Bourbon Barrel-Aged Peanut Butter Hazelnut Caramel Chocolate Cake Stout
Hoppin' Frog Brewery

1 PINT can
Served in a snifter

This beer pours black and is topped with a couple inches of mocha head that leaves little trace of its existence.

It smells sweet. I get peanut butter, chocolate, hazelnut, and caramel at various times as I consume the fragrance.

Hazelnut seems to be the prominent flavor. Chocolate is plentiful. Peanut butter is present. Caramel is also there.

Thinner than expected with a smooth mouthfeel

Solid pastry stout. I don't get much from the bourbon barrel aging except maybe some muted flavors.

 

16 ounce can, best before date of FEB 26 2034 stamped on the bottom of the can. Served in a chalice, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch tan head. Head retention is good, and there's a small amount of lacing. Aroma is pretty much the same as the base version of this beer, with caramel, peanut butter, milk chocolate, hazelnuts, roasted malt, vanilla and some bourbon. I think the taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also some oak, dark bread, burnt/charred malt and coffee flavors noticeable too. There's also a nice bourbon kick. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's slick and creamy with a moderate amount of carbonation. I liked this version more than the base one, I thought the barrel aging worked well here. Definitely worth a try if you get the chance!

Sampled March 2024 from 16oz can in pint glass. There was "BEST BY MARCH 30, 2025" stamped on the bottom of the can. I bought this at a local distributor, and drank it about 3 weeks after purchase.

Appearance: Pitch black, dark color, with a very thin dark tan head. The head lasted only for seconds, and no head remained. Very little lacing on the glass.

Smell: There are strong chocolate aromas. Also some coconut, bourbon, and coffee. Some roasted malts and hops in the aroma as well. The is a little edge that may be due to the barrel aging. Nice combination and balance between the chocolate and coconut sweetness compared to the bourbon edge.

Taste: Full-bodied with great balance of chocolate sweetness and bite from bourbon flavors. Some peanut butter flavors and coffee. There is also some caramel and vanilla flavor with this. I do not get any hazelnut as listed on the label. The combination of strong chocolate, roasted malts, and strong bourbon give this drink powerful flavors.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied, but very smooth. Very creamy. Strong alcohol which matches with the 8.0% on the label, but not overpowering.

Overall: Overall this is an excellent stout. I enjoy all of Hoppin' Frogs BORIS recipes, and like the added edge and flavors that the barrel aging adds. This reminds me of Founder's KBS, which is one of my favorite beers. I will definitely look for this and buy it again.

 

 

16oz can from Tavour. Near black pour, beige foamy head. Nutty aroma, hazelnut, caramel, chocolate. Hose same notes continue in the taste, adding some peanut butter for good measure. Not much sign of the bourbon barrel. Sweet, sticky dessert beer. Delicious, smooth.

 

Cola brown with clear edges and no head at all.

This is a little more toned down than its base, which actually works in its favor, where the barrels massage the silky smooth, chocolatey body into a more vanilla-forward expression before a slightly peppery bite emerges within the hazelnut wafer finish.

This exhibits much less of that chocolate covered popcorn flavor that I got in the base, and is far more enjoyable.