Boughs of Barley 2018: Scotch Whisky
Cape May Brewing Company

Poured from 750 ML bottle into a snifter glass. It pours an inky black with over a finger of fluffy, khaki-colored had and a thick sheen of like-colored lacing. Its fragrant nose features bakers chocolate, roasted malt, leather, tobacco smoke, earthy char, and a faint but noticeable scent of whiskey. The Scotch barrel is much more apparent in the taste; I noticed it from the first sip. It's very smoky with bitter char, burnt coffee grounds, and bakers chocolate. Only at the finish is there a very subtle caramel presence. There is virtually no sweetness. The after taste is like a cigar. There is no dark fruit notes. This stout has a rich, creamy mouth feel with low/moderate carbonation, and you can feel the 11% ABV right away. Overall, this variant of Boughs of Barley is well-crafted and I appreciate and have no complaints about it. It's a little too bitter and smoky for my taste but I'm sure that many will really enjoy it. Cape May is known for brewing big, barrel-aged beers and for the right drinker this one could be really special.