B-Bomb (Bourbon Abominable Winter Ale)
Fremont Brewing Company

 

 

Pours a dark molasses with a tan head that dissipates fairly soon. Aroma is boozy bourbon, caramel, maple, vanilla, raisin, and chocolate. The taste is very robust and reflects the aroma with a fairly big sweetness that is balanced by a nice dry burn from the bourbon. The mouthfeel is full and smooth. Overall, very much lives up to the hype, one of my favorite barrel aged strong ales I have had. Would always buy if I came across it.

 

22 ounce bottle into a snifter. 2021 edition, had 1/7/23.

Pours a dark cola color, opaque, with a one inch foamy head and light foamy cling. Aromas of bourbon, chocolate, oak, vanilla, roasted malt, some leather. Has a little bit of a spicy aroma. Flavors of bourbon, chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, oak, vanilla, light leather. Also has a little bit of a spicy taste. Smooth, a very good medium body, well carbonated.

Strong, delicious barrels, a solid base and expressive aromas and flavors. Saying it’s unique is probably an overstatement, but it is a little different. This is well worth a purchase.

22oz bottle. Waxed cap. Vintage on label is 'LIMITED 2022 RELEASE'.
Black colored body. Has a small surface storm with mocha brown bubbles, also a ring. Lacing spots left behind tend to slide back down into the body.
Aroma is dark roasted malts, bourbon barrel, chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, and walnut.
Taste is rich and decadent, with dark roasted malts, bourbon barrel and oak, chocolate, vanilla, toffee, dark fruit, cinnamon, and a late appearance of coffee. Definitely has a woody expression. Lots of cacao in the aftertaste.
Thick mouth feel, with stickiness. High ABV% is warming but well hidden. Quiet carbonation.
A real treat to be savored. Different layers of flavor appear as the beer warms, gets a little sweeter.

 

L: Dark deep brown pour from a 22oz bottle into a sniffer - Almost pitch black on this. Slight lacing appeared to surface.
S: Chocolatey malts, baking chocolate similar, slight caramel, fruity aromas. Smelling the bourbon/whiskey batches too.
T: Smell like it tastes but extra smooth. Surprisingly smooth, big chocolatey, cherry notes with slight bourbon taste. Dark malts, slight caramel. Very fine and extraordinary beer.
F: Medium to heavy bodied - rare for a beer this big, that's how you know it has potential for a world class. Not carbonated.
O: This beer is good, complex, very drinkable and rich. It's a perfect Christmas drinker and so easy to drink. Cheers!

2016 version, drank 12/2022 out of a tulip. thick, solid, tasty, not too over the top in any direction - just a great solid barrel aged stout. From an aging perspective, I probably sat on this two years longer than I should have, but that’s splitting hairs…!

Pours a deep, dark brown. Aroma is incredibly complex. A balance of brown sugar, caramel, bourbon, vanilla, oak and even some nuttiness. Taste lives up to the aroma. So many flavors, sweetness and well balanced. It comes in waves. In addition to the brown sugar, caramel, bourbon, vanilla and oak, there are coffee and chocolate flavors. Full body and very smooth. Overall one of the best Strong Ales, I have had the pleasure to taste!

Reviewing a 2016 vintage. Dark brown, minimal head and lacing. Scents of cinnamon, vanilla, and woody barrel. With some age, the taste is subtle, but there’s plenty of cinnamon spiciness, vanilla, and caramel. Big body-boozy, a medium thickness, and a clean finish. This was one of the beers I really wanted to try from Fremont, and I think I got a couple of vintages. At least I hope I did, because a six year old version of it is amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 Vintage

 

A friend of mine visited Colorado for a family Christmas and he brought back a bunch of RR goodies 12-31-21 including this 22 oz bomber for $24.99. Bottled 2021; consumed 5-7-22. ABV = 13.5%

Beer poured black with a tan head that dissipated quickly.

Nose is wonderful, vanilla, coffee, leather, and bourbon provide a wonderful aroma ahead of each sip.

Taste is a huge bourbon-soaked malt base that lends some toffee and coffee, a touch of vanilla, cacao, and leather. Finishes expertly balanced between the extended barrel time and a lot of hops.

Mouthfeel is full bodied and extremely smooth resulting in each sip being extremely satisfying.

Overall this is on par with BCBS if not better!