Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star: Coffee Edition | Fremont Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Fremont Brewing Company
Washington, United States
fremontbrewing.com
Style: English Oatmeal Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.10%
Availability: Fall
Notes / Commercial Description:
Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout with Coffee
This year’s release is a blend of 18, 12, and 8-month Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Star in 12-year old Kentucky bourbon barrels. This special edition adds cold brew coffee to delight the senses and soothe the soul.
IBU: 50
Added by mdaschaf on 09-15-2014
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 771 | Reviews: 90
4.44/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A fantastic BBA imperial coffee stout.
L - Dark as night, thick lacing around glass, black as Satan's bunghole
S - Where the nose hits the road; fantastic roast/coffee aromas, a little bourbon in the background
T - Fluorescence of the full taste; not hot, smooth, balanced. Definitely a bit coffee-sweet but so good.
F - Nearly perfect, great carbonation, not overly so. Not cloying.
O- Still one of the best coffee BBA RIS out there. Nicely done.
447 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A fantastic BBA imperial coffee stout.
L - Dark as night, thick lacing around glass, black as Satan's bunghole
S - Where the nose hits the road; fantastic roast/coffee aromas, a little bourbon in the background
T - Fluorescence of the full taste; not hot, smooth, balanced. Definitely a bit coffee-sweet but so good.
F - Nearly perfect, great carbonation, not overly so. Not cloying.
O- Still one of the best coffee BBA RIS out there. Nicely done.
447 characters
4.25/5 rDev -6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.68/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.42/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.52/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.24/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.65/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.48/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.83/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.39/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Imperial on Alberta for their Fremont event.
Black with a dark brown head with good retention and lacing, this looks solid. Huge coffee notes with cream, chocolate, earth, medium roast. Mild roasted Brazil and macadamia nut. Mild coffee bitterness pairs well with buckwheat honey, earth and leather. Licorice and anise less pronounced than the regular BA DS. Excellent
379 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Imperial on Alberta for their Fremont event.
Black with a dark brown head with good retention and lacing, this looks solid. Huge coffee notes with cream, chocolate, earth, medium roast. Mild roasted Brazil and macadamia nut. Mild coffee bitterness pairs well with buckwheat honey, earth and leather. Licorice and anise less pronounced than the regular BA DS. Excellent
379 characters
4.39/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2018 edition (blue wax)- adds 24-month aged (oatmeal) stout, and uses barrels that housed 7-12 year old bourbon; 13.6%ABV.
Poured from a bomber into my Bruery tulip.
Opaque bistre body, camel foam, resolving to a rouse-able surface slick and lasting collar. Fine sandy lacing, viscous but thin tears.
Brown sugar, dark roast coffee, chocolate ganache, vanilla, tobacco, and rich bourbon fill the nose.
Sweet, rich, roasty, malty, tannic palate entry. Moderate bitterness, with hints of rosemary, thyme, and forest floor as the hops hover around the edges of the abyssal depths of bourbon/coffee, the latter finally surrendering to the former in the finish. Low notes of caramel, loam, and blueberry emerge as the ale warms.
A touch hot, the alcohol while by no means overwhelming, is unapologetic.
Well balanced with impressive layering of ages and ingredients (particularly in the malt bill).
903 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2018 edition (blue wax)- adds 24-month aged (oatmeal) stout, and uses barrels that housed 7-12 year old bourbon; 13.6%ABV.
Poured from a bomber into my Bruery tulip.
Opaque bistre body, camel foam, resolving to a rouse-able surface slick and lasting collar. Fine sandy lacing, viscous but thin tears.
Brown sugar, dark roast coffee, chocolate ganache, vanilla, tobacco, and rich bourbon fill the nose.
Sweet, rich, roasty, malty, tannic palate entry. Moderate bitterness, with hints of rosemary, thyme, and forest floor as the hops hover around the edges of the abyssal depths of bourbon/coffee, the latter finally surrendering to the former in the finish. Low notes of caramel, loam, and blueberry emerge as the ale warms.
A touch hot, the alcohol while by no means overwhelming, is unapologetic.
Well balanced with impressive layering of ages and ingredients (particularly in the malt bill).
903 characters
4.59/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L:. Pours a pitch black with a small white tan head and no lacing on the glass.
S:. Strong notes of bourbon vanilla, chocolate and coffee, with notes of some cherry.
T:. Strong notes of bourbon and vanilla mix with a earthy and slightly bitter coffee, some chocolate and a note of cherry to make a truly luxurious stout. Alcohol is a bit noticeable.
F:. Full thick body and smooth and slightly creamy carbonation.
O:. This is truly a world class stout.
458 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L:. Pours a pitch black with a small white tan head and no lacing on the glass.
S:. Strong notes of bourbon vanilla, chocolate and coffee, with notes of some cherry.
T:. Strong notes of bourbon and vanilla mix with a earthy and slightly bitter coffee, some chocolate and a note of cherry to make a truly luxurious stout. Alcohol is a bit noticeable.
F:. Full thick body and smooth and slightly creamy carbonation.
O:. This is truly a world class stout.
458 characters
4.6/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.15/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.43/5 rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottle Date: 2017
Palate Contaminants: other beer
Very dark brown, very little light around the edges. Virtually no head, and even less lacing.
