kmweaver (1973), Takoma Park, Maryland, USA Jul 16, 2006 Updated: Jun 29, 2007 Rerate from 06/29/07: 22oz bottle, #262 of 900 from the 2006 batch, courtesy of RagallachMC from a while ago. Thanks, Paul! Pours an intensely dark, rust-brown color; light tan head that quickly dissipates. Dense coffee and boozy bourbon in the aroma; hints of toasty vanilla and bitter chocolate. Full, viscous mouthfeel: dense, bitter coffee and dark chocolate; light vanilla and toasty bourbon character, well-integrated into the rest of the beer; intricate and oily and chewy without being overly sweet. Great stuff. Lengthy, dark chocolate and warm bourbon finish. 8.4.9.5.18=4.4
Rating from 07/16/2006: Courtesy of a fine citizen, RBSG 06. Sweet bourbon on the nose; vanilla, oaky tones. Bourbon is well-integrated into a dark chocolate and sweet vanilla core. Would like to compare it alongside the non-BA. 9.4.9.5.18=4.5.
BigJoe7231 (14), Schererville, Indiana, USA Aug 27, 2008 I finally found this at a Binny’s in Chicago. A black pour, with a thin, light brown colored head. Smells of oaky vanilla goodness with a hint of coffee. Very drinkable, medium body and tastes of sweet roasty coffee. A pleasant, beautiful and balanced brew. nimbleprop (581), Washington, Washington DC, USA Aug 12, 2008 Scored this bomber in a trade with ogglethorp. Thanks Brian! Pours a thick, opaque, oily black with a slightly beige spitty head. Mild aroma that doesn’t really indicate what’s inside. You have to get your nose right in the open part of the glass to get vanilla, crackers, cookie dough, bourbon, corn, sour mash whiskey, wood and a little coffee. Well rounded flavor that has some strong sweetness to accompany the distinct booziness. Flavors of vanilla, caramel, wood, bourbon whiskey, chocolate, coffee and brown sugar. A bit of heat in the throat, sweetness lasts in the mouth, thick and oily on the tongue. Crazy to say, but this is a mild barrel aged imperial stout, but delicious none the less and surprisingly drinkable. radiomgb (1749), Peterborough, Ontario, Canada Aug 7, 2008 Black in colour with a thin quickly dissipating tan coloured head, very light lacing. The aroma is of alcohol, quite sweet, some bourbon, wood, sugar and roast. The flavour is of light bourbon/alcohol, vanilla, quite sweet, lots of sugar, some roast and dark chocolate. Warming mouthfeel, medium/large body, medium carbonation. Finishes long with some alcohol warmth, fairly smooth.
Coming into this I thought that it would be an alcoholic mess with bourbon domination but it turns out that’s not the case. Rather enjoyable.
650ml bottle obtained in a trade with footbalm, thanks Eric.
Opened on February 25, 2008
Vintage 2006, Bottle #845/900.
The_Epeeist (928), Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA Jul 30, 2008 22 oz bottle, 2006. Dark brown with some brief, tan froth. Nose is dusty brown sugar, dark chocolate and wood. Milky body with a few bubbles and a tang. Taste is coffee, prune juice and Baker’s chocolate. Dries with bitter greens and residual alcohol. Lots of depth and complexity but a bit too over-roasted for my taste. omhper (10438), Stockholm, Sweden Jul 16, 2008 Bottled at Petalax Beer Festival. Transparently black with brief beige head. Strong oaky vanilla aroma with licorice behind. Sweet and near full bodied. Restrained and reasonably balanced. There’s licorice, vanilla and oak with syrup underneath. Flavourful, extrovert and really good, but Great Lakes is one of those brewers that can do more subtle beer really, really good I still prefer some of their lesser heralded beers.
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