SledgeJr (2957), Omaha, Nebraska, USA Sep 13, 2009 In the growler at the 2009 Pre-GNBF tasting. Dark cloudy amber with a thin white head. Fairly big estery nose with bourbon and acetone. The flavor lacks much of the medicinal/banana/bubblegum/raisin tastes that I need in this style. This beer could be heavier with the malt body. Has a mild tart finish. Also, this may not have traveled well by flip-cap growler bottle. beastiefan2k (1590), Lawrence (formely NYC), Kansas, USA Jul 5, 2009 Long stemmed generic tulip glass at the brewpub. Comes to me with a thick full head that even goes above the rim. It fades to a thick ring. Color is completely thick brown with a very light ruby tint to it. Cannot see through it at all and no lighter edges. Aroma is sweet alcohol raisin with brown sugar mixed with more of a distilled alcohol essence, works all great together. Flavor has less of that distilled alcohol essence and more caramel with light raisin black bread. The thicker body is a bit balanced by a soft yet felt carbonation and it all works well in the bigness of the beer. Its big but never over the top. A light cherry aspect emerges in the nose as the beer warms. The cherry makes it almost barleywine like but that never comes through on the flavor. Indra (2023), Prairie Village, Kansas, USA Jun 30, 2009 Draft at the brewpub, tulip glass. Sweet, darkly fruity aroma, with suggestions of raisin, bourbon, banana, dark caramel, vanilla, old wood and faint berry. Opaque rusty red-brown color with a slight, subsiding, off-white head. Flavor is vinous and sweet with just a hint of the bourbon barrel character in the background, along with red grape, milk chocolate, toffee, dates, cherry and vanilla. Alcohol seems very well hidden. Smooth, low in effervescence, ever so gently tannic mouthfeel, body is medium-full. Not overly bourbon-infused, which is good and allows for more subtleties to be found. Nice effort.
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