Barrel Aged Porter
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

 

Tasty but thin. The barrel is hard to distinguish. Overall, good, but not worth searching for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pulled from the depths of decay, Sierra Nevada dusts off this relic of a recipe to display at a highly specialized tasting at Lexington, Kentuckys' Pazzo's Pizza Pubs' special tasting of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbons and the brewery's bourbon barrel aged beers!

This bourbon infused Porter is a masculine pour of dark brown, easily mistrued as black as it layers into the glass with a creamy and soothing pour. As the beer nestles into the snifter, its dainty and creamy froth of mocha-stained froth blankets the top and "legs" the glass as much as it laces it.

Smoky and sultry aromas of heavy toast, dark chocolate and coffee wrap around a center of caramel, vanilla and oak for a balanced taste among Porter and bourbon. Where the ale character stands slightly above the booze, its mild cherry and spice from the barrel gives as much strength to its nose as does the toasted scent from ale.

Its delicious taste kicks off with a strong malt presence that relies upon burnt caramel, heavy toast, medium-intense coffee and bitter chocolate. But its strong bourbon presence becomes undeniable in the middle palate as its wood-derived caramel, vanilla, oak, and cherry flavor is paramount. Trailing with the taste of booze, the bourbon masculinity easily rivals that of Porter for a strong and mysterious taste.

Medium-bodied, the Porter is somehow thinned slightly because of the cutting action of bourbon. Yet it adds sweetness and dampens the carbonation for a weighted feel. Finishing silky and smooth, the ale glides down the gullet with ease and pleasant warmth.

Its a ballsy move- to take an ale as finesse as a standard American-type Porter and to age it for so long in Bourbon Barrels. Yet it turns out both fine and surprising. Its strong bourbon presence easily rivals its beery counterpart; not adding "hints" of this or a "pep" of that. The bourbon really turns the Porter into a bourbon-flavored beer with Porter-esque influenced, and in the most sultry way possible!