4Beans - Rye Barrel-Aged
Sixpoint Brewery

 

 

Barleys Greenville Draught 010419 Smooth cocoa and coffee with rye late. Nearly full mouthfeel is pleasant and reminiscent of some of my favorite Baltic porters. Well done.

 

 

 

I find that this beer makes me happy. Think of everything that you like in life; unicorns, Justin Bieber, Del Taco.... whatever. And then mix them all together and it would bring you happiness. Now how about this; Raul loves vanilla beans, Raul loves coffee, and Raul loves chocolate - and what did Sixpoint do? They mixed them all together! This is like my baby mama and her hot single friend, Natasha, coming at me at the same time! And I can handle it!!!

Hell yes, 4Beans!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Third and final review of the really good Sixpoint BA Beans beers. This beer pours dark with a great dark head which leaves nice lacing. This is perhaps the most balanced of the three, with coffee and bourbon both up front and present. This tastes as good, if not better, than many BA stouts. Not as thick as the big boys but it surely holds its own.

The craziest part is how easy to acquire these beers, with their app. Buy ahead of time, show up and pick them up. No lines, no waiting. Well done Sixpoint.

Pours very dark brown, with hints of mahogany and ruby around the edges when held up to a light. A dark tan head emerges, with a creamy, silky appearance manifested by myriad small bubbles interspersed with larger ones. The head leaves a layer of lacing behind as it recedes from the initial pour, which continues throughout consumption.

Rye meets you straight away, tickling your nose with a little oakiness and vanilla. Dark, bitter chocolate comes forward prominently, affording a slight sweetness that meshes very well with the coffee that follows behind. As it warms, the barrel notes recede nicely to a supporting role, allowing the chocolate and coffee to shine.

Roasted malt comes first, but the rye barrel quickly jumps in with a quick spiciness around the edges of the tongue that goes very nicely with the prominent chocolate note. Along with the chocolate, you can pick out the vanilla, coffee, a slight raisin/plum note occasionally, some oak here and there, some sweetness, and of course the barrel-imparted qualities. All of these flavors play together incredibly well and are absolutely delicious.

The feel is medium, expected for a porter, and properly carbonated. For the ABV and style, it's incredibly easy to drink -- this is not something you sit around and chew on for a few hours. I think that works perfectly for the style, and makes it very important to only keep 1 cold in the fridge at a time.

This is a fantastic beer. As a porter, it has just the right amount of barrel quality to it while still allowing its namesake Beans to shine through. It's incredibly easy to drink and has a nice complexity that lets you take your time and get to know it. Being able to buy it in about 30 seconds on Sixpoint's app and then hang out at the brewery with a great group of people just makes it all the better.

 

 

12 oz. canned on 11/16/17

Pours dark brown black with a dense creamy tan foam head. Smells like big liquid dark chocolate, coffee, fresh vanilla, caramel, toffee, rye whiskey, some oak barrel, molasses, dark dried fruits, with earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like pure dark chocolate, coffee, fresh vanilla, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, rye whiskey spice, some oak, molasses, dark dried fruit, with earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium-light bodied, creamy and smooth with moderate carbonation. Overall a nice rye whiskey barrel aged Baltic porter with chocolate, coffee and vanilla.

Pours a near black with light ruby highlights in thinner parts of a glass. Nice off-white, tan colored head.

Aroma is of coffee and bourbon. Taste follows the nose with soft chocolate aftertaste alongside the bourbon. Some spicy-rye type notes on the finish, although no rye was used (aside from the barrel leftovers, per say). I really dig the flavor profile.

Mouthfeel is as you would expect for a porter, more medium bodied to medium-light end of the spectrum. It works well for this one though, making it more approachable and not overly heavy. You could easily drink two or three without much fatigue.

Balance is well done here. Drinkable, not overly sweet nor bitter. Bourbon is just right to balance the base porter. Flavors continue to evolve as it warms up in the glass, it's really nice! Well done Six Point! Big fan.