-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Barrel Aged Vanilla Bean Wreck Alley
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
- From:
- Karl Strauss Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 12.4%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.9 | pDev: 15.13%
- Reviews:
- 7
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 06, 2022
- Added:
- Feb 06, 2014
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 4
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bros:
None found.
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky
4.27/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Biggest, baddest and most bourbon barrel aged as possible, Karl Strauss' Imperial Stout pulls out all the stops for flavor, savor, roast and complexity.
Their Barrel Aged Vanilla Bean Wreck Alley pours with a very dark brown, bleached only from black by the extended barrel aging process, a dainty creme of espresso-like froth swirls on the brim. Roasty sweet in its early scent, its robust perfume hosts a plethora of chocolate, coffee, whisky spice, caramel, dark fruit, oak, vanilla and char. Highly complex, its flavors start out with a simpler molasses, toffee and burnt cream maltiness.
With the sweetness holding firm through the middle palate, a roastier and toastier taste meets the malt with suggestions of espresso, bittersweet chocolate and roasted nuttiness. Burnt toast, cream and vanilla bring a smooth savory taste with hints of dark fruit suggesting nuances of port, grilled berries and plum. With the oak-soaked whisky flavors of caramel, vanilla, cherry and nutty spiciness, the late taste is slighlty bitter with roast and slight brushfire.
Full bodied and carrying a low lying sense of both roast-derived and oak-derived tannin, the stout finishes slightly chalky with roasty warmth and a long bittersweet, coffee-like aftertaste.
May 06, 2022Their Barrel Aged Vanilla Bean Wreck Alley pours with a very dark brown, bleached only from black by the extended barrel aging process, a dainty creme of espresso-like froth swirls on the brim. Roasty sweet in its early scent, its robust perfume hosts a plethora of chocolate, coffee, whisky spice, caramel, dark fruit, oak, vanilla and char. Highly complex, its flavors start out with a simpler molasses, toffee and burnt cream maltiness.
With the sweetness holding firm through the middle palate, a roastier and toastier taste meets the malt with suggestions of espresso, bittersweet chocolate and roasted nuttiness. Burnt toast, cream and vanilla bring a smooth savory taste with hints of dark fruit suggesting nuances of port, grilled berries and plum. With the oak-soaked whisky flavors of caramel, vanilla, cherry and nutty spiciness, the late taste is slighlty bitter with roast and slight brushfire.
Full bodied and carrying a low lying sense of both roast-derived and oak-derived tannin, the stout finishes slightly chalky with roasty warmth and a long bittersweet, coffee-like aftertaste.
More User Ratings:
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois
3.6/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.6/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
not much taste for this type of beer had a lot better beers from this brewery
Feb 27, 2022Reviewed by Furlinator from California
4.19/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at the SD Taproom 9th anniversary on 02/27/16.
Pours opaque black with a thin khaki head. Vanilla, cocoa and graham cracker on the nose. The taste is of cocoa, vanilla, graham cracker, honey and subtle bourbon. A little thin in texture.
Feb 28, 2016Pours opaque black with a thin khaki head. Vanilla, cocoa and graham cracker on the nose. The taste is of cocoa, vanilla, graham cracker, honey and subtle bourbon. A little thin in texture.
Rated by IGOTASIXPACK from California
4.35/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle. Vanilla bean BA. Lots of bourbon note on the finish. Very good
Apr 11, 2015Reviewed by clager from Michigan
1.67/5 rDev -57.2%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.75
1.67/5 rDev -57.2%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.75
Had on tap at karl strauss in san diego. Unable to finish it - reeked and tasted of straight bourbon. Didn't get much of any vanilla flavor as expected. Very strong alcohol taste.
Mar 07, 2015Rated by boyeryan from Wisconsin
4.54/5 rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Very tasty. Nice finish. Not over-powering on the vanilla.
Mar 06, 2015Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida
3.4/5 rDev -12.8%
3.4/5 rDev -12.8%
650 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Deep brown. Almost black. Medium khaki head. Medium collar.
Smell - Bourbon. Fudgy chocolate. Some vanilla. More bourbon.
Taste - Strong bourbon. Kinda overwhelms. Lots of caramel. Nutty malts and a sweet finish.
Mouthfeel - Very boozy. Medium body. Well carbonated.
Overall - Just doesn't taste like a stout. More caramel than roasted malt flavors.
Sep 16, 2014Appearance - Deep brown. Almost black. Medium khaki head. Medium collar.
Smell - Bourbon. Fudgy chocolate. Some vanilla. More bourbon.
Taste - Strong bourbon. Kinda overwhelms. Lots of caramel. Nutty malts and a sweet finish.
Mouthfeel - Very boozy. Medium body. Well carbonated.
Overall - Just doesn't taste like a stout. More caramel than roasted malt flavors.
Reviewed by rawfish from California
3.61/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
3.61/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours black and watery, a slight wispy thin khaki head forms and settles quite quickly to almost nothing. Flecks of lace.
Nose is pretty great roasted chocolate malt is dominant with equally strong bourbon and oak, vanilla gets blended and hidden by the barrel qualities but is well integrated.
Complexity is reduced greatly from the nose, roasted malt has some breadiness and stale coffee. The cocoa nearly drops out and the vanilla/oak that was so prevalent in the aroma is replaced with an overpowering high pitching bourbon. Alcohol is warming and combats with the earthy bitterness of the hops .
Mild carbonation, strikingly watery and thin for a barrel aged stout, slaps wetly on the palate. Alcohol is presented fairly along with the sticky malt.
The barrel character of this beer is young, presenting more alcohol and fresh whiskey than the oak or vanilla at the moment. Aroma is amazing but the rest of the beer doesn't follow suit. Timing when to drink this one might be key sinces the barrel qualities will be developing as the vanilla fades. Mouthfeel of this stout is easily put down but also still quite hot.
Mar 16, 2014Nose is pretty great roasted chocolate malt is dominant with equally strong bourbon and oak, vanilla gets blended and hidden by the barrel qualities but is well integrated.
Complexity is reduced greatly from the nose, roasted malt has some breadiness and stale coffee. The cocoa nearly drops out and the vanilla/oak that was so prevalent in the aroma is replaced with an overpowering high pitching bourbon. Alcohol is warming and combats with the earthy bitterness of the hops .
Mild carbonation, strikingly watery and thin for a barrel aged stout, slaps wetly on the palate. Alcohol is presented fairly along with the sticky malt.
The barrel character of this beer is young, presenting more alcohol and fresh whiskey than the oak or vanilla at the moment. Aroma is amazing but the rest of the beer doesn't follow suit. Timing when to drink this one might be key sinces the barrel qualities will be developing as the vanilla fades. Mouthfeel of this stout is easily put down but also still quite hot.
Barrel Aged Vanilla Bean Wreck Alley from Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
24 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!