Exorcism At Sunset
Clown Shoes

4.68/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Notes of rich creamy marshmallowy vanilla, caramel, toffee, bourbon, oak barrel, chocolate, roasted malts, dark coffee, brown sugar, black molasses, toasty graham cracker, some dark dried fruits, with earthy herbal piney hops

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4.24/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle. Bottling date stamped as '01/30/17'.
Very nearly opaque black colored body. One finger of tan head, which settles back to a creamy and bubbly cap. Leaves behind a good variety of irregularly shaped lacing.
Aroma of dark roasted malts and vapors of bourbon barrel. Multi layer chocolate and a whiff of vanilla.
Taste is lots of chocolate dark roasted malts and the blending in of the bourbon barrel. Overall the taste is light and ephemeral. No bitterness, but there is bit of whiskey spice.
Very creamy and smooth mouth feel, but kind of thin. Good carbonation.
Easy drinking for a barrel aged stout, and the flavors do not stay on the tongue very long. Higher ABV% is hidden very well.

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4.4/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A 22 fl. oz. bomber, bottled on 2nd February 2017. Poured into a snifter glass.

Appearance: Dark dark brown to black in colour with a thin mocha brown head that dissipated quickly but left some nice spotty lacing.

Aroma: Roasted malts, milk chocolate, bourbon, oak and a touch of vanilla.

Taste: Roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, sweet bourbon, oak and a nice light bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Rich, smooth, full bodied with soft carbonation.

Overall: A very nice rich and balanced Imperial Stout with the right amount of bourbon notes and good light booze.

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3.83/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Black in color and impenetrable to light. There's a fingernail of brown around the rim and covering half of the top. The aroma is of bitter dark roasted barley and sweet bourbon. I'm tasting sweet bourbon and then there's some of the bitter, dark roasted barley in the back of the palate. The mouth is thick, sticky, and chewy.

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4.32/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours black with a thin tan head. Nice amount of light soapy lacing.

S - Aroma is caramel, dark chocolate and bourbon.

T - The taste is vanilla, dark chocolate, toffee and bourbon.

M - Medium body with low carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel with sticky dry finish.

O - Another killer BBA stout from Clown Shoes.

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4.4/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bought this at Ryan and Caseys in Greenfield. Beer pours black with a dark brown head that is thin and slowly dissipates. Aromas are not too strong, but are vocal; bourbon vanilla was the most apparent. Really great stout flavors such as a boozy, vanilla, maybe licorice flavor that is very powerful to the taste buds. Very creamy and silky mouthfeel and body. Overall, fantastic stout.

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4.25/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Black-bodied, naturally, with a slim finger of tan foam that slimmed quickly into a thin collar... Charred chocolate and charred wood on the nose, followed by bittersweetness of like kind on the sip... Notes of vanilla, tannins, and molasses round off the flavor profile... Medium-weight and smooth, a little sticky on the finish...

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4.47/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

15 dollars for 22 oz. I need a better hobby.

Pours opaque black, this is legit about as black as beer gets. Great legs but no lacing.

Dark chocolate, vanilla, hints of either caramel or butter scotch with a lot of heavy whipped cream. A bit of char and perhaps some light oak chips. Very chocolate bar meats almost a creme brulee but not so much vanilla.

At first I got a lot of dark chocolates but now I'm getting that and milk chocolate. I get almost a 3 Mustageers bar meets a caramel drizzle that was aged in oak. The bourbon notes integrate flawlessly in this dessert inspired beer. Unlike most barrel aged beers the bourbon seems to be soaked up in the other flavors and is just adding vs adding a booze and liquor type influence.

The beer drinks very well for a 12.5% beer. The mouth is creamy and full while the beer doesn't sit overly heavy (for the style). There is a hint of an alcohol burn that could almost be confused with a slight sour note and the carbonation as expected doesn't last long.

Overall this is an exceptional beer. It lacks some of the complexity that the true master pieces of the style have, but that's likely why one can find this on shelves. Absolutely worth it. Even if it is 15 bucks.

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4.24/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured a pitch black color with a tan lingering head. Smell is of bourbon, coffee, vanilla and caramel. Taste follows the nose with some added oakiness and chocolate. Mouthfeel is creamy but still fairly light. Overall it is a good stout but could use a little more time in the barrel.

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4.23/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I picked up a bottle of Clown Shoes Exorcism At Sunset for $14.49 at The Lager Mill. It's been a little while since I've had a barrel aged beer from Clown Shoes, so lets see how this one goes. 2017 Vintage. Poured from a brown 22oz bottle into a snifter.

A- The label looks good, it's got a typical nice and detailed label and it's eye catching. It poured a dark black color that didn't change when held to the light and it had half a fingers worth of darker tan almost brown head that died down to a thin ring that eventually faded away and it left just a little bit of spotty lacing behind. This is a very nice looking beer, I have no complaints.

