Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout
Berwick Brewing Company

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From:
Berwick Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
9%
Score:
94
Avg:
4.44 | pDev: 7.43%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
14
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 15, 2016
Added:
May 26, 2009
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Deuane:
Photo of Deuane
Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania

4.52/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Lucky to hit the pub and find this one flowing.

A-Deep, black/brown with dark garnet highlights. A medium dark tan head reduced to a thin cap and left spotty lace and viscous legs of liquid with each sip.

S-Dark roasted malts, toasted oak with accompanying sweet vanilla, toasted coconut, licorice, dark chocolate and a touch of alcohol burn. Bourbon character is a bit more prominent this time around versus last time I had it.

T-Rich dark roasted malt with a wave of dry oak, toasted coconut, vanilla sweetness and a hint of licorice and cocoa in the background. Alcohol heat is light and adds to the dry finish.

M-Medium-full bodied and very smooth. Plenty of lingering flavours to keep the palate busy.

D-A mighty fine brew for sure. Plenty of flavour without going crazy. One certainly knows this is a Imperial Stout and barrel aged and the two components meld perfectly into a lovely snifter sipper.
Nov 17, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of jbaker67
Reviewed by jbaker67 from Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bottle #38 of 400. Thanks Rich for the bottle.
I was really looking forward to trying this one.
Pours a midnight black with a think khaki head. As it is poured it looks to be very viscous. Smell is all bourbon. Taste is bourbon and lots of oak. Bourbon is upfront and the finish is oak. For a thick as the beer poured the mouthfeel was really thin; to the point that it really takes away what would otherwise be a really solid offering.
Jan 15, 2016
 
Rated: 4.52 by darrenaa

Aug 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by TimoP from Pennsylvania

Jul 31, 2014
Photo of trapper2408
Reviewed by trapper2408 from Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
From notes taken Thanksgiving Eve 2010.

On tap at the brewery served in a stange. Beer appears jet black with a thin brownish white head. Head didn't last long.

Smell took me right back to the well known Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. Heavy bourbon, vanilla, with some chocolate. Smell was the first hint that this was going to be a random gem.

Tasted utterly devine. Bourbon was apparent, but not overt; just right. Vanilla throught. Elements of coffee and chocolate. So well balanced. So drinkable!!!!

Wow. I was blown alway by this beer. I live in Philly where we get stuff similar to this (BCBS), however you normally have to wait in line for it. I just stolled in to the brew pub before stopping by the parents' house for Thanksgiving, saw it on the chalkboard, and casually ordered it without a wait. This is still my favorite style of beer, and I've had most of the top 100 from this style, but this still goes down as the most enjoyable surprises I've ever had. Hell, I had 2 more before the night was through. Only wish it was on rotation or a seasonal.
Dec 07, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by bigdipip from Pennsylvania

Nov 21, 2011
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

4.49/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Review from notes taken on 1/22/11. On tap at the brewery served in a stange. This brew appears a very dark brown color with some lighter brownness and clarity around the edges. A thin film of tan head recedes fast to a ring around the inside of the glass. Some faint spotty lace is left on the glass.

The aroma is tangy booze with a sweet vanilla inclusion from the barrel aging that blends well with some chocolate malt flavoring. A slight roastiness is evident with a mellow character. The majority of the nose is the contribution of the barrel aging and it is wowing, very good. A light tingle of alcohol hits the nose.

The taste is tangy whiskey with a smoothness of seemingly sweet vanilla all throughout the profile. A faint musty coffee grain taste mixes with chocolate and some whiskey flavoring. Everything in this brews flavor melds perfectly. It lingers with a musty grain taste.

This is a medium bodied offering with a light level of carbonation. Overall exceptionally smooth with a good balance of alcohol that seems quite surpriessed for 9%. A very good take on the style and a pleasure to drink. If available, I would drink this regularly. My only gripe is this brew came across a little thin but it more than makes up for it in flavor, aroma, balance and drinkabikity.
Jan 25, 2011
Photo of orangesol
Reviewed by orangesol from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Served on-tap at Berwick Brewing into a "pint"

A - Pours dark as night with a small one finger, light brown, head that leaves minimal lacing down the glass.

S - Plenty of dark roasty malt, oak, vanilla, and other earth aroma's. A bit of a boozy, alcohol burn hides well but is present. The bourbon definitely dominates the nose of this one. A very nice nose none the less.

T - Similar to the nose. Plenty of roasted malts to go along with all that the bourbon barrels bring to the table. Oak, vanilla, chocolate, and other earthy flavors. Alcohol is there but not as much as the 9% would lead you to believe. I am a sucker for a barrel aged stout and this did the job quite nicely.

