Teddy Bear Kisses - Bourbon Barrel Aged with Cacao & Hazelnut
Upland Brewing Company

 

 

Brownish black body with two fingers of light brown foam. Aromas of bourbon boozy hazelnut and cocoa. Taste follows suit, oak and roasted malts emerge a good bit. Feel is dry and thinner but plenty warm, malty. One of the best if not the best in the series

 

 

 

 

 

 

12oz can. No dating information found.
Black colored body. Thin mocha brown colored head. Slight rings of lacing.
Aroma is distinct but not real effusive. Nutty overlay with chocolate malt.
Taste is nutty chocolate. Barrel lends an aromatic presence. Some bitter bite extends to the end. More mellow chocolate in the aftertaste.
Thicker mouth fell but also chalky. Later part of the taste profile lends itself to more creaminess. Low carbonation.
The hazelnut is a good addition to the chocolate malt, and the barrel is contributing but not very expressive. Pleasant to sip because of the creamy nature. The sweetness factor is rather low. The higher ABV% is evident more in the taste than in the nose.

Can dated 10-12-20

This beer pours pitch black. It looks thick while pouring. There's a beautiful 1 finger tan colored head. The head retention is ok, but pretty good for the abv. There's some nice lacing on the glass.
The nose has tons of bourbon notes on it. I also get some chocolate in the aroma.
Taste - Lots of bourbon up front. This mellows out to a smooth chocolate on the back. I also get hints of raisin and plum in this beer.
The body is pretty thick. I get a creamy feel as well here.
Damn solid BA RIS. I like it.

Had this version of Teddy Bear Kisses poured from 12-oz. can, bottom stamped (apparently) canned on "102220 . . . ," into snifter.

Pours absolutely black, with up to 1-finger dark-tan head, which lasts only a little while and leaves only a little sketchy lace. Aroma of mild chocolate, bigger roast malts and moderate whiskey up front, all moderating as warms, to reveal a bit of hazelnut. Begins with some carbonation and hop bite, and mild bittersweet chocolate, then mild roast malts, before whiskey joins and carries the chocolate and malts to a rather warm, bitter possibly hazelnut finish.

This version of Teddy Bear Kisses is more like an angry slap: biting and bitter.

 

 

 

12oz undated can (probably around 3 months old) poured into a tulip pint glass at just above fridge temp 11% ABV. The beer pours dense black with no light penetration and reddish brown head. The head recedes to a thin layer of bubbles and leaves a bit of lacing just above the liquid. The aroma is baker's chocolate, light nuttiness, caramel, roasted malt and a hint of oak barrel. The taste is semisweet caramel and roasted malt up front. The hazelnut flavor is strong after the initial sip, but shares moments with the cocoa, vanilla and barrel. Mild roasty bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with just less than medium carbonation and a somewhat dry finish. Not really sweet, but malt sticky with the barrel providing the balance. No sign of the ABV in the taste or aroma. Overall, very good. I'm not a big hazelnut fan, but the hazelnut here is well integrated and balanced with other flavors and the drying effects of the (my presumption) second use bourbon barrel. You won't find any bourbon flavor or heat here if that's your thing.