Bourbon Barrel Russian Imperial Stout
Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

Wonderful. Dark brown bodied, no sign of a head. Some coconut,vanilla, rich malt including chocolate and mollasses. Bourbon really is well integrated. Rich masterful and special aged beer. Booze is well hidden.Bottle shared with the owner and FlandersNed at the brewpub.

On tap at Kuhnhenn. Pretty expensive ($8 for 8oz). Served in a snifter. Not sure if this is the first time they've brewed it since 2004, but it was definitely specifically called "Bourbon Barrel RIS."

Very opaque deep black. Small head that leaves a slight brown lacing that dissipates almost right away. You can really see the legs, which coat the top of the glass.
Nose is sweet malts and bourbon, with some earthy scents. Taste is huge oaky malts, lots of bourbon, and notes of vanilla. Can't really detect the alcohol, just the bourbon flavors. A coffee character comes out on warming, but the alcohol stays hidden. Mouthfeel is good but thinner than expected. Drinkability is hurt by the ABV; it's a sipper!

This my friends is a dark beer....This one pours out a completely opaque obsidian black colour with a nice short tan head that dies a quick and painless death. The aromas truly jump out at you and the aromas are big! I smell Molasses, Vanilla, Oak, Rum soaked Cherries, Brandy, Chocolate, Espresso, Deep roasted malts, Fresh citric hops, and more! The taste is as good as the aromas imply that it will be. This stuff just tastes so good, and so strong. The initial flavors are deep roasted malts and espresso. Than the chocolate and vanilla/caramel/oak flavors come into play in the middle. The finish is very oaky, with hints of vanilla, and the citric hops in the mix as well. The mouthfeel is THICK, and so creamy. This is almost as thick as dark lord, and although the brewery did not give out the abv of this one, I would assume that this stuff is also stronger than dark lord. If their barleywine is 12% and the barrel aged version is 14.5%, it can be assumed that since their impy stout is 12.5%, that this version is probably in the 15% range! and let me tell you....for a beer with an abv of up to 15%, this stuff is damn drinkable! An awesome version of an impy stout and a good example of how barrel aging works wonders for certain beers/breweries!

Inky black appearance. Just a light brown rimming as this beer is absent of a head. Then again, I wasn't expecting one from what I assume is a high powered, high a/v brew. The collar leaves some specks of lace as I drink. Big juicy nose of anise, cedar, licorice, bourbon, baker's chocolate and char. Just beautiful. First taste leaves a clean bitterness and lactic sweetness on my palate. Upon further tastings, the bourbon character really starts to shine through. Sweet, yet slightly acidic at the same time. Some tobacco and char enter the picture. And very light notes of alcohol become apparant as well. Some black cherry and rum notes surface as well. A lovely concoction of flavors. The body is a little light...maybe about medium-full at best. But the mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. Quite drinkable for what I belive to be a high a/v brew.

While the specific number was not available to me, this is a strong beer. And it's as calm as the midnight sea -- and dark as it as well. Very little carbonation can be found in this pitch black, motor oil of a brew.

Aromas of peat moss, ripened fruits, wet wood, raisinets, and turpentine overlay a tanic "zip." This carries through to the palate, which shows a powerful, sweet beginning that's intense flavored of the pure extract of overly ripe fruit. Oily chocolate liqeuor. Transitions to a grape skin, red wine dryness at midpalate -- incredibly vinous and rich.

The strength shows here, but the intensity of the other flavors makes the alcohol feel at home, part of this marvelous beverage rather than something unpleasant or difficult. The velvety texture is reminiscent of their raspberry eisbock in that it's remarkably smooth. Simply intense and delicious.