Barrel Aged 10th Mountain Stout
Aspen Brewing Co.

Pours a nice, clear, dark brown color, rich mahogany tones in the glass; dense, thick and spongy khaki colored head, long lasting; thick, sticky fingers and webs of foam coat the glass. A nice dark, toasted grain scent on the nose; light mocha and sweet cocoa; dry oak. Sweet toasted and roasted grain base flavor; a very subtle bourbon undercurrent; sublime grain char notes; a touch of zesty spiciness (rye?). Heavy body; smooth and mildly sludgy; a soothing alcohol warmth permeates things.

I was looking for imperial stouts for the now-active BA Russian Imperial Stout tasting, but this one isn't classified as an RIS, so I consider this a 'training' beer. I'm not disappointed with this one at all. The fact that I would likely disregard this except for my mistake with the RIS tasting makes this a real bonus for me.

ABV: 10.5%; pouring temperature: 41 °F; canning info: n/a
Source: local purchase (Lots of Liquor)

 

 

 

 

this beer is awesome, but a huge part of that is because the base beer is awesome. i think the regular stout here is one of the better ones being made in colorado, and deserves a lot more credit. so smooth and flavorful, really distinct and delicious. this version is aged in breckenridge bourbon barrels, and its a nice touch, although its definitely not needed, as the base beer is hard to improve upon. this adds a really pleasant vanilla and molasses profile, but it also adds some alcohol heat. i think because its already so smooth, that the time in oak for mellowing isnt really needed like it is in some big stouts. maybe thats why the booze ends up showing through so much. the flavors of the whiskey in the stout are nice, all the oatmeal body really gives them something to cling to, so they are present throughout, not just at the end. i think with the booze, its lost some of its smoothness to be honest, and maybe its not quite as original as it once was, more like the barrel aged stouts so many others are doing, but its very well done. i like the use of local bourbon barrels too, although its hard to appreciate that whiskey specifically in this beer. cool these guys are doing some barrel ageing now. i dig it, but in this case i prefer the original.