Odell Buffalo Bourbon Stout

Brewed by Odell Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Fort Collins, Colorado USA

Draft @ GABF ’08. Pours a black with a dectn tn head. Aroma of whiskey, vanilla, chocolte, and coffee. Taste of the same with some oak and more bourbon flavvors thrown in. This full bodied brew is actually fabulous. Well balanced and quite drinkable. Bottle this.

Tap, Odell’s tap room in Fort Collins. Very black, dense tap head that lingers patiently whilst I discuss Spinal Tap, at length, with Aaron and Traci. Okay. Aroma is...bourbon. A little touch of chocolate, other other than that, just whiskey. Flavor has more nuance, but still pretty skewed toward the booze. A bit of charcoal, cocoa, heather, maybe a little coffee in there. Palate is surprisingly delicate with a little raw sugar finish. I like bourbon, very much. And this was moderately pleasant to sip. But I’d like my bourbon aged beers to aspire to more than just tasting like the cask.

Draft @ Choice City. Dense black colored body, small ring of a brown head. Nose is a little hot and boozy - straight bourbon and charred malts, a little cream and a little chocolate mousse. Texture is chewy, medium fullness, some resinous/oily character - mostly straight charred chocolate malt and bourbon, a little touch of fluffy/pillowy dark chocolate and whipped cream at times. Decent but not great.

tap at Falling Rock. black pour with thin head. big bourbon, coffee and liquorice aroma. dry up front. sourness and bourbon, off balanced. a bit dissappointing.

On tap at the brewery. Poured a deep brown/black color with a thin tan head that eventually receded to a ring and left some spotty lacing. Aroma of oak, vanilla, chocolate, caramel, a light nuttiness, and some bourbon. Smooth, sweet entry with some sweet chocolate and vanilla lead into a faint roasted maltiness and some spicy bourbon that seems to detract from the flavor more than it compliments it before it eventually finishes with a light tinge of dark fruits and some oak that leaves the palate a bit dry. Low carbonation and a bit thin on the palate considering its competition. Overall, they took a mediocre imperial stout and aged it in bourbon barrels. The outcome leaves it a bit more desirable, but I wouldn’t include it amongst the big boys.

Tap. Moderate aromas all around. Toasted and mild coffee for the malt, resin for th hops, earth for the yeast and background notes of port wine, bourbon and dark dried fruits. Head is creamy, light brown, has excellent lacing and is fully lasting. Color is black. Flavor is moderately sweet and lightly acidic, then finishes lightly bittersweet and acidic. Palate is medium to full, syrupy, has a soft carbonation, and finishes lightly alcoholic and sticky. An awesome Imperial Stout, excellent mellow flavor and feel.

Sampled at the 2009 AZ Strong Beer Fest on February 28th. Near black and a bit thick with a nice head. Bourbon stands out more than anything in the aroma and flavor. Theres a bit of coffee, roasted malt in there too. Very good stuff.

Sampled @ 9th AZ Strong Beer Festival. Bourbon wood aroma stands out in this one. Black body with tan head. Mix of creamy chcolate and sweet bourbon for flavor. Dry on the palate maybe little too dry for me.