Schlafly Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

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

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.

2007 vintage: dark thick looking in the glass...solid ring of tan. Dried fruit, ripe plum, dark malts...a little tart sting with some liquid chocolate. Thick, cashmere like mouthfeel...the bourbon and brown sugar notes are explosive...but the skillfull yet sublte hop backing makes it craftingly balanced. Extremely warming..a bit on the sweetside with a bourbon punch in the face in the finish. More dried fruits evident as well. Pretty big beer.

2007 Vintage. Thin head of varying sized bubbles. Strong buttery bourbon aroma. Sweet caramel, roasted grains, dark fruits and some fusal alcohols. Very dark brown in color. Palate is a bit on the thin side but very smooth. Moderate bourbon notes but a big alcohol presence. Makes the gums and tongue tingle. Roasted grains, a bit of chocolate, some vanilla and butterscotch. Goes down too easily for a imperial stout. Not chewey but that is actually welcome in these hot August months. A very good and tasty imperial stout.

Look is a bit on the mild side, very little head turns into no head, but on the bright side, it is very very dark. Scent is light hints of bourbon, dark fruits, molasses possibly? Fig, a little booze. Taste and mouth are fantastic. Another big win here, similar to smell and blends together quite well for not too boozy, not to subtle hints of the barrel this was aged in. While it took a hit in looks for this, the very low carbonation actually makes for a thicker, chewier stout, which is right up my alley. I’m surprised there isn’t more hype behind this one, it is an excellent, excellent beer.