Bourbon Barrel-Aged Milk Chocolate Porter
Stone Brewing

Draft at Bitter Creek. Milk chocolate Porter? Yeah! Barrel aged? Yeah! Kind of a flat and lifeless pour, lactose takes over to really smooth this out. Nice!

 

 

 

 

Just when you thought that the height of complexity in beer had met its match, in waltzes Stone Brewing Company with an imperial milk chocolate porter that's spent time in a trio of bourbon, tequila and red wine barrels, basically because arrogance sees no rest.

And the beer by that name, Barrel Aged Milk Chocolate Porter, pours with a rusty dark brown facade, capped with a creamy swirl of espresso-like finely woven creme. Bold aromas of chocolate and red wine tease the nose with a tantalizing array of dessert fragrances and sophistication. Sweet on the early palate, a plethora of caramel, toffee, chocolate and toast lay a bready sweet foundation on the front of the tongue.

As the ale washes the middle palate, its sweetness lessens and the barrel complexities begin to shine. Caramel and toffee give way to a nutty, coffee and charred taste of oak, ember, soil and sod. Whisky warmth bring the soothing spices of vanilla and coconut before the wine barrels carry a tart berry, cherry and grape spiciness of their own. Rounding the finish, the agave spice of tequila has a hint of lime, gin and guava singing an exotic tropical fruit tone.

Full bodied but relaxed on the tongue, the acidity, spice and wood tannins all help to dry and lighten the weight of the beer to offer it an odd sense of drinkability in comparison to the roasty taste and voluminous creaminess. A long linger of coffee, cocoa and red wine outlast all other complexities and delight the senses with chocolate covered red grapes once more.

Not to be rude, but’s dates like what I expect Urine to taste like. I’m obviously not a fan of this one, but typically love Stone beers. Could easily be the ‘try’ I was given.

Poured from a crowler, canned 01/09/18

Appearance - Pours black with a generous amount of cola brown edging where light can penetrate. The head is tan and peaks at near two-fingers width before peeling back slowly to reveal a thin, broken layer of suds.

Smell - Hints of jammy, red fruit and some unique, fruity tart character that's found in tequila. Ghostly trace of chocolate can be found if you're searching for it.

Taste - Follows the nose. Lots of jammy and tart fruity red wine influence with lesser, tamed tequila character. Distant notes of milk chocolate and roasted malt come through in the underbelly as it reaches mid-taste and rounds into the finish. Earthy, oaky and slightly spicy touch lingers in the aftertaste along with the tart and sweet red fruitiness.

Mouthfeel - A solid mouthfeel with low, tingly carbonation. Slick, silky texture with a an easy, semi-dry finish.

Overall - A pretty damn tasty brew, but the 'milk chocolate porter' aspects are completely overwhelmed by the characteristics brought on by the barrel aging process. They absolutely run the show. If you buy this thinking you're gonna get a sweet, chocolatey and slightly roasty porter with some BA influence, you'll be sorely disappointed.

 

 

Type: 4.27-oz. draft
Glass: Clear tulip glass
From: Coin Haus in La Mesa (San Diego), Calif.
Price: $3.20
Purchased: July 30, 2017
Consumed: July 30, 2017
Reviewed as: Imperial Porter
Misc.: $0.75 per ounce

Finally made it to Coin Haus, walking there to sample a few brews and play some arcade games. The arcade games ended up being free (would have been to 6 p.m.) for the whole time I was there. This was one of those places where you pour your own beer and pay by the ounce. Figured I would break my rule of only reviewing six ounces for today only (and any other time I go to Coin Haus). Lots of stuff going on with this description and had me wanting it, even with the tequila mention.

Poured a black color with 4-to-5 fingers of rocky khaki head. No bubbles that I could see. Excellent spiderweb foamy lacing. Excellent retention. (Sight - 4.25)

Got an interesting mix of spicy tequila, chocolate and red wine in the first whiff. Also milk chocolate, hints of cinnamon, oaky bourbon, vanilla, malt chocolate and chocolate syrup. (Smell - 4.00)

Tasted cocoa powder, oaky tequila barrel, dark milk chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, woody red wine barrel, dark cherry and hints of cinnamon spice. (Taste - 3.75)

Full body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long, warming spicy finish. (Feel - 4.00)

This was just an outstanding barrel-aged porter. (Overall - 4.00)

3.92 | 88 | B+

On draft at Stone Company Store Pasadena. Poured into a taster glass. Porter aged in red wine, tequila, and bourbon Barrels.

Look: Nearly black, small head of ivory foam, quickly dissipating.
Smell: Sour grape, hints of bourbon, extremely nice.
Taste: oak, bourbon, sour cherries.. very subtle hints of agave that really do a lot to balance out this amazing porter.
Feel: seltzery, smooth, sticky but fairly light body overall.

Just wanted to review this briefly because it was amazing! Wasn't sure what to expect with so much going on in the aging process, but if you can get your hands on this, try it!!