S- The aroma starts off with a higher amount of sweetness with the bourbon barrels being the first to show up and they impart a nice mixture of bourbon, vanilla and oak like aromas with no single one being too dominating and it goes into a nice caramel aroma with just a slight bit of alcohol showing up. Up next comes a slight bit of dark fruit which leads into the malts which impart a dark malt, roasted malt, chocolate, chocolate syrup, sweet malts and a little bit more caramel towards the end. This beer has a very nice aroma, all the aspects seem to work well together.

T- The taste seems to be similar to the aroma, but it's a little lighter and it starts off with a lower amount of high sweetness with the bourbon barrels still being the first to show up and they are a little lighter than they were in the aroma, but they impart the same aspects with no single one seeming to stick out the most. Up next comes a little bit of noticeable alcohol that's slightly warming and it goes into a slight bit of dark fruit and it's followed by the malts which impart all the same aspects with those chocolate and caramel aspects seeming to stick out the most. On the finish there's a lower amount of medium bitterness with a little more sweetness and booze, plus it's a little warming with some chocolate and bourbon barrel flavors. This is very nice tasting beer, all the key aspects show up and they work well together.

M- Fairly smooth, a little boozy, a little warming, slightly cloying, on the lighter side of being full bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. The mouthfeel is good and it works well with this beer.

Overall I thought this was a very nice beer and it's a very nice example of the style, it had pretty much all the aspects that I was looking for and everything came together to make for a tasty bourbon barrel aged stout. This beer has nice drinkability, I think one snifter is pretty much a perfect amount for me. What I like the most about this beer is the balance, no single flavor or aroma ever gets to be too overpowering. What I like the least about this beer was the mouthfeel, it wasn't bad, but it's just slightly rough around he edges. I would buy this beer again if I see it on the shelf and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good bourbon barrel aged Imperial Stout. All in all I enjoyed this beer, it was a nice sipper and I could see myself enjoying this in the winter time. It's one of the better beers that I've had from Clown Shoes lately and it's a very nice example of the style. Very Nice job guys, this is one tasty beer, keep it up.

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4.31/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours rich and motor oil black with a viscous appearance and a plump two finger head of light brown foam.

Strong notes of chocolate and caramel meld with a bit of bourbon.

Chocolate comes out strong in flavor as well with roasted malt, oak, char, and bourbon adding some depth but subtly.

Full-bodied, medium carbonation, rich, chewy, warming.

Overall, quite a delicious brew, but missing a bit of complexity and leans strong on the chocolate aroma/flavor.

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4.1/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle into a tall glass. bottled 2/2/17, so 5 months old.

looks fantastic. jet black body, generous coffee with a dash of cream head. Excellent lacing throughout.

nose is quite muted. faint aromas of bourbon and dried fruit.

On tasting, the bourbon is present, but not intense, which i appreciate. there are some coffee tones, dried fruit, only faintly roasted malt, which i also appreciate in this particular drink.

mouth is a tad below medium, which is surprising. lightly roasted malt and bourbon on the finish. there is also a slight slickness to it, which i could do without.

overall, despite the muted nose and slightly off finish, this is a very enjoyable BBA imperial stout.

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4.12/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Black with a convex fluffy tan dome.

Smell is nutty roasted coffee-esque malt, waxy oak, bourbon, chocolate and sticky maple.

Body is frothy and soft with a chewy finish, consisting of flavors of chocolate, bitter baker's cocoa, a little heat that's not necessarily bourbon but almost like amaretto, with woody nuts and vanilla. Hint of red grape emerges as it warms.

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4.02/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a snifter
2017 vintage

A- pours a deep black color with a creamy khaki colored head that leaves some lacing behind

S- oaky bourbon up front, along with some charred malt, a hint of coffee and dark chocolate

T- charred smoky malt up front, followed by light bourbon barrel that gives some vanilla notes. The finish is chocolate with some woody notes on the linger

M- medium body with medium carbonation leads to a slightly foamy mouthfeel and finish

O- solid, although I prefer the non-barrel aged version

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4.13/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter glass from a 22oz bomber.

Appearance: medium bodied as far as thickness is concerned pouring an ultra dark almost opaque black. Dark tan head rising a notch below a finger's length. Settles slowly after two or three sips with almost zero lacing.

Smell: Deep whiskey scent with hints of warm brown sugar.

Taste: Sweet molasses and whiskey feel. Complex brew has an almost special feel which makes you think of dessert in a bottle. The alcohol notes overpower the brew a bit but offset with the brown sugar feel.

Mouth: Sticky, slightly on the thin to medium body with a medium carbonation.

Overall: Nice pick up, little pricey but if you never had it and like aged bourbon barrel beers it might be worth the pick up. Salud!