M - Medium-Heavy body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Very smooth feel with a strong bourbon kick in the finish.

D - Dangerously drinkable for a 9% barrel aged beer. It is simply amazing that a beer this good can come out of a place this small. Why chase every big beer when you can just drink this?
Nov 17, 2010
Photo of ClassicBrad
Reviewed by ClassicBrad from Pennsylvania

4.67/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My first trip to Berwick after a handful of 'just missing' Atomic Punk IPA on tap at local watering holes.

This beer is a monster! First sniff reveals the strength of a spirit! I felt like I was ready to do a shot when I was about to take my first sip. Alas, it was no where near as harsh and actually quite composed.

Tastes ranged from sweet chocolate to port wine to coffee. The bourbon flavors slowly sneak into the fold and really wrap everything together.

I cannot urge Guy enough to keep this around at some capacity-- if even a seasonal. I can see this recipe gaining the hype that Mad Elf has when the weather starts to get a little frosty.

The warmth that this beer brings would be a perfect homage to the entrance of winter beers every year. Keep up the great work and you've got a regular in me... I'll never pass Berwick Brewing Company again.
Nov 14, 2010
Photo of SamuelJackson45
Reviewed by SamuelJackson45 from Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
A-A nice dark chocolate, black coffee look.

S-I smell Bourbon and chocolate notes.

T-Oh the bourbon just enough to be very present and a hint of chocolate from the malt and I'm picking up some coffee. That must be me just a hint at the end.

M-Smooth oh so smooth very light but filling a good mix.

D- Man this beer should be there flagship. Put me on record I don't care. Between the aroma and taste this beer is rank up there with the best all over. If you ever get even 40 mile close to Berwick swing on by and try this beer if it's around.

Cheers.
Sep 01, 2010
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

3.68/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed on 9/30/2009. On tap at the brewery. Pours black with a small tan head. Aroma of sweet, roasted malt, vanilla, bourbon, and lactose. Initially the bourbon notes were light with more emphasis on the roasted, sweet malt. The bourbon built up over time, which was not so agreeable with me as I prefer the subtlety of the bourbon. Nevertheless, a pretty impressive bourbon-barrel aged imperial stout for such a small, young brewery.
Dec 19, 2009
Photo of ffejherb
Reviewed by ffejherb from Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Growler into small pilsner glass on 6/10/09. Thanks to FooFaa for sharing.

A - Poured a thick black body with just the slightest burgundy tint around the edges and a thin burnt mocha-colored head that receded to a thin ring of retention and left very little lacing.

S - Pleasant and well-balanced aroma consists of a pronounced vanilla sweetness and plenty of woody notes and oaky astringency. Bourbon character is subtle and not overbearing at all. Milk chocolate and toasted malt round out the equasion and become more apparent as the liquid warmed up a bit.

T - Prominent vanilla and oak notes right from the get-go with a touch of warm bourbon for good measure. However, this soon segues into an equally impressive milk chocolate flavor with some toffee malt and a toasted coconut character that is just delicious!

M - Medium to full bodied with a smooth, silky texture and very soft carbonation. Finishes with a subtle alcohol warmth on the palate and some residual malt sweetness.

D - Wow! Guy really nailed this on his first try. I was literally sad to see this growler deplete. Excellent first effort of this style. I can't wait to have more. Definitely my favorite One Guy brew thus far!
Jun 12, 2009
Photo of PSYCOHOPS
Reviewed by PSYCOHOPS from Pennsylvania

4.52/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Had this on draft at the brewery today.

A-Pours a rich midnight black with a thin dark tan head. The beer leaves a thick dark coating on the glass with every sip.

S- Rich smells of bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and coconut.

T- Firsts tastes of bourbon hit the palate followed by some sweet caramel, vanilla/coconut and finishes off smoothly with a sweet chocolaty caramel finish.

M- Has a medium to full body of mouth feel, with a thin/light carbonation that leaves the palate craving more.

D- Drinkability is outstanding, it almost goes down way to easy; hard to believe this one comes in at a little under 10%. One of the most drinkable Bourbon Barrel Imp Stouts going. Way to go Guy, for this great recipe. I'll update my review as the beer progresses with age.
Jun 01, 2009
Photo of ClockworkOrange
Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On tap at the taproom. A 12 ounce pour yields a nearly black ale with barely a finger of ecru foam. This has been in the barrel for about 3 months, and the bourbon notes are really starting to work their way into the beer. A big dose of milk chocolate, vanilla, a touch of coconut, lots of malty sweetness. Big and bold, yet the alcohol is masked very well. This one is ultra drinkable if you can handle the richness. I'll return to update my review as this beer progresses.
May 26, 2009
Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout from Berwick Brewing Company
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 14 ratings