Schlafly Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

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

750ml bottle 񢉗 vintage)
This has been cellaring for a while now. I finally cracked open my 2007 bottle to see how it was faring. After trying it I may wait a few years to crack open the other. It still felt a bit young or unbalanced even after about a year on the shelf. This is a decent imperial stout but nothing special.

Aroma / Appearance - The half finger tannish head was above the carbonated black body. Clear sheets of lacing slid down the side like layers of ice. Espresso, plum, bittersweet chocolate, and vanilla are the main characteristics. The bourbon shows up but must have mellowed over the last twelve months. There’s only a bit of bitterness and malt in the bottom.

Flavor / Palate - Bitter dark chocolate, anise, espresso, and vanilla are the primary facets. There is a booziness which is a bit too strong. Unbalanced and warm it might need some more time or has already been sitting too long. I get the sense it still has some shelf life however which will hopefully help it improve.

2007 bottle. Pours black with a one finger thick tan head leaving some spotty lacing. Nose was slightly boozy with hints of chocolate, mocha, toffee, and some dark berry fruits. Flavor was much of the same while being a little watery and kind of underwhelming. A decent beer overall.

Both Immy and ucusty hooked me up with this treat. Thanks, guys! Dark brown pour, with a thick body and a fairly substantial cream head. Huge chocolate notes dominate the nose, with a relatively understated bourbon/vanilla presence. All to the good, I say. Full bodied and very sweet impy, with a creamy mouthfeel accentuating the chocolate malts quite nicely. Only the slightest sharp notes of booze and roasted flavors, with just a hint of wood and bourbon in there. Nothing mind-blowing, but I damn sure appreciated the restraint of the beer.

Purchased from the brewery, refridgerated then kept in a van for two days before being stored at room temperature for a month than refridgerated again for a month. Not a smart idea by any means! At any rate, this is a unique bomber that smells like bourbon & milk...two opposing aromas that in my opinion do not work out well. Taste is fantastic but sippable (meaning I can only take half sips), I’m getting peppermint, toffee, coffee, and chocolate. Very unique and great, but not something I could drink often.

My Bottom Line:
This hot Imperial Stout offers peppery roast and earthy malts alongside portentous bourbon flavors in a rather lean and bubbly mouthfeel.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A sheet of foam tops the dark brown.
-The flavor profile is really in-your face, and not entirely cohesive to my palate.
-The bourbon character and the yeast combine to produce some fruitiness.
-Caramel sweetness adds some depth, but everything around it is too loud for me to thoroughly enjoy this beer.

Bottle.

Bouteille de 750 ml partagée lors d’une dégustation Ratebeer Montréal chez Glouglouburp. Arôme: Odeur de petits fruits foncé avec une pointe chocolatée. Apparence: La couleur est noire opaque. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Léger goût de chocolate et de petits fruits foncés avec une pointe de vanille. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement huileuse. Faible effervescence en bouche. Légère présence d’alcool en arrière goût. (Rating #2643)

Boxed 750 mL bottle from The Wine and Cheese Place. 2008 vintage. Pours a creamy brown black with a thin pale brown head. Nose is rich with Bourbon , oak, and medium roasted malts. Flavors are also full of bourbon. It is very pronounced but not boozy (although the alcohol does hit you fast). Nice vanilla bean notes, barrel woodenness, caramel. Mouth is full and alcoholic with a soft carbonation. A rich beer that will age very nicely.

2007 vintage: Pours an oily black color with a thin head. Smelss like caramelized fruits, chocolate, coffee and bourbon. Mouthfeel is awesome kind of makes my mouth numb. Tastes like chocolate, caramel, fruits, finishes with warming alcohol...delicious...I just wish it wasn’t 87 degress in DaSilky1’s house because now I’m sweating like the fat kid in PE class. Yet overall a stellar beer.