Schlafly Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

Brewed by Saint Louis Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Maplewood, Missouri USA

I can assume one of three things when I take spare notes on a beer: 1.) I was enjoying the beer so much that I didn’t want to be distracted by my notebook; 2.) I disliked the beer to the point that a rating wasn’t worth my time; 3.) I was too drunk to write. In this case, I believe the first reason to be accurate (although the third could be as well). Apparently I found this Impy to be a deep black/brown under a thin film & halo. Big bourbon affront over equally large malted nose. Bittersweet, fully malted flavor. Full-mouthed yet coffee dry, hops present in finish.

<font size=-4>Sampled at the <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Events-Detail.asp?Eve 2007 Chicago Group Gathering (Just getting around to this particular notebook...)</font>

Tasted at PP bottle shop from bottle from hapjydeuce. Thanks! 2006 bottle. Black. Small head. Sweet malty oaky smokey flavor. Nice buttery taste. Leans sweet. Good.

2006 bottle, shared at the PP Bottle Shop with wetherel, DenverLogan, Sean and Ryan. Pours a dark but transparent mahogany color with white-beige bubbles and temporary lacing. Imminent aroma of old bourbon oak and smoke maple wood with molasses, wreaking! Pleasant flavors of sugary currants, caramel and coffee with a large bourbon presence. Robust dry and hoppy finish with some simple citrus notes as well. Thin-bodied for a BA imperial, with warming alcohol and a carbonated tickle on the nose. I felt the bourbon was a bit over the top.

750 ml bottle via trade with drmatt - Pours a dark brown color with a 1/2 finger thick tan head. Light spotty lacing. Aroma is bourbon, vanilla, and alcohol. Flavor is oak/bourbon, vanilla, light licorice, chocolate, and alcohol. The alcohol is pretty noticeable in this one. Medium body. Your typical, but good, BB Imperial stout. Thanks Matt.

(bottle shared by STLWill, thanks!) Poured dark brown with a light tan head. Basic bourbon barrel-aged impy smell, with a strong presence of vanilla. As the beer warmed, more subtle smells of chocolate and roasted malt made their presence known. Taste was pretty good, the bourbon didn’t dominate the tastebuds. Flavors of vanilla, chocolate, and roasted malt created a nice balance. If the mouthfeel was a little thicker, it would be (as OSLO stated) very similar to BCS.

Courtesy of STLWill. I recognize the quality of this beer but its not for me. Black with almost no carbonation. Bourbon aroma and bourbon flavor. Thick malt, but any complexity that might have been there is hidden by what I consider an unpleasant bourbon flavor. Medium palate.

[Bottle, thanks STLWill!] 2007 vintage-Pours black with a very light tan head. Aroma is raisin, bourbon, light roasted malt. Taste is quite a bit of bourbon, a lot of roasted malt, subdued chocolate, and a little alcohol on the tongue. Thin, but a good finish with a lot of chocolate. A nice beer that, mainly in the finish, reminded me of a thin Bourbon County Stout. If this was thicker it would be really good.

Thanks much to Stlwill for sharing. Pours a dark denseoaky brownish black. Very swet boubony nose with a nice dose of floral hoppiness and a nice hint of chocolate and spice. Mouth is kind of thin mouthfeel but very ever present bourbon and chocolate. The alcohol is pretty present and dominating, but a solid beer nonetheless.