BA22 Vol. 8
Oskar Blues Grill & Brew


- From:
- Oskar Blues Grill & Brew
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #756 - ABV:
- 12.5%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #8,426 - Avg:
- 4.24 | pDev: 7.78%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 02, 2025
- Added:
- Apr 10, 2022
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
Simple complexity? Sounds like a self-help guru's mantra, but that's the best way to describe Volume Eight of our BA22 series of barrel aged beers. The same rich, roasty Imperial stout was aged separately in two different barrels and blended to reach the ideal balance of flavors - a deepening sweetness from port barrels and hints of smoke and pepper from rye whiskey barrels. Help yourself.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by q33jeff from New Jersey
4.19/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
**
08/01/25
Can to tulip glass.
Cola, oak, pepper, coffee, licorice, mineral.
**
Aug 02, 202508/01/25
Can to tulip glass.
Cola, oak, pepper, coffee, licorice, mineral.
**
Reviewed by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut
3.22/5 rDev -24.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.22/5 rDev -24.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Very, very dark brown with a beautiful, dense mocha colored head with excellent retention and lacing. Good looking beer. Aroma is nondescript. Faint roast, but not a lot going on here. Taste follows. This is oddly muted. It's not bad, there's just not a lot going on. A little bit of barrel flavor, but that's about it. I feel like I'm missing something. Medium bodied. Very forgettable beer.
Jun 19, 2022Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
4.56/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.56/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at the brewery's biergarten in Brevard NC.
Appearance. Essentially black body with reddish-brown edges when held to the light. I let this warm for over 80 minutes while I drank other beers ... and it still has a ring of bubbles!
Aroma. Heavenly and lightly boozy from the aging in both port and rye whisky barrels.
The sweet flavor follows, if only delightful and not quite heavenly. Hints of molasses, chocolate, coffee, whisky, oak, dates and other dark dried fruits.
Feel. Smooth, very full body with some oiliness and light carbonation.
Overall. Well worth seeking out.
Jun 06, 2022Appearance. Essentially black body with reddish-brown edges when held to the light. I let this warm for over 80 minutes while I drank other beers ... and it still has a ring of bubbles!
Aroma. Heavenly and lightly boozy from the aging in both port and rye whisky barrels.
The sweet flavor follows, if only delightful and not quite heavenly. Hints of molasses, chocolate, coffee, whisky, oak, dates and other dark dried fruits.
Feel. Smooth, very full body with some oiliness and light carbonation.
Overall. Well worth seeking out.
Reviewed by garymuchow from Minnesota
4.26/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Picked this up while in Col. Springs. Generally not a fan of Imperial stouts in cans but this one is only a couple of months old, so hopefully it won't be a problem.
Boy that is black, black black. Some garnet highlights in the direct sun. Also one of the darkest heads I've ever seen too, however the head is a little bigger than I expected - a little fuzzy and a little foamy.
Rich malt aroma. Still fresh with some sharpness. Deep dark fruit. Some hints of vanilla.
Robust malt flavor and can pick up hints of some sweetness from the port. Vanilla. A little bit of wood. Touch of smoke, as advertised- .Alcohol is reasonably subdued considering how big this is. It's there, by golly, but more in the heat in the gut than the rose water flavors.
This is quite dry, esp for such a young beer. Nice full feel and very smooth.
This is pretty well balanced.
Jun 03, 2022Boy that is black, black black. Some garnet highlights in the direct sun. Also one of the darkest heads I've ever seen too, however the head is a little bigger than I expected - a little fuzzy and a little foamy.
Rich malt aroma. Still fresh with some sharpness. Deep dark fruit. Some hints of vanilla.
Robust malt flavor and can pick up hints of some sweetness from the port. Vanilla. A little bit of wood. Touch of smoke, as advertised- .Alcohol is reasonably subdued considering how big this is. It's there, by golly, but more in the heat in the gut than the rose water flavors.
This is quite dry, esp for such a young beer. Nice full feel and very smooth.
This is pretty well balanced.
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado
4.09/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep black color to the body; incredibly dense, creamy head, khaki colored and sculpted. Roasted and charred grain smells; barrel oak; chocolate; a suggestion of cherry. Bittersweet chocolate and raspberry; a bit of fudge; moderate bitterness; nicely balanced booziness. Heavy body; thick and chewy.
A huge barrel aged stout that lays on more nuance and dexterity with its richness of flavors rather than bludgeoning you with heavy-handed and outrageous taste gimmicks.
Pouring temperature: 45 °F; canning info: 03/21/22 AGED TO PERFECTION
Jun 01, 2022A huge barrel aged stout that lays on more nuance and dexterity with its richness of flavors rather than bludgeoning you with heavy-handed and outrageous taste gimmicks.
Pouring temperature: 45 °F; canning info: 03/21/22 AGED TO PERFECTION
Reviewed by DrStiffington from New Jersey
4.41/5 rDev +4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev +4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Love this series from Oskar Blues. Pours black and thick. Some lacing on the top of the glass with a thin head. Smells of booze, but faintly. Tastes a bit roasty, paired with the port and rye barrels. Nice blend. Alcohol not as present as the 12.5% ABV would lead one to believe. Thick but drinkable.
Apr 10, 2022
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!