Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star: Coffee Edition
Fremont Brewing Company

4.43/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
by Scotchboy from Idaho

Thick, velvety, smooth - plenty of oatmeal in the body with a dark caramel bourbon/oak presence that carries from start to finish. Tons of cocoa. Coffee is there, roasty and bitter but subdued still present), however everything else is excellent. The bourbon barrel/char/oak/vanilla character is outstanding at 3 years old.

Mar 06, 2022

4.5/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by barnzy78 from Illinois

22oz bomber
2019 Limited Release, 12.4% ABV
thanks to Instagram @beeraficionado!
L: a thick tan head caps a black stout
S: I was worried about the coffee fading, but it’s dominant on the nose; dark chocolate, oaky bourbon, vanilla
T: bold & rich flavors: dark chocolate, coffee, boozy bourbon, oak, vanilla, oats, earthy hops
F: full body, good balance, ample carbonation
O: this was great, but I’d love to try this one fresh sometime. The coffee was present in flavor but maybe not as much as it could have been given this is two years old

Feb 26, 2022

4.39/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by DIM from Pennsylvania

2018 version recently purchased from Tavour. Hope to get a fresh bottle some day.

Time and/or coffee seems to have muted the rich, dark chocolate a bit and the body is lighter with lower carbonation. The whiskey and vanilla also faded in intensity a bit but are still enormously satisfying. I can't call it intense, but the coffee is surprisingly robust after 3+ years. I get a really pleasant mocha note. I suspect time has diminished this somewhat. I am enjoying what I have though, all the elements at work are in harmony.

Dec 24, 2021

4.99/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by ManBearPat from Colorado

2018:

This might be one of the best beers I’ve ever had.

Thick, but not too thick.. minimal head retention.

Literally let it sit in the glass, taking in the aroma as it warmed a bit to a reasonable temperature… my dear friend that was kind enough to share it must have a cold fridge.

Nose was chocolatey and a slight caramel note from the barrel I’m assuming.

Taste is perfect. A big old imperial stout with a great, balanced barrel presence and a well integrated touch of coffee.

Feel wise, it’s certainly not the thickest stout around, but somewhere on the thicker side with the carbonation fairly subdued.

Overall this is right up there with the best of the best barrel aged stouts anywhere and I am incredibly appreciative of the friend who shared it with me.

Dec 11, 2021

4.9/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
by jb_4226 from Texas

Review #49, coffee and whiskey well balanced

Aug 03, 2021

4.75/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota

2018 vintage. Consumed June 29th, 2021.

Thick looking pour. This beer pours pitch black. There's no clarity at all. The beer produces a 1 finger tan head. The head quickly dissipates to a ring on the edge of the glass, with no lacing.
The nose is amazing. I get so much here. I get coffee, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, toffee, and raisin. The aromas work very well together.
Taste - this beer starts out coffee on the flavor. It then gets me many other flavors. The ones I can pull out are chocolate, caramel, toffee, vanilla, and raisin. These flavors are very delicious.
The body is thick, and smooth. There's almost no burn from the alcohol. There's also a bit of a creamy feel.
I am in love with this beer.

Jun 29, 2021

4.6/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by backblast from Alaska

2018 vintage

Taste the dark roasted malt and dark espresso up front then the dark fruits and bittersweet chocolate appear. Definitely get the barrel and booziness in it. Nice viscous mouthfeel and is surprisingly light on palate. Very enjoyable.

Mar 03, 2021

4.67/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
by Guaro from Italy

Bottle 2018
Black with compact and creamy hazelnut foam and good hold. Scent of coffee, chocolate, toasts, wood, vanilla and bourbon. On the palate coffee chocolate, molasses, cherries in alcohol, vanilla, notes of wood and light ash, resin, bourbon. In the finish there is a great return of the chocolate immediately attacked by the roasting of coffee and a resinous bitterness. Complete all the constant ethyl friendly hug. The body is viscous and full, the carbonation fine and low.

Jan 27, 2021

4.25/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by Furlinator from California

2018 Edition.

Dec 18, 2020

4.25/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by erickc from Washington

Had on tap while socially distant outside at Special Brews Lynnwood, WA.

Dec 08, 2020

4.29/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by NolaHopHead from Louisiana

2017

Nov 14, 2020