Because You're Mine
The Bruery

 

pretty wonderful beer, decadent and masterfully crafted, a little dated tasting to me, trace oxidation and likely ingredient fade, but its not as problematic as some of the beers they served at the new idaho location so far, and i think its super well integrated and delicious, even if it probably popped a little harder when it was newer. darn near black in the glass, super viscous, and unlike so many of their huge barrel aged beers so far here, this one has an awesome head on it, tightly packed little bubbles, mocha hued, lasting, and with ring lacing as it sips, really pretty pour. i think rum instead of bourbon was a genius call for this, tons of rich dark sugar character to balance out the intense bitterness of the roasted barley and the cocoa nibs, so this is big but its even keeled, and i like the way the oak and char are more subtle and its actual rum that can be smelled and tasted, certainly flattering with the malt profile of this beer. i smell more of a generic red berry thing than a specifically strawberry aspect, but its obviously fruited, and in both aroma and flavor it sort of presents as chocolate dipped, i get red currant tang somehow, sweet black cherry, and a nice dark chocolate almost fudge-like layer from the cocoa addition, which is at least as robust as the fruit to my senses. i think it is a bit more identifiable as strawberry in the flavor, somewhat concentrated and jammy yet still authentic, strongest to me at the end. hints of licorice, vanilla, and nearly burnt coffee, soft wood tannins too, and a supple almost creamy mouthfeel with bitterness that outlasts the berry sweetness. really good, kind of sexy, not overly fruited, unique and strong in a good way that enhances everything else going on, great use of the rum barrels!

Pours a dark chocolate, foamy, chocolate 1" head with little retention. Flaky chunks of particulate matter scum to the top. No lacing. It does, however, form a thick film on the inside of my glass, almost like someone put a piece of scotch tape along the inside. Very odd. Nose is dark chocolate, licorice, molasses, sweetened black coffee, vanilla. Strawberry difficult to pick up. Taste is (over) sweetened milk chocolate up front before giving way a touch to spicier elements of charred wood, leather, spiced rum. Mildest hint of tart fruit, though knowing it's there was a big influence. Feel is heavy, though not as weight as a BCBS or BT; small carbonation thins out the feel slightly. Found this to be unbalanced and far too sweet.

 

 

750 ml bottle, 2023 edition, bottled 12/15/22. Served in a Bruery Reserve Society chalice, the beer pours dark brown/black with almost an inch tan head that stuck around a little while. There's also a decent amount of lacing. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like strawberries, cacao, rum, vanilla, and roasted malt. Taste is similar to the aroma, but there's the addition of some burnt/charred malt, dark bread and oaky flavors. Strawberry flavor seems more candy like than fresh. Definitely a sweeter tasting stout but not overpoweringly so. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's coating and a bit creamy with a moderate amount of carbonation. I liked this brew a lot, worth picking up if you like sweeter tasting imperial stouts!

 

Look: super dark stout. Very dark mocha head on the pour that went away almost immediately (though this bottle was a mini gusher).
Smell: rum soaked strawberries, vanilla, chocolate.
Taste: super smooth, integrated flavors in the nose.

2023:Pitch black like motor oil with half a finger mocha head. Nose is almost vegetal like strawberry stems with milk chocolate and some barrel notes. Taste opens with a lovely balance of chocolate covered strawberries that folds into a bakers chocolate with spiced jammy notes which may be the rum. Body is full with medium carbonation. Ends slightly dry and sweet, no alcohol detected. Overall it’s very well balanced without overwhelming barrel or rum, just somewhat monotone, and a tad too sweet for my tastes.