Valley Brew Decadent Darkness Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout

Brewed by Valley Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Stockton, California USA

On tap at the Bistro Barrel Aged Fest. Dark brown, nearly black, in color with a small tan head that leaves a nice film on the beer. Aroma is chocolate, roast, bourbon, oak, and vanilla. Really smells amazing. Flavor is rich dark chocolate, bourbon, roasted and caramel malt, vanilla, oak, and just a little bit of coffee. Nice smoky note in there as well, which I enjoy in an imperial stout. Body is medium for the style. Creamy on the mouthfeel but not quite as thick as I typically like in such a beer. Really great overall though. It is definitely decadent and dark, so the name is fitting.

On tap at Bistro BA Fest poured a translucent dark brown nearly black with a small lingering tan head. Aromas of oak, bourbon, dark chocolate, carmel, toffee, dark fruit and light vanilla. Palate was medium bodied and smooth with a dry finish. Flavors of oak, bourbon, bitter chocolate, light charcoal and a hint of coffee with a smooth dry lingering roasty bourbon finish.

2009 Bistro Barrel Aged Fest. Poured very black, bourbon, wood, vanilla, roasted malts, dark chocolate, little butter, little coffee

Draft at Bistro’s BA Fest! Nose is oaky vanilla, light chocolate, and some bourbony sherry notes. Black with a medium cinnamon tan, glass lacing head. Flavor has a hint of bitterness, coffee, chocolate, light oak, and vanilla.

Tap at the Bistro BA Fest. Pours very dark with a good tan head. Aroma is dark malt, maybe chocolate, slightly oaky. It is indescribable, but wonderful. Full bodied with creamy carbonation. Flavor is dark cherry-like fruit, burnt malt, chocolate, and enough oak to make me think sour. Very smooth. It is very good.

Draft @ Bistro Barrel Aged Festival. Pours an oily, dark chocolate-brown color; light-brown head with solid fine-bubbled lacing. Generous amounts of roasted malts, milk and dark chocolate, and light barrel notes in the aroma; charred; nicely blended. Full mouthfeel: loads of charred malts, milk and dark chocolate, solid soft bourbon and toasty vanilla notes; heavily roasted and charred; light chalkiness; lightly dry. Lasting finish: bitter chocolate, roasted and charred malts, balanced end.

On tap at Bistro Barrel Aged Fest.This dark brown beer poured with a light brown head and a coffee aroma. There is a chalk dry but delicious chcolate, coffee and treacle flavor with an alcohol trail.

Tasted from the barrel at brewery. Thanks, Steve. Nice dark black with good bourbon aromas. Tastes with citrus up front, chocolate and oak dominate with a good bourbon presence and a warm finish. Excellent.