Bo & Luke
Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse

Bo & LukeBo & Luke
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From:
Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
 
Kentucky, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #128
ABV:
13%
Score:
94
Ranked #1,981
Avg:
4.25 | pDev: 9.41%
Reviews:
122
Ratings:
1,014
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 02, 2024
Added:
Oct 08, 2012
Wants:
  376
Gots:
  252
Originally an Against the Grain Brewery and Brouwerij De Molen collaboration beer. For the first incarnation, De Molen head brewer Menno Oliver hopped in a muscle car and drove straight through from the Netherlands to Louisville, KY (that's USA folks) to brew this bourbon inspired ale, and we liked it so much, we decided to do it again. We took the ingredients in bourbon whiskey (Barley, Rye, Corn) and then smoked them with cherry wood and brewed a huge imperial stout with them. Then to top it off we aged it in Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrels. The resulting beer is rich, smokey and complex, with a bourbon character of caramel, vanilla and spice.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by joeseppy:
Photo of joeseppy
Reviewed by joeseppy from Illinois

4.29/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Pours extremely dark brown to pitch black. Generous mocha head and moderate lacing.

Aroma initially chocolate icing. Smokehouse meat, sweet malt, trace bourbon, cherry syrup and vanilla.

My initial taste is reminiscent of smoked bacon. Once I get past that, uh hmm, smooth bourbon heat ensues. I definitely pick up on cherry, corn syrup, vanilla and charred oak. Can charred oak be appealing? I dunno. The bourbon is one of the finest/smoothest blended with a stout, can't say enough.

Mouthfeel is thick and creamy. Carbonation is ample. Sticky residue on the lips.

Without the smokiness this would be an absolute near perfect. If you love smoke this is for you to try. I knew this was smoky before I picked this up but I love trying things I may not find appealing. All in all this is spectacular in its own right. Not necessarily turning me into Rauchbier territory but glad I tried.
Mar 01, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.04 by KelsJack

Jan 02, 2024
Photo of mntlover
Reviewed by mntlover from Tennessee

4.27/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark back no wonder light getting thru anyway, nice big thumb sized dark tan head falls slow and laces well.

Aroma is nice smooth lots of smoke, cherry notes, chocolate some lighter coffee, vanilla spice light barrel notes.

Taste is big ass stout, roasted malt with a good smoke presence. Cherry, vanilla chocolate bourbon notes finish lightly spicy. Alcohol is noticeable but it's not hot per say.

Mouthfeel is big smooth made a little lighter by the alcohol perhaps.

Overall a big ass stout that's enjoyable, the smoke is a nice touch.
Dec 29, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by alexsergio from New York

Jul 16, 2023
Photo of drdiesel9483
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio

4.01/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look - Fanastic classic black and thick with a great foamy tan head and lacing
Smell - toasty malt slight tobacoo and wood
Taste - black liquice along with some woody tobacoo and chocolte malt
Feel - medium full body light carb
Overall - interesting different ba stout
May 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.12 by Rainintheface from Florida

Jan 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4.21 by cwd from Kentucky

Jan 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.58 by Donco from Pennsylvania

Dec 15, 2022
 
Rated: 4.29 by chris826 from Mississippi

Dec 11, 2022
 
Rated: 4.09 by petrusek23 from Ohio

Jul 05, 2022
 
Rated: 4.07 by cjgiant from District of Columbia

Jun 21, 2022
 
Rated: 3.2 by BMBCLT from South Carolina

Jun 19, 2022
Photo of SFACRKnight
Reviewed by SFACRKnight from Colorado

4.46/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Looks good, smell is pretty average, nothing standing out, booze and roasty malts. Flavor, well it's a damned good beer. Chocolate, Coffee, smoke, booze, oak, marshmallow, sweet roasty malts. Good mouthfeel, could use more heft. Overall, yeah, great beer. I'm digging the smoke trend in stouts lately.
Jun 16, 2022
 
Rated: 4.38 by mattjp03 from Alabama

May 27, 2022
 
Rated: 4.48 by bigpoppa67 from Wisconsin

Feb 18, 2022
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
This one was an extra in an in person trade with zid! I appreciate it man, I love smoked beers in any capacity, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a smoked stout, so I’m excited for this one. A big old RIS is perfect for this freezing night as well, so let’s just crack it open

Pours nearly pitch black with 2 fingers of dark brown head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing

There’s not all that much smoke going on in the nose here, more of just a typical RIS roast. I’m picking up on aromas of dark chocolate, dark roast coffee, toasted malt, char, sweet caramel, light oak, and raisin

Oh man, the smoke is way more hefty in taste, adding a really nice vibe on the latter half. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting rich toffee, dark chocolate, smoked oak, medium roast coffee, brown bread, and caramel. The swallow brings notes of cherry wood smoke, rich caramel, earthy hops, toffee, rye whiskey, and dark chocolate

A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a rich and velvety beer. Finishes mostly dry and becomes completely dry after the smoke takes full effect in the aftertaste

This is definitely a sipper, but it also drinks easy for what it is. Great stuff
Jan 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4.38 by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

Jan 02, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Cpmitchno1 from Virginia

Dec 15, 2021
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on tap. Midnight black body with a light brown cap and sporadic lacing. Aromas of smoke, rye, molasses, dark wood, earth, char, dark fruit, and a touch of vanilla. Starts with the smokey and earthy robust tones in the taste, leather, char, rye, and wood, then the bourbon, molasses, prune and fig come into focus from the depths, vanilla, coffee grounds, and cocoa attempt to round out the finish but a boozy char note won't let it. Complex yet highly drinkable overall. Feel is pretty warm though, smoke accentuates this booziness, earthy spiciness lingers. Good but not as great as so many have told me
Nov 17, 2021
 
Rated: 4.23 by eric5bellies from Australia

May 15, 2021
Bo & Luke from Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 1014 ratings