Kentucky Bastard
Nickel Brook Brewing Co.

 

My February 2016 review, shown below for posterity, read as though for an entirely different beer than that which I enjoyed at DLD 2023, so I'm deleting that review entirely for this new entry.

This 2019 vintage displayed a polished black with a dense, bubbly tan had that was quite enticing.

Despite the embarrassment of riches around it, dusty oak, spicy whiskey, moderate roast and a dark fruit and nut combination all played well enough together to stand up to the competition here.

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Holy mother, there is some strong bourbon here!

Really, this is bourbon, with a shot of stout in it.

This is a prime example of exactly why I don't like barrel aged beers. Just too hot, and too overpowering of the base beer.

 

 

 

 

From the wax dipped bottle in snifter. This decent little imperial pours a
dark blackish brown with a nice head of tan foam that lingers long with a
thick ring and clumping layer as well as nice light lacing. Nose of subtle bourbon,
char, wafting oak, dark cocoa, and subtle cream. Flavors surpass the nose with
dark cocoa, char, brulee, light oak, bourbon, faint brewers licorice, and warming booze.
Nice mouth feel; medium full body, smooth, lightly coating, light carbonation, and a
subtly bitter malt and lightly dry finish.

Overall, a solid little brew

Cheers

Bottle date faded and unreadable
Pours a smaller fizzy tan head with lower retention, little lacing, decent legs, jet black color

Nose is spicy, licorice anise like, baking spices, cinnamon, loads of dark chocolate and baker's chocolate, some roast, dark roasted coffee, little vanilla spice and vanilla barrel, touch of dark fruits, little burnt caramel and little fudge and nougat, hint of bourbon

Taste brings more dark chocolate, very dark cocoa and baker's chocolate, more spices with anise, cinnamon, vanilla, touch of dark fruits a bit raisin like, a bit of vanilla barrel and toasted oak but not a lot, same with light sweet bourbon, a touch of alcohol, into more cocoa, nougat, a bit of roasted coffee but not super dark and roasty, mild dry and mild sweet finish, lots more spices lingering, bit of spicy hop bitterness late

Mouth is fuller bod, rich, a little chewy like, lush, med fizzy carb, hint of alcohol

Overall not bad, wish the barrel came through more, but base stout is nice

 

 

 

This is perhaps one of the best beers I’ve tasted. There’s a perfect balance of sweetness, bitterness and boozy finish that makes this the perfect beer for a cold night at Christmas. It’s a beer for relaxing and thinking.

I bought 1 bottle at lcbo in Ontario poured a 1finger head into glass that quickly disappeared and left no lace.
actually looked like a coke 11.9%alc 500ml bottle 70 IBU Kentucky Bastard 2020
taste was rich dark chocolates and dark fruits coffee vanilla then the warming sensation going down as you drink it. nice
nice sweet sugarymalts also
overall a very good imperial stout beer would like to have it again for a special occasion someday .
cheers.

 

 

07/21/20 bottle @ home

Bottle at Las Buenas Pulgas, served in a snifter glass. Black color, beige color, small head with short retention, tiny lacing. Aroma of coffee, caramel, bourbon, vanilla, dried fruits. Medium to full body, creamy texture, good carbonation. Sweet and boozy finish. Taste follows the aroma, with more prune presence. Really good.

Thick motor oil delight. Rich gunpowder grey viscosity greets yer nose and yer mouth. Potent wild taste and finish will curl yer nosehairs. Enjoy and rejoice,

 

Look: Pours black with 3 finger foamy crème head.

Smell: Chocolate, Bourbon, Vanilla,

Taste: Chocolate pudding, and German chocolate cake at the front end. I picked up hints of toffee and vanilla, with a warm finish of bourbon.

Feel: Others have nailed it, smooth and silky and a little bit oily.

This beer (now called Kentucky Bastard as of 2019) earns an A- for all it's qualities. The price is dear at $11 for a 500 ml bottle from the LCBO, so this is a special treat.