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: 755 | Reviews: 86
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
4.77/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.71/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
On tap at the brewery.
The aroma of this beer is one of the best. Bourbon, coffee, roastiness, and a hint of some cinnamon.
Taste follows the same, but it's so perfectly balanced between the competing flavors. Every flavor compliments the other, leaving no flaw for me.
I did expect it to be a bit more thick, but it still leaves a nice stickiness and the bourbon and coffee linger for a while.
394 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
On tap at the brewery.
The aroma of this beer is one of the best. Bourbon, coffee, roastiness, and a hint of some cinnamon.
Taste follows the same, but it's so perfectly balanced between the competing flavors. Every flavor compliments the other, leaving no flaw for me.
I did expect it to be a bit more thick, but it still leaves a nice stickiness and the bourbon and coffee linger for a while.
394 characters
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
4.5/5 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
4.48/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2017 Vintage
A: Black, lingering medium brown head, lacing
S: Bourbon, fruity coffee, roasted malt, sweet chocolate, oak, mocha, brown sugar, bright fruity
T: Dark chocolate, fruity roasty coffee, smooth bourbon, charred oak, milk chocolate, light vanilla, rich dark malt
M: Medium heavy, slightly creamy
O: Incredible balance of base beer, bourbon barrel and coffee adjunct
385 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2017 Vintage
A: Black, lingering medium brown head, lacing
S: Bourbon, fruity coffee, roasted malt, sweet chocolate, oak, mocha, brown sugar, bright fruity
T: Dark chocolate, fruity roasty coffee, smooth bourbon, charred oak, milk chocolate, light vanilla, rich dark malt
M: Medium heavy, slightly creamy
O: Incredible balance of base beer, bourbon barrel and coffee adjunct
385 characters
4.56/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.56/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.7/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
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
4.43/5 rDev -2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Look: Poured into a Goose Island snifter. About a cm of head. Looks like espresso crema.
Smell: Lots of coffee! Not a lot of bourbon smell though.
Taste: Again coffee. Chocolate too. Reminds me a lot of KBS. Very smooth. Bourbon comes through over time.
Feel: I think a little thin for a big beer like this. Warming feel.
Overall: Very enjoyable beer.
353 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Look: Poured into a Goose Island snifter. About a cm of head. Looks like espresso crema.
Smell: Lots of coffee! Not a lot of bourbon smell though.
Taste: Again coffee. Chocolate too. Reminds me a lot of KBS. Very smooth. Bourbon comes through over time.
Feel: I think a little thin for a big beer like this. Warming feel.
Overall: Very enjoyable beer.
353 characters
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
4.6/5 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
4.58/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star: Coffee Edition from Fremont Brewing Company
Beer rating:
4.52 out of
5 with
755 ratings
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