Date: 08/26/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Fest of 26

clear brown, whispy white head, sweet vanilla and oak aroma with a hint of toasted and chocolate malts in the background, big sweet malt flavor with a complex array of chocolate and vanilla, nice bitterness keeps it balanced

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: **/4

Pours a dark amber mahogany with a frothy off-white head. Has a sweet grainy, earthy malty aroma with some hints of diacetyl and bourbon. Starts sweet and buttery with a touch of earthy hoppy bitterness and nice bourbon balance leading to a dry, bittersweet finish. An ok bourbon aged beer, but could stand to lose some of its buttered popcorn character.

Poured a medium and cloudy brown color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of light vanilla, caramel, nuts, lightly woody with some bourbon. Tastes of nuts, woodiness, toasted malts and light bourbon. Thinner body. The barrel aging does not take front stage (only a portion aged in bourbon barrels) but makes it self known.

Bottle... TITW Part Deux... Clear, deep amber ale with a small, creamy, off-white head. Good retention. Black tea, bourbon, caramel and vanilla in the nose. The flavor is all about chocolate, toasted nuts and vanilla. Medium to full-bodied with a milky mouthfeel and gentle carbonation. Finishes sweet and chocolaty with "just enough" bourbon. Best brown ale I’ve had in a very long time. A shout goes out to Monger for sending the bottle!

Bottled Sample @ sick_boy282’s Post-Real Ale Fest Mini Tasting
Hazy brown color, nice creamy head. Nose of caramel cake, some chocolate and nice hoppy notes. The flavor is creamy, nice mature finish. Hoppy with light bourbon notes. Almost like a hopped rum cake. Thanks Alex!