Full Sail Black Gold Imperial Stout Bourbon Barrel Aged

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

I’m not in Texas, but I could swear I have struck the mother of all veins as solid black viscosity burbles into my glass topped by a chocolate mousse head. A thick collar stakes her claim and lace smartly avoids suffocation by not even showing up. Don’t light a match anywhere near me or this beer, lest the bourbon soaked fumes roiling off the surface catch fire. Bourbon soaked wood and bourbon filled chocolate truffles and caramel nougat melts under a flurry of soft powdered dark chocolate. Earthy licorice root meets charred wood in a melding of interests even as warm bourbon spices and vanilla bean liven up the party. Liquid gold = liquid sex? You decide. I take one last breath before drinking deep of her bourbon depths. Smooth, rich, and creamy emphasizes melted caramel nougat. Her melted caramel lingers long in the finish while chocolate truffles oozing bourbon and spice gets a powder-puff of dark chocolate before stepping onto the stage. Her creamy mouthfeel is balanced by a pervasive dryness of charred wood barrels. Vanilla bean and spice speckle the dryness even as bourbon continues to soak each and every fiber of my being. Not to be outdone, her imperial stout delights are not lacking, and gooey chocolate truffles and caramel nougats continue to seduce atop a continuous supply of freshly drawn espresso. A final wisp of coconut milk plays for my attentions. Enveloped in bourbon, I can think of no better way to retire for the night.

The Black Gold Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels from Full Sail Brewing was the last beer in a small night of tasting, and I couldn’t have asked for a nicer night-cap. I think the Black Gold was my first Full Sail beer, which stirs do-concern that I have been woefully neglecting a craft brewery of class and potential. A travesty I must obviously correct.

Thanks AgentSteve. Poured dark brown/black, smooth, chocolate, bourbon, coconut, wood, vanilla, little licorice.

Pours deep brown with a dark tan head. Wonderful bourbon, oak, vanilla and coconut nose, and a same in the flavor although a bit lighter. Creamy on the palate and a great sipper.

Bomber at PPRBSG. Pours a very dark oily black- pitch dark and a nice lasting tan head. Aroma is very big- tons of roasted malts, chocolate, and obvious amounts of bourbon vanilla and charred woody oakiness. Flavor is oily- big malts, bourbon, brown sugar, toffee and molasses sweetness- tar and great rich roasted barley and nutty dried chocolate richness- fruit notes come out as it warms but the bourbona nd oak comes through even more as well. Really nice - although a bit hot now- fresh bottle.

Bottle from Sun Devil. Pours an opaque gray-black with full brown head. Nose is light bourbon, wood, and milk chocolate. Flavor is much the same with cinnamon and cream. Really smooth.

bottle shared at July BA tasting. Pours black with a light brown head. Nose is of bourbon, molasses, wood, roast malt and some chocolate. Taste is bourbon with molasses, chocolate and licorice. Mouthfeel is medium-thin. Thinner and not mouth-coating like some other Impy Stouts. Good, but not the top tier of Impy Stouts.

Bottle shared by Zack. Thanks! Pours black, and smells like bourbon and chocolate. Taste is the same and its a touch warming. Flavorful, a bit dry, and probably the best Full Sail beer I’ve had.

In short: A boozy roasted imperial stout that does not overdo the bourbon barrel thing. A kick-ass sipper.
How: Bottle 22oz. Sent to me by ygtbsm94, thanks a lot Brad.
The look: Black body topped by a tan ring of foam
In long: Nose has moderate bourbon, some vanilla, some roasted wood. Overall an enticing aroma. Taste is a bit boozy which I usually don’t like but here it works well with the rest of the beer. The alcohol, the medium-high roastiness level, the black chocolate and the vanilla notes all blend in to give a burnt alcoholised chocolate desert. The roastiness and strong wood presence really dry out the beer nicely and it is that dryness that takes it to the next level. Nothing is overdone here and unlike many BBA impy stout the body remains full, crisp and dry. A little less boozy and this would be in my top 20 impy stout. Black Gold in Barrels!?! Dick Cheney is probably plotting a “liberation” of Full Sail Brewery.