An Ale Pleasure
Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse

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From:
Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
 
Kentucky, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
12.1%
Score:
89
Avg:
4.07 | pDev: 3.19%
Reviews:
3
Ratings:
11
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 08, 2014
Added:
Oct 21, 2013
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Collaboration with To Øl
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ReeseMax3:
Photo of ReeseMax3
Rated by ReeseMax3 from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.7%

Apr 13, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by mpayne5 from Indiana

Feb 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Ohiovania from Ohio

Dec 16, 2013
Photo of deadonhisfeet
Reviewed by deadonhisfeet from Kentucky

4.34/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Billed as an imperial rye stout aged in rye whisky barrels. Got this growler as ``leftovers'' from an Against the Grain tasting. Poured into a small snifter. The pour is extremely dark and fairly viscous. There is a thin, dingy brown head that quickly dissipates, as is common for barrel-aged beers. The nose has lots of nice, roasty, rummy aromas characteristic of a Russian Imperial Stout. I get charred fruit, espresso, dark chocolate, and just a whiff of whisky.

Very full body and lots of roasty flavors. Up front I get rich chocolate and toffee, which quickly gives way to roasted malt, espresso, unsweetened chocolate, and a touch of bourbon. I can definitely detect the alcohol in this one, but it's more of a warming presence and less of a burn. It ties the flavors together and adds richness, but doesn't kick you in the teeth. The chocolate flavors carry all the way through this beer, along with just a hint of espresso, arriving at the finish and blending with the alcohol like a luxurious dessert. It reminds me of a bourbon-filled chocolate. There's also a slight brininess, like a single malt scotch. The feel is slick and somewhat creamy.

An extremely flavorful stout. Its complex, intense, roasty flavors kind of remind me of the 2-year-old bottle of The Abyss that I just had recently, only with more of a chocolate presence. It's interesting how little of the whisky I detect (unlike some of the other BAs who reviewed this beer). Perhaps this keg had the benefit of aging a bit before being served and a lot of the whisky had a chance to mellow out. Whatever the reason, I thought this beer was sublime and full of flavor, particularly chocolate, and not as bourbon-forward as some others experienced it.
Dec 15, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by ShanePB from Pennsylvania

Dec 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by BKBassist from New York

Nov 20, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by PsilohsaiBiN from New York

Oct 23, 2013
Photo of dbrauneis
Reviewed by dbrauneis from North Carolina

3.96/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Served on-tap at Tørst in Brooklyn, NY

A: Pours an opaque yet clear medium dark brown in color with minimal amounts of gentle visible carbonation at the surface and some cola brown highlights. The beer has a finger tall sudsy foamy beige head that reduces to a sudsy thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of bourbon, vanilla, and oak with light notes of roasted malts.

T: Upfront there a light notes of roasted malts with moderate to strong flavors of bourbon, vanilla, and oak. Moderate amounts of lingering bitterness and a light flavor of alcohol.

M: Slightly more than medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Creamy with moderate amounts of alcohol warming.

O: Unfortunately the bourbon (from the barrel aging) really dominates the flavors and aroma of this beer and hides any complexity... It is enjoyable but one must really like bourbon to enjoy this beer. The alcohol is very present in this one and it needs to be slowly sipped.
Oct 23, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by pjkelley82 from New York

Oct 22, 2013
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.95/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
On-tap at Tørst, Brooklyn, NY

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a finger and a half high light brown head that died down and left a patch of bubbles on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of bourbon are present in the nose; these become stronger as the beer warms up.
T: Like the smell, the taste is mostly dominated by flavors of bourbon, particularly as it warms up.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied on the palate and has some warming from the alcohol.
O: This beer seems one dimensional as it is dominated by aromas and flavors of bourbon. It tastes a little more like a 10% beer than a 12% beer, but in any event it is one that needs to be sipped.
Oct 21, 2013
An Ale Pleasure from Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 11 ratings