a bourbon fan I liked it.

The body was black with a khaki head on top. The aroma was vanilla with some oak and roses. The taste was massive bourbon with some vanilla. Way too much barrel aging in this one. It was like a shot of bourbon with a hint of impy stout dripped in. Another example of poorly done barrel aging ruining a perfectly good beer.

This is truly one of the finest Imperial Stouts I have ever tried in my entire life. The most interesting thing about this beer is the and maybe it is just me, but I almost get a vanilla and coconut nuance out of this, almost tropical fruit like. Lots of vanilla, and whiskey notes, toffee and chocolate just flood the palate. This is so rich and mouthfilling, the bourbon notes are just enough to be felt but not overly assertive, it definitely lets all the other flavors show themselves, lots of brown sugar, chocolate and vanilla with an ever present oak aged finish. Delicious!

23 oz bottle dated 2008.and served at cellar temperature. Very black color with a small foamy brown head. Good lacing. Mouthfeel is silky smooth. Nose is like whiskey and chocolate, with other odors of oak, ripe fruit, and vanilla. Flavor is remarkable, with lots of chocolate and alcohol. The finish is bourbon and alcohol. A very unique brew, and one I really liked.

22oz bottle. Opaque black, thin tan head. Aroma of alcohol, oak husky smell, vanilla. Flavor has lots of vanilla, some coconut. Rich malt. Chewy texture. Heavy bodied. Cheers!

2006 bomber, with a big thank you to Davecooks for sending this my way! Pours a dark brown with a foamy brownish tan head, good lacing. Aroma is full and amazing, with a rich and mature bourbon wrapped expertly around decadent chocolate, vanilla, and oak, all demanding more than a cursory pause to enjoy. Flavor reveals an expected bourbon presence, but doesn’t take over and leaves plenty of room for milk chocolate, vanilla, brown sugar, and oak. Well done, and quite deserving of a place with some of the better Imperial Stouts out there. Thanks again Dave!

22oz bottle. 2006. Nice, but fairly run of the mill BA Impy aroma. Dark chocolate malt, vanilla, charred wood, brown sugar and alcohol on the nose. Pours a fairly dark brown with a quickly disappearing white head leaving a nearly lifeless looking pour. Black liquorice, bitter chocolate malt, toasted vanilla, brown sugar, a hint of soy, smoke and a touch of booze on the tongue. Lightly carbonated and silky on the tongue. A good beer, but far from spectacular. Thanks a ton for this most generous bonus Steven!