 BBB63 (3795), La Porte, Indiana, USA
May 5, 2006
Bottle #100 of 400 given to me by JSquire, many many thanks my friend! I will be sure to share "that other oaked age beer" with you, expect a beer mail in a few weeks. Enjoyed in what else but my Great Lakes snifter.
Pours a inky black with a small but lasting creamy tan head and outstanding lace and oily legs to boot. The nose is awakened to almond and vanilla extract, light oak and charred wood, minor bourbon notes, rich bakers chocolate, plum, truffles, star anise, molasses, and peated malts. Dude and dudettes, I could just simply sit here and smell this brew for hours, it is so inviting!
But alas I finally go for a sip, starts sweet and very malty. I first was worried that this could be over done but then some nice twangy prune and pomegranate come about to cut through all that malt. Then in full support was the barrel character, alcohol and oak which again added to the depth and helped cut down on the sweetness. This got fully roasted and even a tad burnt towards the finish which is a tour-the-force of vinous qualities. Just when I didn’t think anything else could challenge the palate, a blast of iced espresso come on the attack and laid the foundation for a perfect aftertaste. Part Kentucky Bourbon meets Part Iced Cafe Mocha on the LONG aftertaste, pure nirvana or perhaps Sinful.
The mouth feel is oily and lush, yet not so sticky you would forget about the beer. There is a biting and warming character towards the end which almost refreshes the palate.
If I could only have one BA Imperial Stout ever to drink, this would be it! Thank you to the brewers at Great Lakes! A WORLD CLASS BEER!!
BigJoe7231 (13), 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 (926), 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.
|
