Small Batch Hoarders: Grain In, Grain Out
The Bruery

 

375ml bottle poured into a tulip

A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger dark khaki head that reduces to a ring around the glass

S- huge barrel aromas on the nose; barrel juice, wet oak, caramel, toffee, vanilla and a hint of coconut. Beyond the barrel, notes of booze soaked raisins and figs, dark chocolate, brownie batter, walnut, charred malt and black licorice emerge

T- as with the nose, flavor is dominated by barrel up front; barrel juice, bold oak, caramel/toffee, vanilla bean and some toasted coconut undertones. Mid-palate brings out the base beer, adding dark fruit notes of raisin, fig, black cherry & plum. Dark chocolate, brownie batter, black strap molasses and char bring out the finish. Lingers of bourbon, dark chocolate and char. Get more complex as it warms

M- medium body with moderate-low carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns velvety into a warming finish

O- an outstanding blend of BA stouts, this one is for the bourbon drinker

 

Review 1702
Grain In Grain Out
The Bruery
Date: Unknown
Barrel-Age Stout
ABV 14.8
It is supposed to be Christmas; many months have passed since my last review. Life has been full of angst. Figuring the holiday season is upon us, I will try to enjoy some top-shelf beers. I do not know much about this beer other than an imperial stout with many variations of barrel-aging. Huge bourbon and oaky characters were wafting about. I served the beer around 50 degrees in a tulip glass. A frothy and airy light tan head with fair retention was created from the pour. The color charts around SRM 36, dark brown nearly inky black. The head dissipated to nothing, leaving nothing on the glass. The appearance is average, was wanting more from the head.
Aromas of bourbon, char, smoke, chocolate, coffee, wheat, figs, anise, oak, oranges, and a slight oxidation note. Nosing further, I detect toffee, molasses, caramel, malty sweetness, and a hint of floral esters.
The beer is swimming in bourbon and oak. Next, I taste chocolate, dark roasted malts, oranges, pine resins, toffee, caramel, molasses, anise, some oxidation, figs, raisins, floral esters, and a touch of soy sauce.
The mouthfeel is warming and coating. The body is thick, has low carbonation, and has a long-lasting finish.
This is an attempt to build depth from barrel-aging; it was a success. The beer is a beast. Most Bruery beers hide the alcohol well; this one not so much. The beer is good but not an all-star.

A: Poured into a snifter to a black beer which is topped by a dense and slightly rocky finger of dark tan head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing.
S: Smells of roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, molasses, oak, caramel and vanilla. Just a big barrel aged nose full of goodness
T: Taste is roasted malts, dark chocolate, coffee, oak, caramel and vanilla, hints of charred wood with some slight spice. On the finish there's molasses, roasted malts, bitter dark chocolate, oak, burnt sugar, and lingering roasted malts.
M: This beer has a body which is fairly silky with a somewhat heavy feel. Carbonation is about as anticipated for a beer of this style while the ABV ensures that this beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this is a really well executed blend. The age of some of the base beer in here is somewhat apparent as the beer does taste a little oxidized at times but it works. Really nice complexity and flavors on this one which makes it an interesting beer to drink.