Bourbon Barrel Dark Ale (Winter Migration) 2014
Evolution Craft Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

Pours a mahogany body that grows a nice 3-4 fingers of head on a mildly vigorous pour. (2 fingers on a moderate second pour, both cases a deep tan to just plain brown). Beer seems black in the glass, and the head doesn't flame out after that initial flame.

Nose is molasses, dark brown sugar, little cola; bourbon integrates well. A light chocolate licorice note also shows up. Nose might be leaning a little towards a chocolate stout, actually.

Taste follows the nose but isn't as sweet as you'd think from that description. Definitely a fig pudding kind of opening, with reduced dark brown sugar, cola, and chocolate notes as well. Bourbon brings out a dark caramel kind of flavor middle to late taste, finishing with a little woodiness.

Feel is closer to full in body, but the feel is definitely aided by a nice bit of pin pricks from the carbonation to temper the sweeter notes.

Surprising winner of a beer here. I'm guessing it might be a one-off, but I hope they brew it (as well) again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

750 ml poured into a teku

A- Black with a huge tan head the fades quickly, coronation is very

S- Dark fruits, cherries, kind of tart, bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, notes of coffee.

T- Chocolate, toffee, some bourbon and vanilla, slightly tart cherries, bitter coffee finish.

M- Medium/full body, very high carbonation.

O- Surprisingly balanced, nice complexity. I have tried all the pervious batches and unless Evolution is really going for something different with Belgian style twist, I think they might be having infection issues with this year. With that being said I feel this is still a good beer, I would drink bottles sooner rather than later.

Edit: As I am drinking more of this, the tart flavor a seem to be fading and the bourbon is more intense, but the carbonation is still too high after 2 hours.