Rock Bottom Chicago Bourbon Barrel-Aged Porter

Brewed by Rock Bottom Chicago
Style: Porter
Chicago, Illinois USA

On tap at the brewpub 12/16/2005: Pours a mostly opaque black with dark brown edges and a thin tan head. Sweet bourbon and light nutmeg aroma has some nice dark chocolate notes. Starts with a sweet malt and earthy bourbon oak flavor with a lightly warming, yet smooth finish. An enjoyable and interesting brew.

Nearly black of body, this dark brown ale is capped with a bubbly, sustained brown head. The aroma begins with the Bourbon, followed closely by dark malts, a hint of roasted barley, a drop of chocolate milk, and alcohol. Very smooth. The flavor is strong with bittersweet chocolate, a chewy dark caramel, Bourbon, molasses, and a light touch of alcohol. It finishes on a sticky, whiskey note. Mr. Crowley continues to do amazing things with a barrel, and I thank him for his efforts.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Bottom Chicago, Chicago, IL<font size=-1>

On tap at R.B. Chicago. Poured black with a short-lived cap of tan head. Aroma of roasty and toasty dark malts with chocolate, coffee, and light bourbon... delectable, but a little weak. Roasty chocolate, coffee, and a light herbal bitterness, vanilla and whiskey in the flavor... quite full. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel with a well-placed sweet bourbon bite around the edges and at the finish. Finish picked up burnt chocolate malts, coffee bitterness, and a reminder of the whiskey. Felt great, and very tasty.

Draught at the brew pub. Opaque blck color with light brown head that laced the snifter. Smelled of whisky mostly with a bit of chocolate and oak coming through. Tatses of milk chocolate, whiskey, vanilla, and oak. Very creamy mouth feel with a sweet finish.

12/16/05. At RB Chicago. Pours to a strawberry seed and chocolate oatmeal aroma. The flavor is Nestle quik and strawberry seeds and bourbon. Pours to a creamy dark tan head. Very original flavor. I’m digging this. The palate is rich and creamy. Thick. Oatmeal derived?

on tap, pitch black with almost no head. aroma is mainly bourbon with some roasty notes. flavor is mainly bourbon. it over takes the beer but i dont find it too much. since the beer is only 7% the bourbon doesnt taste hot at all. i found the porter to be a little weak and failed to hold it’s own against the bourbon, just not enough roastiness and chocolate notes. mouthfeel is not full and sorta fizzy. in the end a decent porter i’m sure improved by the barrel.

Chicago. Mostly opaque with medium chestnut brown hues when put to light. Lovely, creamy, light brown head and sticky lacing. Robust porter edges lead the aroma. Unsweetened chocolate inside of cracked walnut shells, dark chocolate shavings, and bourbon spilled on cardboard coasters paraphrase the rest of the aroma portion. Creamy and expansive as it registers on the palate. Astringent porter edge is apparent, but seemingly churns to sweet bourbon seamlessly. Lighter, titillating chocolate cake powder mix and some Hershey syrup drizzled on the tongue, followed by a shot of bourbon. Chalky snapshot of bourbon and dry chocolate in terms of palate performance. Uncanny in its ability to operate within the confines of said style while broadcasting complexity from the barrel aging process. Finishes like liqueur-filled milk chocolate truffles. Enjoyable indeed.

Huge bourbon nose following through even stronger in the upfront flavor assault. Rich, creamy texture...very mellow and inviting. Coffee, mollases, and brown sugar highlights. Finely crafted beer.