Fat Boy - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

 

 

 

 

Dark brown with red fringes, this began with a thick beige head that left no lacing.

Smells of vanilla, fig and cherries mainly. Continue to inhale it and we've stumbled across a bit of bitterness that takes almost a floral shape.

Immediate taste is a pretty punishing bourbon smack that gives way to some of that vanilla and fig that was in the nose.

Feels immediately smooth and silky. As that aspect fades,it becomes all sorts of dry. Like Sahara in a bottle.

All in all, this is a very fine beer and despite being a BA'd version, it still maintains all the characteristics of a Baltic Porter.

First thing first. Take this review with a grain of salt. This bottle might have had a bad cap seal as it opened easily and the inside of the box smelled like beer. I don't throw the word infection around at all, but it also reminds me a lot of a local barrel aged beer that the brewery publicly acknowledged issues with.

The pour looks great. Much like the Jack's Abby Framminghammer line. A very thin black with strong brownish hues. Pretty decent light tan head.

The aroma isn't very in inticing. Pretty sour. A lot of red wine/dark fruit character. Some ashiness there too along with some faint bourbon.

It tastes much better. Some bitter chocolate, roasted malts, sour dark fruit, caramel, vanilla, and oak. The bourbon flavor is very nice. Just a kiss. Otherwise it drinks like a Dunkel -Baltic Porter. There just seems to be too much sourness that seems out of place.

The body might be a tad thin

If this beer is drinking like it is intended, then my scores are probably on the favorable side. My gut feeling is that this one is better.

 

 

Nice barrel quality to this with appropriate amount chocolate & roastyness with some dark fruit

S: Roasty, barrel notes & dark fruit

Looks like your classic porter, alright lacing & head retention

Nice mouthfeel & carbonation

Drinks easy for the style, well executed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at the brewery

A: Very dark with limited head and good lacing

S: Very little bourbon smell; caramel, dark fruit and chocolate/cocoa

T: Mild bourbon flavor; def not overpowering like some barrel aged stuff

M: Good body; not too intense; mild carbonation

O: It was great; a lot of the bourbon barreled beers are over powering or way too bourbony upfront. This was mild with a good bourbon flavor.