rallison (26), USA
Jul 10, 2008 Regrettably, this review is from memory.
Had a glass at Stone, and a taste from the growler Carlos was generous enough to share at the Isabelle release.
All the great characteristics of aged Stone RIS with a strong, but very well integrated, bourbon component. Very smooth and deliciously decadent. The barrel aging took nothing away from the body, thankfully.
Excellent beer.
 sloth (1487), Ceciltucky, Co., Maryland, USA
Jul 5, 2008 Wow, cant believe some of the low scores on this one recently. I must say that i was truely caught offguard with this one. I,m a Stoner for sure but this was way beyond expections! Read eaglefan538s rating cause he has described it to a tee, period. The man is wonderful with his descriptors. I,d also like to give a large THANKS to mreusch for the 12oz. hand bottled(and very well done i might add) sample of this lovely elixer that i received from him in trade. A real stunner. Well balanced and and truly captivating. Well done Stone....
enginaaron (27), San Diego, California, USA
Jul 5, 2008 Growler from Stone. 2006 BBA version, filled May 2008. Wasn’t sure of what to expect with this brew. The age was very prominent; had a sort of musty flavor. But the bourbon was very strong and prominent. Taste had lots of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, molasses, hops with a creamy smooth texture that smacks the lucky taster in all areas of the mouth and tongue. Taste lingers and develops with time. This beer will make you think long and hard and ponder exactly just what you’re drinking. Alcohol is still prominent but not as much as when freshly brewed.
Make sure to consume this at a warmer temperature than other beers. Also, the beer seemed to mellow out the day after the growler was first opened. And even moreso the third day. Different flavors came out during those second and third tastings.
Overall quite good. I wish I could have this more often!
eaglefan538 (2020), Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Jul 4, 2008 Hand bottle marked 06, generously shared by sloth, who always out does me. The pour was dead on for the style in color, a bit still on the effervescence/carbonation leading me to think this was a little spent in the bottle, hopes dashed a tad. The aroma, though, was wonderful, excellent oak, cedar (undoubtedly this, and Bert nailed that first), bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate notes teasing the nose, raising hopes back up. The flavor kicked buttocks, surpassing all expectations and leading me to want more: all of the aroma was there in the flavor along with a chocolate dustiness that was quite nice. Absolutely no hint of oxidation at all, just a great production in its prime of drinking. Mouthfeel was full and a little flat, but surprisingly this thing wasn’t cloying or sticky one bit, despite the lack of carbonation and aging (absence) of any hops. Right on, Bert, thanks so much for sharing this one with me. I shall declare this my honorary/symbolic 2k beer.
holdenn (1102), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Jul 1, 2008 Consumed on 5/25/08 from a swingtop growler with big thanks to drewbeerme for scoring this one. Pours a dark black with a beige head. Doughy chocolate malts with some of the grains coming through. Medium bodied. Chocolates, roasted malts, rich and flavorful with a touch of raisins that finishes sweet and bourbon. This is balanced really nicely with the barrel.
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