Freezeout - Barrel-Aged
KettleHouse Brewing Co. (Southside Taproom)

Poured from a 16 ounce can dated 10-31-24 into a snifter at 55 degrees.

Look- Black, opaque, plentiful small visible particulate at the edges, light brown sudsy head, above average head retention, slightly above average lacing.

Smell- Whiskey, cocoa, vanilla, very high strength of scent.

Taste- Whiskey, cocoa, vanilla, oak, very high strength of flavor.

Feel- Between thin and medium body, average carbonation, highly mouth warming, moderately creamy, highly bitter, moderately sweet, moderately mouth coating.

Overall- Appearance was black and opaque with visible particulate at the margins and above average head retention and lacing. The bouquet was a very high intensity mix of whiskey, cocoa and vanilla. The flavor was a vibrant mix of the same components as the nose. My only complaint with the flavor was a lack of complexity. The mouthfeel had many great attributes, but the thinness of the body was big detractor. Overall this beer delivered a bunch of whiskey flavor and aroma, but that may have masked some of the subtle nuances. That being said, I enjoy whiskey heavy beers and this one was no exception.

Poured at fridge temp. Pours pitch black with a half inch of tan head. The nose is chocolate, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, slight molasses.

The taste is really smooth. Vanilla right away. Bourbon, fudge, slight nuttiness, and a bit of dark fruit. Minimal roasty notes for me, other than a bit on the aftertaste. The taste generally gives off an Oreo cookie dipped in bourbon vibe.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied. Not a thick stout. Overall, a wonderful beer.

Pours a chill-hazed & effervescent mahogany with a thumb+ of mocha colored head. Above average head retention & great lacing

S: A little dark fruit & cocoa, vanilla shows up later, dark fruits too

T: Follows the nose, slight smokiness, a little booze bite, vanilla cream, & some dryness up front, a little Baker's Chocolate too. A little roastyness, some dark chocolate, woody hops, a kiss of barrel along with figs, raisin& dark cherry once this beer warms up. Finishes with a little oakyness, a little booze, a kiss of treacle, roastyness & dark chocolate, a little bit of leafy hops, plus some molasses notes

MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation, warming; carbonation smooths out a bit once warmed up

Solid BA Imp Stout, nice drinkability

Appearance: Pours espresso colored with a thin tan film that quickly fades to a collar; squiggles and dots of lacing remain

Smell: Roasted malt, caramel, Whiskey barrel and a hint of vanilla

Taste: The Whiskey barrel flavors are well-integrated here from start to finish; caramel and vanilla join, up front, with a modest charred tone developing and lingering in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with low to moderate carbonation; warmth in the gullet

Overall: A very nice BA stout; I like the integration of the barrel flavors but for a beer with a 12% ABV, a fuller, creamier mouthfeel would be a nice enhancement

Thanks, JohnGalt1, for the opportunity

16oz can from Toby. Dark, dark brown pour, patchy beige head. Malty, molasses aroma, sweet, barrel notes. Taste is sweet, toasty, malty, boozy, brown sugar

16oz tallboy can purchased at the Total Wine on the northside of Spokane, WA. 2023 vintage, canned on October 26, 2023, per the stamp on the top rim of the can.

Poured into a shaker pint glass, this was a dark brown color, virtually black, with a finger-sized, tan colored head.

Aroma is of bourbon and roasted malts. There's a little bit of a vanilla-ish tang, presumably from the Dry Fly oak whiskey barrels.

Rich flavor to this. Whiskey forward. It isn't explicitly said that the whiskey barrels used held bourbon, but I know that Dry Fly, in addition to their wheat whiskey, does a bourbon, and the flavor is very reminiscent of bourbon. Just following the impact of the whiskey on the taste buds, there's also a bit of a roasty char note. Amid other, typical imperial stout flavors (dark fruit, etc), there's a noticeable boozy warmth in the background. Said heat is remarkably mellow for something canned and released around 4 months ago.

Body was somewhere between medium and full, with a rather creamy mouth feel.

By no means the best barrel aged imperial Stout I've had, it's nevertheless a very good one. I would definitely drink this one again.

Barrel-Aged Freezeout – from Kettlehouse Brewing. Received from @snaotheus in a ninja strike during BSBIF#1. Reviewed 29/01/24 (Review 3234). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Stamped on top rim of the can “Canned on 10/26/23”. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 57.7 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 59.3 degrees F.
Appearance – 4
First pour – Deep Amber (SRM 15), clear.
Body – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, light penetration at the edges, ruby.
Head - Average (Maximum four cm, aggressive center pour), wheat, high density with a few rocks, short retention, leaving a 0.25 – 0.3 cm undulating crown, and a thin, complete cap.
Lacing – Fair. Short, narrow band of near-microscopic to tiny bubbles, total length six cm.
Aroma – 4 – Roasted malt, slightly sweet. No yeast, no hops, no barrels, no alcohol (12 % ABV as marked on the label).
Flavor – 4.25 – Begins weakly bitter with cocoa and roasted malt. No yeast, no hops, no tannin or vanillin from the barrels. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No ethanol. Mild gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium; more than watery, less than creamy; soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 This goes down like water – easy drinking and diabolic. The aroma and flavor are not strong and whatever style whiskey barrels were used are very much subdued – this is a gulping brew that (wisely) should be nursed. Thanks Ryan!

Received a bomber via trade from @muchloveforhops3 10-25-23. 2022 edition, consumed 1-13-24.

Beer poured black as night with a nice tan head with the original pour.

Nose is nice as i am getting notes of chocolate from the malt base and a touch of vanilla from the barrels.

Taste is a large medium roasted malt base that gives me a touch of chocolate and char. The barrel contributes a deft touch of vanilla. Finishes with an appropriate amount of hopping and the barrel gives me the ideal touch of whiskey that provides a perfectly balanced finish.

Mouthfeel is medium to large bodied and very smooth.

Overall i find this an outstanding representation of the style. Thank you Doug, for the opportunity to try!