Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
Kern River Brewing Company

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Kern River Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
10%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
4.32 | pDev: 11.11%
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
9
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 30, 2014
Added:
Feb 06, 2009
Wants:
  31
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
 
Rated: 5 by CrazyDan from Connecticut

Jan 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by hayesjw from California

Apr 28, 2012
Photo of soughtbygod
Reviewed by soughtbygod from California

5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This beer pours a super dark brown with the creamiest head you have ever seen, I literally took a few spoons fulls of foam off of the top and enjoyed them like ice cream delicious.

The smell is a mix a roasted Carmelle and bourbon, as it sat you even picked up hints of vanilla, but more than anything bourbon.

The taste was of the best bourbon you have ever had, but without the heat. It was complex and leathery even had hint of liquorice and allspice.

The mouth feel was so smooth. creamy creamy creamy.

best bourbon stout ever.
Nov 06, 2011
Photo of billshmeinke
Reviewed by billshmeinke from California

4.07/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
On nitro at Blue Palms. Poured in a snifter.

An inch of bubbly light beige head with a really awesome cascading effect. Pitch black body. Retention is sick. Spotty lacing left behind. Pretty excellent looking.

The nose is mild at first, hints of dark chocolate truffles, some steal cut oats, oak, and a nice bourbon note. Not that pungent. As it warms more oak and bourbon come through. Smells good, just not intense enough.

Tastes of chocolate, coffee, smokey/roast, oak, vanilla, a touch of caramel, and a nice hit of bourbon. Not super boozy or anything. Kind of a bitter smokey/oak finish. Also a bit vinous, especially in the aftertaste. The finish is surprisingly bitter and a nice counter point to the semi sweet and boozy flavors. The aftertaste lasts and lasts.

Carbonation is almost non existent. Super tiny bubbles, body is fairly thick. The nitro makes it real smooth and creamy, and I feel like it tones down some of the aroma/flavors (but I could be imagining things). Slightly more carbonation would have been good.

The nose was a bit of a let down in terms of not being pungent enough. The duration the aftertaste lingered was pretty amazing though. Could have been a little better, but pretty awesome overall.
Oct 16, 2010
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.98/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: The pour is black with low carbonation and a nice thick tan head.

S: The nose is very heavy on the bourbon and barrel. A lot vanilla, oak, and whiskey, along with some more subtle notes of chocolate and alcohol.

T: Like the flavor, the bourbon really dominates this beer, but it has died down a bit since the last time I tried it. Good flavors of vanilla, chocolate, roasted malt, and oak.

M: This is the most disappointing aspect of the beer. The body is on the thin side, but I'm not surprised as Class V itself is a touch thin.

D: A good beer, but still a bit too hot and bourbony. This should keep getting better, however.
Feb 22, 2010
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

4.4/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bomber shared after the Bruery Reserve Society Initiation. Duuude, this was awesome.

Pours black with a well-retained tan head and excellent lacing.

Aroma is very nice - your typical good RIS notes along with well-balanced bourbon. Roasty, chocolatey, and very appealing, with a touch of vanilla.

Flavor just explodes with awesomeness. Intense roasted malt, rich chocolate, coffee, toffee, vanilla, oak, and of course bourbon. Just the right amount of bourbon in there.

Smooth and creamy on the mouthfeel with fairly full body. Absolutely amazing. Kern River has really impressed me so far.
Jan 20, 2010
Photo of HopHead84
Reviewed by HopHead84 from California

3.54/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Bottle generously shared by Weibull at The 2009 Pizza Port Strong Ale Fest on 12/04/2009. Thanks Jason! The beer is dark brown with a small bubbly head. There are like 15 bubbles. The beer is essentially flat.

The nose opens with strong alcohol vapors, toffee, and prominent bourbon. It's very very boozy. Brown sugar, vanilla, oak, and caramel are all noticeable. Vanilla wafts.

The flavor is hot, sweet, and boozy brown sugar. Bourbon is really strong, and the alcohol burn is formidable. Vanilla is evident. The beer is honestly just way too hot. It's also completely flat so bubbles are not there to give respite from the strong alcohol. It's flat, heavy, and sticky on the palate. If I had a bottle of this I'd sit on it for a while and hope that some carbonation forms and that it mellows a bit.
Dec 05, 2009
Photo of Inflames
Reviewed by Inflames from California

4.72/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
When this beer was fresh it was a bit too whisky. With time it became a very well balanced barrel aged brew.

Aroma is heavy on the bourbon, minor notes of roast,coffee and wood.

Appearance is deep black to tan head.

The flavor is a good mix of Imperial stout/Bourbon, after taste is bourbon.

Mouthfeel isn't too thick but it isn't the smoothest.

The beer is easy too drink before it hits room temperature.
Apr 23, 2009
Photo of paytoplay
Reviewed by paytoplay from California

3.91/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3
Nitro at o'briens SD. Bourbon blast! Almost too much at 1st. Dark rich color, sweet, would like to see this with some age. Warming, nice length, not super complex. but boom bourbon flavors dominate, carmel, vanilla. Nitro creams it out. 10oz pour was plenty.
Feb 06, 2009
Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout from Kern River Brewing Company
Beer rating: 4.32 out of 5 with 9 ratings