Mordred Deschain - Variant
Bold City Brewery

Good head production for the style and ABV, but it quickly disappears. As it fades, taking the place of the lively bubbles are a number of particulate floaties - possibly the coconut, but could just as easily be some combination of granola or pecan meal. These floaties do detract from the overall appearance, as does the brief-lived head, but I can't say it rises to a level of appearing unappetizing.

Nose features bourbon prominently, with booze, slightly sour mash, and oak leading the way. A rich malt base, blending with the bourbon, yields a composite aroma reminiscent of port wine. As the beer warms, vanilla tones start to emerge, but any influence from the cacao, pecan, or granola is lost in the rich malt base, and the coconut is difficult to discern from the bourbon itself.

Rich, thick, smooth, sweet, and boozy on the palate, and absolute beast of a beer! Red grapes, toast, light char, chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, and syrup up front, swarming the palate with a melange of flavor. By mid-sip, the boozy heat has grown and receded, yielding to strong coconut tones. Vanilla and sugar linger through the back third.

Full bodied, creamy, chewy, sticky, thick - pick your adjective! While the high ABV and barrel influence are quite noticeable, the high sweetness tempers it quite a bit. It's a slow sipper, and absolutely a dessert beer, but it's delicious.

Coconut mid-sip