Bourbon Barrel Dark Ale (Winter Migration) 2015
Evolution Craft Brewing Company

 

 

 

Picked this up last year in Maryland on vacation. Smell is pure bourbon. Very little head on this one. Taste is fantastic. Bourbon through and through. Definite strong ale wth bourbon. If I can find another bottle this year, will grab what I can.

Interesting stout here. Plenty of chocolate, without much roast or bitterness. Lots of rich dark fruit, plus caramel and vanilla from the bourbon. Smooth drinker with a creamy mouthfeel. All elements are mellow and well integrated. It's calling to mind creme brûlée with berries and brown sugar.

I can see why they're hesitant to call this one a stout, because there are some fruity elements and not much roasty bitterness. Maybe more like an imperial stout/quad hybrid, and a very good one at that.

11-1-16 - 2015 bottle poured into a tulip. Almost black with bourbony taste. Very smooth. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

 

 

 

Pours opaque, dark brown in color with minimal head. Taste is brown sugar, prunes , raisin, bourbon, oak, and vanilla. Wonderfully complex. Goes down way too easy for a beer this big. Evolution's migration beers are treats and this is up there with my favorites. I will get this again.

750ml brown bottle, sample from the brewery.

Tan lacing does a good job sticking around, dark brown hue is nearly opaque. Wood, vanilla, booze, prunes, brown bread, caramel, & toast in the nose. On the sweet side but there is more than enough going that it never becomes cloying. Lots of toasted and charred wood, vanilla and dark fruit. Love the balance, a bit too drinkable for such a large brew. Worth hunting down a bottle or few the next time they do one of these again.