Hunahpu's Imperial Stout - California Brandy Barrel Aged
Cigar City Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tan head. Black in color.

Very thick. Sweetness from the brandy. Dark fruits, plums, cherries, figs. Oak. Vanilla. Chilis show, but seem a little faded. Chocolate and cocoa nibs.

Full bodied ends with a little roast to it.

Solid, but lairds apple brandy way better.

Pours viscous and no head to speak about, almost flat. Brandy is present for sure with no spice at all. Its thick and the stout itself has become undefineable. I cant distinguish flavor profiles. Its seems to have faded a bit over the years but still good.

 

 

 

Was able to enjoy this with a few fellow beer nerds at my house recently as a preamble to a Whale share the following day. This was an amazing brew! Nose on it suggested it was going to be super boozy but the palate was actually very smooth as the years mellowed it out IMO. The normal cinnamon finish that Huna as was muted by the Brandy and the Brandy barrel was the finish. Excellent!!

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The brandy blends well with a heightened chocolate flavor as I get the boozy distilled liquor surrounded by a chocolate candy sweetness. Nice dose of cinnamon and a bit of coffee. The chili's are muted by the booziness of the brandy.

 

 

 

Whale turd.

Pitch black and completely opaque with a two finger, pillowy dark mocha head that very slowly settles into a thick, lasting cap/ring. Great retention, taking a while to settle with large splotches of soapy lacing clinging to the glass on the way down. Dark oily legs coat the glass.

There's a prominent barrel presence in the nose but thankfully it doesn't completely obliterate the characteristics of the base beer. Slight charred oak/wood and sweet and spicy brandy along with vanilla and a strong toasted coconut presence. Excellent brandy character in the nose. Not sweet like the apple brandy, but more of a spicy booziness yet doesn't smell just like fusel alcohol. Underneath, the elements of the base beer are still present. Subtle roast with robust dark malt notes. Hints of coffee and bitter dark chocolate along with oatmeal, smoke and toffee. Some vanilla bean but not sure if that's from the barrel or hunah. Also, quite a bit of cinnamon and chili after it warms. Complex, inviting nose with great barrel character that's not overly boozy.

The mouthfeel of this beer is perfect and I can't image how it could be improved. Thick and chewy luscious body that's not oily or slick. Feels like a boozy chocolate shake with chilies and cinnamon. Probably best mouthfeel of any beer I've ever had. Again, there's a really strong barrel presence but it's perfectly integrated into the awesomeness of Hunahpu. Subtle dry oak wih a touch of char along with silky vanilla bean, cinnamon, marshmallow and toasted coconut. The brandy and barrel flavors really add another dimension to the luscious, silky chocolate and robust, smokey malts while the strong cinnamon and chili presence compliments the spirit perfectly. Deceptively drinkable with prominent alcohol/spirit flavor but only has slight heat in the finish. Another incredible beer from CCB and probably the best Hunahpu variant yet.

750ml yellow waxed bottle poured into a matching CCB Hunahpu snifter. The brew appears black in color with a dark brown head that fades leaving patchy lace.

This smells roasty with coffee, somewhat nutty and with a mild vinous barrel sweetness blending to vanilla, oak, coconut and earth with a bit of solvent feel with deeper whiffs.

This tastes faintly vinous with dark fruitiness then coffee, milk chocolate and cinnamon bark. The dark fruitiness comes across like plum/raison/dates and has a contrasting mild spicy warmth. Some coffee/espresso bitterness, char and mild neutral oak. There is seemingly slightly more of a raw pepper flavor to this iteration than the others ive tried. Black licorice is noted in the aftertaste.

This is fullbodied and moderate to lightly carbonated. An awesome, enjoyable sipper that id certainly seek out again.

 

 

 

L: Dark with minimal head

S: Very interesting. It changes with each swirl, starting with cinnamon and spice, then apples and peppers, boozy brandy, then back to spice again.

T: Wow. Awesome in every way. A burst of cinnamon spice , then dark fruit, followed by chocolate and roasted malt, and a beautifully integrated brandy barrel.

M: Far more thin than regular Hunahpu. A bit strange, actually.

O: This is as good as it gets when it comes to barrel aged spiced stouts. Definitely in the top three of greatest stout flavors ever.