Laughing Dog Bourbon Barrel Aged The Dogfather Imperial Stout

Brewed by Laughing Dog Brewing
Style: Imperial Stout
Ponderay, Idaho USA

This is one of the most overpriced beers I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t even tell this was aged in a bourbon barrel. I’m pretty sure they aged it for a few hours in a barrel so they could justify doubling the price. If you’re looking for a very mild stout and price is absolutely no object, then by all means give this a try. If you’re intrigued by the Bourbon Barrel aging, then you’re better off with Micholeb’s version.

Draught @ Brouwer’s Café:   Pitch black, large light brown head, rather foamy, super sticky lacing.   Looks superb.   Faint oat aroma, pale cocoa and roasted malts.   Lil bit of a hop nose as well.   As it warms a bit of alcohol is noticeable.   Tart dry and a bit hoppy on the tongue.   Certainly roasty, a little cocoa, somewhat chalky.   Bourbon is very faint, if at all.   Has a slight sour aspect as well, but not much.   Body isn’t as heavy as I would like, but it is rather malty.   Lingering alcohol and bitter roasted malts.   Decent, but didn’t taste much at all of the barrel aging.   Could stand to be a bit more viscous as well.

22oz bottle shared at the DC Local tasting. Pours an oily, opaque black with a very creamy, beige head. Aroma is of soft vanilla, citrus hops, brown sugar. Flavor has plenty of molasses, brown sugar, burnt toast, a little bit woody. Finish is dry with some coffee bitterness and some sweetness.

22oz bottle. The bottle is not labeled as Bourbon Barrel Aged, but the case is labeled. Pours black with full foamy brown head. Aroma roasted malt, coffee and dark chocolate. Taste roasted coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla and molasses with bitter dark chocolate finsih. With mild wiskey at the end.

22oz bottle. Small brown head atop oily black body. Aroma is moderately sweet, chocolate, vanilla, light grapefruit. Taste is moderately sweet, grapefruit, chocolate/caramel. Medium-full body. Minimal Bourbon qualities.

Bottle. Supposedly this is the bourbon barrel version, although the label is the same. Got this at Grape and Gourmet. Pour is jet black with a short, thick tan head. Aroma is big roasted malt, vanilla, molasses and dark chocolate. Light licorice throughout. Taste is strong licorice and vanilla, with more molasses, dark chocolate and burnt malt. Body is thick and chewy with bubbly carbonation and a pleasant alcohol warmth. Ends with more vanilla, molasses, roasted malt, chocolate and coffee.

Tap @ Bittercreek: Pours pictch black. The nose is bright and roasty with light oaky notes and ample vanilla, chocolate, coffee and other prerequisite imperial stout things. The flavor is balanced and delicious; not much in the realm of bourbon aged though. I like it when sometimes a barrel aged beer shows a good balance of the original idea melded with the barrel. Sometimes you get too much barrel though. In this case, there’s not enough. It’s great, but not enough different to be worth emulating.