Bourbon Barrel Aged Hellfighter (Egg Nog)
Karbach Brewing Co.

Bottled 11/24/2019 the Egg Nog pours a rich, dark molasses color with a big mocha head. Smells of sweet molasses and dark chocolate. It's smooth and the coffee is present with chocolate, brown sugar, molasses. The alcohol is only slightly noticeable. A pleasant Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout that is fairly remarkable.

 

 

 

 

Appearance: Deep amber in color, dark red highlights display before a bright light. A massive, fine-bubbled tan head crowns the body, and persists extremely well. Belgian-style lacing adorns the glass walls.

Aroma: The initial impression is of Whoppers malted milk balls, as odd as that seems. There is a pronounced and gracious note of barrel aged whiskey, the alcohol is sweet and vinous.

Taste: The taste begins with a strong wave of malted milk balls, a taste I haven't experienced since my adolescent years, a long time ago. Soon after, sweet, vinous alcohol makes itself known with a by a strong presence of wood-aging. Though the alcohol is strong, it is only mildly warming, and quite gracious, with no harshness, whatsoever. The finish is dominated by bourbon and bitter cocoa, though very late in the taste, there is an intimation of peach rind. I never noted any presence that I would associate with eggnog; nonetheless, this is simply wonderful.

Mouth feel: Fantastic, smooth, full and syrupy, with little carbonation noted.

Drinkability/Notes: Simply excellent, well worth a try, even if absent of eggnog, at least absent to me.

Presentation: Packaged in a custom eleven point two ounce brown glass bottle with a pry-off crown, served in a Guinness pint pub glass at the Lake House.

 

 

 

 

Not sure what to make of this one. It pours kind of sad- very flat but that's common for barrel aged beer. Smells good, strong chocolate notes with a little coffee and a little eggnog. Tastewise I taste more caramel and chocolate than egg nog. It's a decent beer but not a great beer and doesn't deliver the taste profile advertised.