Tag Archives: bourbon barrel aged

4 - Good (buy), AleSmith Brewing Company, Beer Reviews, Stout - Imperial, USA

AleSmith Speedway Stout – Barrel-Aged Vietnamese Coffee

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Brewery: AleSmith Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 13.6%
Style: Stout – Imperial
Other Notes: Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels with Vietnamese coffee

Brewer Description: (from can) Pouring a deep, endless black with mahogany highlights and crowned by a rich, dense head, this beer is a testament to our passion for extraordinary flavors. We took an exceptional stout in its own right, aged it in premium bourbon barrels, and harmoniously blended it with distinct, chocolatey richness of Vietnamese coffee. Savor its creamy, full-bodied magnificence. Indulge in a masterpiece where tradition meets innovation.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.39

Intro: A 1 pint can, 2024 version, canned on 27th June 2024. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Deep dark brown to black in colour with pretty much no head, but some nice lacing.
Aroma: Roasty, coffee bean, espresso, chocolate, vanilla, caramel, with notes of bourbon.
Taste: Roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, bourbon, with hints of vanilla and caramel.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: A very enjoyable old school style Imperial Stout, that’s not too sweet, and has good coffee and bourbon barrel.

4 - Good (buy), Amager Bryghus, Beer Reviews, Denmark, Stout - Imperial

Amager Double Black Mash (2023) Bourbon BA Version

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Brewery: Amager Bryghus
Country: Denmark
ABV: 13.2%
Style: Stout – Imperial
Other Notes: Widow Jane BA (label says 10 months, Untappd says that was erroneous and it should be 22 months)

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Take a good thing and make it even better – that’s the philosophy behind Double Black Mash. This huge Imperial Stout was easily big and potent enough after the first mashing, but we thought what the heck let’s give it another spin. So we mashed it in a second time doubling everything that was already good while aiming for great. All grain, heavy duty, no nonsense. Did we hit what we aimed for? Well, that’s really up to you to decide. If you like it big and black this is your kinda beer for sure.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.43

Intro: A 750ml black waxed bottle, 2023 vintage, with a best before date of January 2029. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A deep black colour with a thin brown head that dissipated quickly to a ring around the glass while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Bourbon, light roast, chocolate, toffee, licorice.
Taste: Bourbon sweetness, chocolate, vanilla, toffee, wood, light roast, and a touch bitter on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable sipper with great aroma and flavours. Back to basics barrel aged beer without the need to over adjunctify (is that a word?).

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Brew York, England, Stout - Milk / Sweet Imperial

Brew York Empress Tonkoko BA Heaven Hill

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Brewery: Brew York
Country: England
ABV: 10.6%
Style: Stout – Milk / Sweet Imperial
Other Notes: State of Mind Edition 2024. Heaven Hill BA, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Coconut & Cacao Imperial Milk Stout

Brewer Description: (from can) Brewed and released just once a year, each Barrel Aged Empress Tonkoko release spends at least 12 months in a unique selection of barrels. Heaven Hill Bourbon was selected to add a caramel sweetness, subtle rye spice, and rich oak to add depth to an already deeply decadent beer.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.16

Intro: A 330ml can, 2024 State of Mind Edition (not sure what this means), with a best before date of 27th November 2026. Poured into whatever glass I could find at the hotel.
Appearance: Black in colour with a one finger beige head that had good retention, and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Dessert, coconut flakes, vanilla, caramel, tonka beans, nutty, toasted almonds, dark chocolate.
Taste: Light roast, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, coconut, bourbon, tonka, nutty, boozy, and a light spiciness on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable sipper with a very nice aroma.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, De Struise Brouwers, Winter Warmer

De Struise Tsjeeses Reserva Bourbon Barrel Aged

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Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 10%
Style: Winter Warmer
Other Notes: 2014 Vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Belgian X-Mas Ale, bourbon barrel aged.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 330ml bottle, 2014 vintage, bottled on 9th November 2016. Poured into whatever glass I could find at the hotel.
Appearance: A cloudy copper brown colour, with a thin half finger tanned head, that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Sweet, candi sugar, plum, raisin, toffee, caramel, toasted bread, chocolate, oak, and bourbon.
Taste: Moderately sweet, plum, raisin, candi sugar, toffee, bourbon, oak, and a touch boozy and spicy on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Good aroma and interesting flavours. I preferred the Port BA version more than this Bourbon BA version, but it could very well be that I let this one age for too long.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Bottle Logic Brewing, Stout - Pastry Imperial, USA

Bottle Logic Scatter Signal

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Brewery: Bottle Logic Brewing
Country: USA
ABV: 12%
Style: Stout – Pastry Imperial
Other Notes: Batch 003, 2022 release, Stasis Project, BA Imperial Mocha Stout

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels and finished w/ coffee, cacao nibs, and marshmallows.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.17

Intro: A 500ml bottle, batch 003, 2022 release, poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a thin brown head that dissipated quickly, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Sweet, roasted malts, milk chocolate, coffee, vanilla, oak, bourbon.
Taste: Much like the aroma, sweet, chocolate, coffee, vanilla, oak, bourbon, booze.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, full bodied, with soft carbonation.
Overall: Great aroma and good flavours. It was not too sweet, and an enjoyable sipper.