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4.44/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thoroughly enjoyed from the 22 oz bottle in a JAFB snifter. This FINE imperial stout
pours a pitch black with a fantastic head of light brown foam that settles to a thick ring,
fluffy pooling layer, and showcases some excellent lacing. Nose of light bourbon, light
smoke, dark molasses, subtle licorice, cherries, coffee, vanilla, and subtle coffee and char
touched smoke. Flavors hit the nose out of the stratosphere with cola, vanilla, dark cold pressed
coffee, a touch of tobacco, light cherry notes to the rear, mild smoke, char, moderate bourbon,
vanilla notes on the back mingling with woodsy oak, and chocolate notes. Fantastic mouth feel;
full body, light carbonation that lightly seeds the warming booze on the tongue, and a char and smoke
touched bourbon and roasted malt finish......pant....pant....I am astounded. One of the best
bourbon barrel imperials I have ever tried and one I would try again and again.

Overall---greatness. Nothing short of expected from this EXCELLENT brewery!

Cheers Clown Shoes----please keep this one around!

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4.75/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

pours an oil slick with almost zero head (i had to take a quick test sip to make sure it wasn't flat; nope, plenty of carbonation). nose; milk chocolate, coffee roast, lightly burnt toast, oak, & very light bourbon. taste; heavy roasted malt, vanilla, toffee, raisin/plum, citrus zest, chocolate/cocoa, butter, light oak, & mellow hops. medium carbonation & heavy mouthfeel. 12.5% abv, but drinks like a 7%'er. a mighty fine, rich & roving russian imperial with all the malt, dark fruit, roast & aging notes you'd expect. also love the name & label art. ;)

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4.46/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a 12 ounce tulip glass at room temp. Dark brown bordering black with a dark fizzy head with an aggressive pour. Scant lacing with decent carbonation. A delicious stout with an appropriate amount of sweetness and a very decent bourbon kick. Maybe a touch thin but very well balanced. I enjoy a boozy bourbon barrel stout and this one is a good one. I love it.

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4.85/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Another spectacular imperial stout by Clown Shoes. These guys really know what they're doing with the limited releases or big bottles. Dark brown/black body with a lingering head. Smells like some fine roasted barley with a hint of some nutty mess in there. A little spice but just enough to compliment - a relatively light body for being such a high alcohol beer. Booze is less detectable then in beers that are only 2/3's are strong. Rich, creamy texture enveloping your senses with that sought-after combo of barley/malt/just a little hops. Leaves the mouth a little dry but overall great flavor so it is a warm, kind, welcom. dry stout. A palate-wetter if anything, just keeps me coming back for more, more, and.. I'm feeling good, This is a great beer, You should try it. That mahogany/bourbon edge gives it just the right mouth feel to make it addictive and in a good way haha.
My favorite I picked up today --- [email protected]@@

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4.83/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Rich. Rich. Rich! The pour is what you'd expect, dark brown, cafe foam, thin slim print lacing. Smell is just as exact. The real catch is it's body; creamy, decadent, medium-heavy. Producing a pristine beer is a juggling act, and these Clowns haven't faulted yet. This is a prime example of what a stout should be.

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3.79/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bottle shared by TJ thanks.
Deep dark black with a thin tan head. Rich dark chocolate and roast with bits of fruit earth and licorice. Sweet but quite good.

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4.39/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Many thanks to SawDog505 for this beer!

A - Pitch black pour from the bottle with thin dense toffee colored lacing. Sticky on the sides of the snifter glass.

S - Nice roasted chocolate on the nose, a small amount of oak, bourbon, and some smoke/char.

T - Balanced throughout with dark roasted chocolate, some oak tannin, smokey char, bourbon, very little warming on the way down. Lingering dark chocolate on the back side with some bourbon booziness.

M - Thick, full bodied, chewy, very sticky on the lips, silky.

O - The 12.5% is very well hidden with a low amount of heat on the way down. Recommended.

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4.63/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

22oz bomber poured into a snifter. Bottled on date is 02/06/17.

A- Pours deep and dark with a fair amount of cocoa colored head which fades to the sides gradually.

S- Chocolate, coffee, and bourbon.

T- Taste begins with roasted coffee and chocolate notes before the smooth barrel characters come in. The bourbon comes through hot at the end of each sip.

M- Heavy, thick, rather hot but a great sipper.

Clown Shoes has a great barrel aging program, and this one does not disappoint.

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4.1/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

22oz bottle split into two El Cat tulips with Lisa. Bottled 1/30/17 (pretty fresh).

Not sure why this scores so high. Appearance is OK, some retention. Nose is unremarkable, some toastiness and light bourbon, not much going on, pretty strong ethanol. Flavor is just OK as well, tastes oxidized despite its young age. Some dark chocolate and fudge, but pretty thin for its size. Mouthfeel is medium low carb, and medium bodied. Pretty disappointing overall.

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4.86/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

This beer pours a deep black with a smallish head. The aroma is dense and sweet, with notes of chocolate, coffee, coconut, hazelnut, almond, walnut, brown sugar, cream and a hint of smoke. The flavor is rich and intense, with notes of creamy coffee, milk chocolate, walnuts, dark chocolate, almonds, dark fruits, and black tea. The mouthfeel is full, and soft, with plenty of small bubble carbonation. Overall this is a spectacular beer - clown shoes rarely disappoints in the realm of stouts,

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