Imperial Black Phoenix (Bourbon Barrel Aged)
Bootlegger's Brewery

Imperial Black Phoenix (Bourbon Barrel Aged)Imperial Black Phoenix (Bourbon Barrel Aged)
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From:
Bootlegger's Brewery
 
California, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
10%
Score:
94
Avg:
4.31 | pDev: 9.51%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
42
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 04, 2015
Added:
Apr 13, 2011
Wants:
  24
Gots:
  11
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jeff1973:
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Rated by jeff1973 from California

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

May 04, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.96 by duceswild from Heard & McDonald Islands

Feb 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by Totalpackage411 from California

Nov 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by KAF from Iowa

Nov 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by jwswigs from California

Apr 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by arniepnminne from Minnesota

Jan 16, 2014
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Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands

3.49/5  rDev -19%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
Bomber from vanlingleipa. Cheers dude!

From a bomber into a snifter
Stout brewed with chipotle, coffee, black pepper, smoked malt and aged one year on wood.

APPEARANCE: This one was a slow foamer upon opening. Never a good sign. A dark brown pour yields a small, loose, bubbly, tan head with lousy retention. Head quickly fades to a ring only. Black body with no real carbonation evident. A ring remains but leaves no lacing down the glass.

SMELL: Coffee beans and dark chocolate on the nose. Roasted aromas as well, light vanilla cream and touches of spicy peppers. Nicely chocolaty, creamy and spicy.

TASTE: Coffee and dark chocolate up front with some good vanilla cream, roasted coffee, roasted grain and a touch of pepper at the swallow. Bolder finish of bitter coffee, chocolate, sweet vanilla cream and a hint of peppers. The chili is quite subdued lending just a faint touch of heat, which I appreciate. Not a chili bomb; interestingly complex and enjoyable.

PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Semi-creamy, a little fizzy actually, goes down a bit prickly and finishes sticky on the palate. A bit of a spicy bite lingers at the back. Too fizzy and prickly for the style, which is unfortunate.

OVERALL: Really good. The flavors were bold and enjoyable while the chili added just a faint touch of heat without dominating the beer, which happens all too often. It's too bad the feel was under-par, as it would have been a whopper otherwise. A really nice wood aged adjunct stout. Cheers vanlingleipa! Always a pleasure.
Jan 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by ILikeGoodCider from New Jersey

Nov 27, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by zestar from California

Oct 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by mcrago from Indiana

Sep 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by coldmeat23 from Oklahoma

Sep 08, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by Crazydaddyo from California

Jul 10, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by Azyrien from California

Jul 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by illidurit from California

Jun 24, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by jvillefan from California

May 08, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by IPAyForHops from California

May 03, 2013
Photo of FosterJM
Reviewed by FosterJM from California

3.81/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
1736th Review on BA
Bottle to snifter
22oz

Thanks to my buddy Jeremy for grabbing this last year
Shared with my co worker Antti

App- A bit of a gusher even when cold in the glass. A solid medium black color with only a small brown head that was quite bubbly and fizzy and faded quickly. No cling or lace.

Smell- I can't say this was the most aromatic bourbon barrel aged beer I have had. The barrel seems to get lost in the nose. More of the base beer comes out with only the peppers and coffee shining. A bit hot and bitter on the nose. Lacking balance with oak and vanilla.

Taste- This was good. I actually prefer the base beer though. More flavor and more layered balance to it. The bitter of the coffee seems to have faded and the spice of the peppers as well. A bit of a mish mash of layers here. More bakers chocolate to the flavors.

Mouth- A thinner medium body with a medium prickly carbonation. Seems a bit over carbed to me. Residual mixture of thin coffee and semi potent peppers.

Drink- Was a bit let down with this. I think my fault for not drinking sooner and storing improperly.
Feb 15, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by spycow from Illinois

Jan 18, 2013
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

4.3/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to Javier for this one. Served in a taster pint glass.

A - Tan foam settles to a collar, leaving behind minimal lacing. Near-black body with some lighter red-brown glints at the edges of the glass.

S - Lots of oak and chipotle, with notes of coffee, bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, and a touch of roasted malt filling out the flavor profile. Alcohol is pretty well-disguised; I wouldn't have guessed it's 10%.

T - The taste has a bit less chiptole influence, with more of the chocolate and oaky vanilla and only mild-to-moderate coffee and chile flavor. The earthy bourbon complements the similar notes from the peppers and coffee, and I appreciate the balance of sweet and roast flavors here. Again, alcohol is largely absent.

M - Medium body that is a touch undersized for 10%, but not as thin as the original Black Phoenix. Moderate carbonation, some tannic grit from the oak and the peppers, and only light residual stickiness. No alcohol warmth, but a mild chile kick.

D - An excellent example of balancing and integrating numerous elements: adjuncts, bourbon barrels, and your typical beer flavors. If you're looking for something hot, you may want to look elsewhere, but for an excellent barrel-aged stout with a twist this is a great choice.
Nov 10, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by joshwith from Colorado

Oct 30, 2012
Imperial Black Phoenix (Bourbon Barrel Aged) from Bootlegger's Brewery
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 42 ratings