-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Sea Monster Imperial Stout (Willett Bourbon)
Ballast Point Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Ballast Point Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 12.3%
- Score:
- 92
- Avg:
- 4.31 | pDev: 5.1%
- Reviews:
- 3
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Sep 16, 2020
- Added:
- Oct 20, 2016
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 2
Aged 10 months in Willett Bourbon Barrels. Bottled 9/2/2016.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by drahodo:
Rated by drahodo from Missouri
4.21/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jun 09, 2017
4.21/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jun 09, 2017
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts
4.45/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.45/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
750ml bottle poured into a snifter. 9/2/16 dated, just over four years old.
A: Midnight black on the pour. Beige head dissipates after I’ve minutes or so, thin and broken collar of lacing.
S: Tootsie rolls, semisweet dark chocolate, layers of well-balanced smoke and char. Touch of molasses, chewy dark caramel. Oak, coconut shavings, vanillins. Subtle bourbon is sweet and gentle.
T: Mocha. Hint of black coffee. Soft layers of char and smoke. Tootsie rolls and bakers chocolate. More smoke. Plenty of bourbon, but none of the heat. Substantial oakiness with a lot of woody vanilla and faint coconut shavings. Brief figgy fruitiness and perhaps a quick hit of blackberry. Chewy dark caramel and brown molasses. More bourbon and smoke on a long finish.
M: Rich and thick body with a whipped heavy cream texture. Silky and chewy. Mild brush of wood tannin dryness. Fine and gently scrubbing carbonation. Awesome.
O: This beer aged incredibly well. It didn’t lose a step and feels like it could’ve gone another couple of years at least with no issues. Even with all the attention Victory at Sea gets, I personally always preferred these barrel aged Sea Monster variants. It really doesn’t get much better than this as far as barrel aged stouts go.
Sep 16, 2020A: Midnight black on the pour. Beige head dissipates after I’ve minutes or so, thin and broken collar of lacing.
S: Tootsie rolls, semisweet dark chocolate, layers of well-balanced smoke and char. Touch of molasses, chewy dark caramel. Oak, coconut shavings, vanillins. Subtle bourbon is sweet and gentle.
T: Mocha. Hint of black coffee. Soft layers of char and smoke. Tootsie rolls and bakers chocolate. More smoke. Plenty of bourbon, but none of the heat. Substantial oakiness with a lot of woody vanilla and faint coconut shavings. Brief figgy fruitiness and perhaps a quick hit of blackberry. Chewy dark caramel and brown molasses. More bourbon and smoke on a long finish.
M: Rich and thick body with a whipped heavy cream texture. Silky and chewy. Mild brush of wood tannin dryness. Fine and gently scrubbing carbonation. Awesome.
O: This beer aged incredibly well. It didn’t lose a step and feels like it could’ve gone another couple of years at least with no issues. Even with all the attention Victory at Sea gets, I personally always preferred these barrel aged Sea Monster variants. It really doesn’t get much better than this as far as barrel aged stouts go.
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina
4.23/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Arrives pitch black with a thin cap that leaves strands and spots of lace
Smell: Chocolate, caramel and Bourbon, with undertones of brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla
Taste: Caramel forward, with the chocolate and Bourbon tones building; through the middle, the brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla emerge; the finish is filled with Bourbon and oak tones
Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation; surprisingly thin for a beer of this ABV
Overall: Lots of nice flavor here despite the thinner than anticipated mouthfeel
Nov 13, 2017Smell: Chocolate, caramel and Bourbon, with undertones of brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla
Taste: Caramel forward, with the chocolate and Bourbon tones building; through the middle, the brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla emerge; the finish is filled with Bourbon and oak tones
Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation; surprisingly thin for a beer of this ABV
Overall: Lots of nice flavor here despite the thinner than anticipated mouthfeel
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida
4.1/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750 mL bottle. Black body with a small khaki head. Smells of whiskey, chocolate, and cinnamon? Something like graham cracker. Tastes of bourbon, sharp and spicy, which is probably why I get cinnamon. It has that graham cracker taste too. Nice. Medium heavy. Medium carbonation. Good stout with a nice barrel character.
Jan 10, 2017
Sea Monster Imperial Stout (Willett Bourbon) from Ballast Point Brewing Company
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
16 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!