It's surprisingly buttery for a dark brew. Lots of clove, too. Both of those scents are really heavy. There are some other things on top of that, cinnamon, herbs, and molasses. It's a little strange to not get the usual suspects in something so dark and rich. It also volatilizes better than I expected.
First thing in the taste is black licorice, and it's strong. The cloves also carry over very well from the nose. Burnt sugar, and it matches nicely with a raisin flavor. That raisin taste somehow ends up imparting some savory depth. In the end... for some reason, I'm suddenly regretting not having grilled red meat tonight.
Feel is medium-heavy, but the lack of carbonation makes it come across as a little lighter than I think is ideal. Sweet prunes in the aftertaste. Alcohol is very nicely hidden.
953 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottle Date: 2017
Palate Contaminants: other beer
Very dark brown, very little light around the edges. Virtually no head, and even less lacing.
It's surprisingly buttery for a dark brew. Lots of clove, too. Both of those scents are really heavy. There are some other things on top of that, cinnamon, herbs, and molasses. It's a little strange to not get the usual suspects in something so dark and rich. It also volatilizes better than I expected.
First thing in the taste is black licorice, and it's strong. The cloves also carry over very well from the nose. Burnt sugar, and it matches nicely with a raisin flavor. That raisin taste somehow ends up imparting some savory depth. In the end... for some reason, I'm suddenly regretting not having grilled red meat tonight.
Feel is medium-heavy, but the lack of carbonation makes it come across as a little lighter than I think is ideal. Sweet prunes in the aftertaste. Alcohol is very nicely hidden.
953 characters
4.56/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Well, the rule of thumb seems to be “Anything from Fremont with wax will be excellent.“. It’s always great to experience another stout in the rarified Abyss, Parabola and Wootstout world, and this one makes it there with ease. Beautiful blackest brown with only a tiny light leak at the meniscus. Subtle, rich and arresting aroma full of dark chocolate made a little milky by the oatmeal, french-press coffee with cream and tangy molasses. The taste is almost indescribably wonderful. An imperial coffee stout, yes, but so perfectly blended, so deeply complex, so rich and sweet yet dry in just the right places, it succeeds on every level. The feel can only be described as chewy, wonderfully, wonderfully chewy. It’s so beautifully blended it tastes like it’s had a couple of years in the bottle, but this is on tap at Beerworks in Medford (because they are so awesome). I do have one in the cellar...
921 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Well, the rule of thumb seems to be “Anything from Fremont with wax will be excellent.“. It’s always great to experience another stout in the rarified Abyss, Parabola and Wootstout world, and this one makes it there with ease. Beautiful blackest brown with only a tiny light leak at the meniscus. Subtle, rich and arresting aroma full of dark chocolate made a little milky by the oatmeal, french-press coffee with cream and tangy molasses. The taste is almost indescribably wonderful. An imperial coffee stout, yes, but so perfectly blended, so deeply complex, so rich and sweet yet dry in just the right places, it succeeds on every level. The feel can only be described as chewy, wonderfully, wonderfully chewy. It’s so beautifully blended it tastes like it’s had a couple of years in the bottle, but this is on tap at Beerworks in Medford (because they are so awesome). I do have one in the cellar...
921 characters
4.61/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Can't believe I've never rated this one before now. 2018 bottle bought at the brewery like a week ago.
Body is rich and just this side of black... like blackstrap molasses. Large soft dark dark brown head swells up... I may not have left enough room in the glass. Oh well. Good lingering retention.
Nose has notes of fudgy dark chocolate and some bourbon spice and oak and of course black coffee.
That rich creamy fudge swirls with the vanilla oak of the barrel and bitter coffee incredibly well. The bourbon is less pronounced and better blended on the tongue than it is the nose. Perfectly balanced, this is, simply put, one of the best made beers being produced right now.
Incredibly silky smoothe... not as thick as some, but thicker than medium with little complimentary carbonation bubbles and an alcohol that's well folded into the proceedings and kind of sneaks up on you. Like I'm not unaware that what I'm drinking is 13.6%, but it's easy to kind of forget and let it slide by the wayside.
Like I said: this is one of my favourite brews of all time from one of the best breweries doing it. We are lucky to have this here, and to have it so readily available.
1,175 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Can't believe I've never rated this one before now. 2018 bottle bought at the brewery like a week ago.
Body is rich and just this side of black... like blackstrap molasses. Large soft dark dark brown head swells up... I may not have left enough room in the glass. Oh well. Good lingering retention.
Nose has notes of fudgy dark chocolate and some bourbon spice and oak and of course black coffee.
That rich creamy fudge swirls with the vanilla oak of the barrel and bitter coffee incredibly well. The bourbon is less pronounced and better blended on the tongue than it is the nose. Perfectly balanced, this is, simply put, one of the best made beers being produced right now.
Incredibly silky smoothe... not as thick as some, but thicker than medium with little complimentary carbonation bubbles and an alcohol that's well folded into the proceedings and kind of sneaks up on you. Like I'm not unaware that what I'm drinking is 13.6%, but it's easy to kind of forget and let it slide by the wayside.
Like I said: this is one of my favourite brews of all time from one of the best breweries doing it. We are lucky to have this here, and to have it so readily available.
1,175 characters
Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star: Coffee Edition from Fremont Brewing Company
Beer rating:
4.52 out of
5 with
771 ratings
0 characters. We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with ≥ 150 characters.
Explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately tried the beer. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.