Class X (Bourbon Barrel Aged Class V) | Kern River Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Kern River Brewing Company
California, United States
kernriverbrewing.com
Style: American Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.00%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
None provided.
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Reviews: 18
| Ratings: 113
3.99/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
On tap at Far Bar in Los Angeles, CA.
Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, vanilla, marshmallows, wood, and bourbon. Taste is much the same with a mild roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a low level of carbonation with an almost flat mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty but the mouthfeel is pretty lacking in my opinion.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
On tap at Far Bar in Los Angeles, CA.
Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, vanilla, marshmallows, wood, and bourbon. Taste is much the same with a mild roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a low level of carbonation with an almost flat mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty but the mouthfeel is pretty lacking in my opinion.
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4.01/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
From 06/04/11 notes. Big thanks to nimbleprop for sharing this rarity; thanks Mac. Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a tulip. Label says bottle #204, no idea how many were made.
a - Pours a dark brown color with no real carbonation evident and no head. Looks like it might be flat unfortunately.
s - Smells of bourbon, alcohol, chocolate, roasted malts, oak, and light, sweet caramel. Smell is really nice, though a bit strong on the booze. Personally I like that, but I think with some more time this could be even better.
t - Tastes of bourbon, chocolate, roasted malts, oak, vanilla, alcohol, light sweet fruit. Taste is great; while the bourbon is still strong, I love it in the taste and the vanilla helps a lot. Again, I really enjoy this but think with some more time it could be even better.
m - Medium to full body and no carbonation. Some alcohol warmth but pretty smooth. Would have liked some carbonation though.
o - Overall I think this was a good beer that could be great. Unfortunately there was no carbonation which hurt it, and while I think the nose and taste were both very good, I think it was still a little hot. With some more time on this bottle and some carbonation it could have been oustanding, but instead it was good.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
From 06/04/11 notes. Big thanks to nimbleprop for sharing this rarity; thanks Mac. Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a tulip. Label says bottle #204, no idea how many were made.
a - Pours a dark brown color with no real carbonation evident and no head. Looks like it might be flat unfortunately.
s - Smells of bourbon, alcohol, chocolate, roasted malts, oak, and light, sweet caramel. Smell is really nice, though a bit strong on the booze. Personally I like that, but I think with some more time this could be even better.
t - Tastes of bourbon, chocolate, roasted malts, oak, vanilla, alcohol, light sweet fruit. Taste is great; while the bourbon is still strong, I love it in the taste and the vanilla helps a lot. Again, I really enjoy this but think with some more time it could be even better.
m - Medium to full body and no carbonation. Some alcohol warmth but pretty smooth. Would have liked some carbonation though.
o - Overall I think this was a good beer that could be great. Unfortunately there was no carbonation which hurt it, and while I think the nose and taste were both very good, I think it was still a little hot. With some more time on this bottle and some carbonation it could have been oustanding, but instead it was good.
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4.13/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured on-tap at the brewery in Kernville into a wide-mouthed goblet. The waitress informed us that they have placed a 20oz limit on the beer per customer in order to lengthen it's stay on tap. The beer is dark black with a thick, 2 inch cream colored head. Heavy bourbon and sweet smell on the nose. Initial tastes are heavy on the bourbon, with a sour mash initial flavor, followed by the sweetness of brown sugar. There are vanilla undertones present on the finish. The beer has a more rounded and full body than the Class V Stout. The beer is surprisingly smooth despite the heavy flavors. This is a very well balanced beer, taking into account the ABV, the strong flavors, and the body. This is an easy beer to drink for bourbon fans and beer fans alike!
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured on-tap at the brewery in Kernville into a wide-mouthed goblet. The waitress informed us that they have placed a 20oz limit on the beer per customer in order to lengthen it's stay on tap. The beer is dark black with a thick, 2 inch cream colored head. Heavy bourbon and sweet smell on the nose. Initial tastes are heavy on the bourbon, with a sour mash initial flavor, followed by the sweetness of brown sugar. There are vanilla undertones present on the finish. The beer has a more rounded and full body than the Class V Stout. The beer is surprisingly smooth despite the heavy flavors. This is a very well balanced beer, taking into account the ABV, the strong flavors, and the body. This is an easy beer to drink for bourbon fans and beer fans alike!
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4.66/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Its difficult to get a perfect 5 rating with stouts, half of them have the exact same SRM dark as fugggg color going for it. This one had amazing 1" of tan head though, and retention through the roof.
Great sweet bourbon, chocolate, vanilla and caramel, none of which are understated, they are all gargantuan competitors that somehow get along.
Taste was warming, bourbon, and chocolate in no small way. Quite drinkable too, not one of those big beers that is good in a 2oz pour, you can crush 20oz of this no problem.
Top notch, 1st tier bourbon barrel stout stuff.
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look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Its difficult to get a perfect 5 rating with stouts, half of them have the exact same SRM dark as fugggg color going for it. This one had amazing 1" of tan head though, and retention through the roof.
Great sweet bourbon, chocolate, vanilla and caramel, none of which are understated, they are all gargantuan competitors that somehow get along.
Taste was warming, bourbon, and chocolate in no small way. Quite drinkable too, not one of those big beers that is good in a 2oz pour, you can crush 20oz of this no problem.
Top notch, 1st tier bourbon barrel stout stuff.
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4.53/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Black pour, mild beige head to it, but the minimal amount produced did have better than average retention. Nice barrel aroma, bourbon, chocolate, caramel, vanilla. I'm guessing Heaven Hill.
Really easy to drink, the same flavors in the nose on the tongue. You get the warming feel, but not really the taste of high alcohol. Barrel flavors didn't overwhelm the substantial chocolate mouthfeel of the base version of this beer, well done. Better than almost every other bourbon barrel stout out there.
If you have the opportunity, go get your yum on with this beer.
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look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Black pour, mild beige head to it, but the minimal amount produced did have better than average retention. Nice barrel aroma, bourbon, chocolate, caramel, vanilla. I'm guessing Heaven Hill.
Really easy to drink, the same flavors in the nose on the tongue. You get the warming feel, but not really the taste of high alcohol. Barrel flavors didn't overwhelm the substantial chocolate mouthfeel of the base version of this beer, well done. Better than almost every other bourbon barrel stout out there.
If you have the opportunity, go get your yum on with this beer.
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Class X (Bourbon Barrel Aged Class V) from Kern River Brewing Company
Beer rating:
4.39 out of
5 with
113 ratings
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