Golden Smog
Free Will Brewing Co.
- From:
- Free Will Brewing Co.
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 12.4%
- Score:
- +1 rating needed
- Avg:
- 4.04 | pDev: 11.88%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 29, 2025
- Added:
- Jul 08, 2021
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Pecans, Tahitian Vanilla, Sea Salt, and Milk Sugar.
Our third release of our new extra long boiled stout series…
The components in this beer were each separately aged for the better part of the year in a variety of bourbon barrels, each hand-selected to hold a particular ingredient which could be used for unlimited blending opportunities down the road.
The makings of the final product included most of a barrel containing in-house toasted pecans, a portion aging on Tahitian Vanilla Beans, and of course a barrel of the base beer. After combining these three components we then added just a touch of sea salt to add further complexity and depth.
Truly a bit of a new practice for us which’s outcome we are oh so pleased with. Big time chocolate notes provided by this base beer which are complemented by notes of brown sugar, golden pecan pie, and caramel.
Our third release of our new extra long boiled stout series…
The components in this beer were each separately aged for the better part of the year in a variety of bourbon barrels, each hand-selected to hold a particular ingredient which could be used for unlimited blending opportunities down the road.
The makings of the final product included most of a barrel containing in-house toasted pecans, a portion aging on Tahitian Vanilla Beans, and of course a barrel of the base beer. After combining these three components we then added just a touch of sea salt to add further complexity and depth.
Truly a bit of a new practice for us which’s outcome we are oh so pleased with. Big time chocolate notes provided by this base beer which are complemented by notes of brown sugar, golden pecan pie, and caramel.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by Caoimhin from Pennsylvania
3.25/5 rDev -19.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -19.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
My daughter bought this on her 21st birthday and left it in the fridge. It tastes like sweet dark chocolate with a hint of pecans and salt and an even slighter hint of bourbon. It would make a good digestiv, but with the possible exception of dessert, it would not pair well with most foods. It is almost not beer. My can says it is 14.4 abv, not 12.4, and it tastes like it.
May 29, 2025
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
4.49/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a tall bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Black oily pour. A thin finger of mocha colored head falls fast but leaves a solid ring of lacing.
S: Rich and roasty. Malts, cocoa, vanilla, and nut.
T.F: Semi-sweet vanilla cola. Roasted grains, milk chocolate, bourbon, hazelnut, and more vanilla. Smooth and oily... with a bit of salt added to the chocolate at the finish. Warming... medium bodied and it doesn't feel as boozy as it should.
O: An outstanding big sweet dessert stout. Super balanced... reminiscent of some Ralphius blends. Very enjoyable sipper.
Sep 16, 2022L: Black oily pour. A thin finger of mocha colored head falls fast but leaves a solid ring of lacing.
S: Rich and roasty. Malts, cocoa, vanilla, and nut.
T.F: Semi-sweet vanilla cola. Roasted grains, milk chocolate, bourbon, hazelnut, and more vanilla. Smooth and oily... with a bit of salt added to the chocolate at the finish. Warming... medium bodied and it doesn't feel as boozy as it should.
O: An outstanding big sweet dessert stout. Super balanced... reminiscent of some Ralphius blends. Very enjoyable sipper.
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania
4.09/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Cola black with a finger or two of mocha-colored head that quickly fizz away into a wisp and crown. Minimal lacing.
Root beer, pecans, honey grahams and vanilla in the nose. Maybe a little chocolate, too.
Nice caramel and chocolate flavor, with some root beer sweetness. A kiss of salt and a tiny bit of pecan.
Lightly creamy, slick feel, with just enough carbonation.
Sweeter than the Ralphius series, but still pretty drinkable. Fun to try.
Jul 13, 2022Root beer, pecans, honey grahams and vanilla in the nose. Maybe a little chocolate, too.
Nice caramel and chocolate flavor, with some root beer sweetness. A kiss of salt and a tiny bit of pecan.
Lightly creamy, slick feel, with just enough carbonation.
Sweeter than the Ralphius series, but still pretty drinkable. Fun to try.
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania
4.28/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
on draft at the brewery
black in color, just a thin head. Molasses, pecan, vanilla, dark chocolate. Not overly boozy considering the ABV. another tasty imperial stout with some unique adjuncts from Free Will
Jun 12, 2022black in color, just a thin head. Molasses, pecan, vanilla, dark chocolate. Not overly boozy considering the ABV. another tasty imperial stout with some unique adjuncts from Free Will
Reviewed by Beersnake from California
4.38/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured at fridge temp from a can. Pours motor oil black with little head. Looks great!
Nose: Bourbon, chocolate, nuts (walnuts, pecans, and almonds come through), bourbon, vanilla, salted caramel, and charred wood. This is definitely a nutty beer on the nose. Really nice and well-integrated. The sea salt is definitely there, which adds a really nice touch.
Taste: Wow, is this good. Milk chocolate, salted caramel, pecans, vanilla, roasted malts, and a good dose of bourbon. The booze is definitely detectable - I'm really glad this came in a small can since I ain't sharing! Lots of dark fruits come through on the taste. Raspberries, blackberries, and prunes. A little bit of honey sweetness, and maybe a small hint of soy sauce (but not in a bad way). This is really tasty!
Mouthfeel and overall: The mouthfeel is definitely thick and creamy. Very robust! As noted, the alcohol is very detectable on this one. Absolutely awesome overall.
Oct 17, 2021Nose: Bourbon, chocolate, nuts (walnuts, pecans, and almonds come through), bourbon, vanilla, salted caramel, and charred wood. This is definitely a nutty beer on the nose. Really nice and well-integrated. The sea salt is definitely there, which adds a really nice touch.
Taste: Wow, is this good. Milk chocolate, salted caramel, pecans, vanilla, roasted malts, and a good dose of bourbon. The booze is definitely detectable - I'm really glad this came in a small can since I ain't sharing! Lots of dark fruits come through on the taste. Raspberries, blackberries, and prunes. A little bit of honey sweetness, and maybe a small hint of soy sauce (but not in a bad way). This is really tasty!
Mouthfeel and overall: The mouthfeel is definitely thick and creamy. Very robust! As noted, the alcohol is very detectable on this one. Absolutely awesome overall.
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
4.19/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at the brewery.
A - Black pour with lots of legs on the sides of the glass. No lacing and no carbonation.
S - Bourbon, vanilla, roasted chocolate malt, and pecans. Overall aroma is nicely balanced.
T - Nice chocolate roast that lingers for a long time after the sip along with Bourbon, oak, a small amount of oak tannin, some lactose presence, and light chocolate bitterness. Nice balanced finish.
M - Thick, viscous, sticky on the lips, silky soft, semi-dry finish with wetness around the edges.
O - Wasn't a fan at first but this one grew on me. Definitely worth a try because the balance is pretty darn perfect.
Jul 10, 2021A - Black pour with lots of legs on the sides of the glass. No lacing and no carbonation.
S - Bourbon, vanilla, roasted chocolate malt, and pecans. Overall aroma is nicely balanced.
T - Nice chocolate roast that lingers for a long time after the sip along with Bourbon, oak, a small amount of oak tannin, some lactose presence, and light chocolate bitterness. Nice balanced finish.
M - Thick, viscous, sticky on the lips, silky soft, semi-dry finish with wetness around the edges.
O - Wasn't a fan at first but this one grew on me. Definitely worth a try because the balance is pretty darn perfect.
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