Ralphius - Two Year Cognac
Free Will Brewing Co.

 

Received a 2022 12.7 oz bottle in a trade with DIM 3-8-23. Consumed 12-6-23.

Beer poured black with a red tint and a nice head that dissipated quickly.

Nose is awesome with notes of roasted malts and dark fruits.

Taste is spot on as the fairly heavily roasted malt base takes on the casks that give it an almost perfect marriage of figs, raisins, and brown sugar. Finishes with a good dose of hops and with the char balances this out perfectly. Each sip warms me bones on this cool 40 degree day!

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and very smooth.

Overall an outstanding example of marrying an imperial stout with cognac casks, well done Free Will!

 

Matte black with a thin chocolate milk head that quickly settles into a wisp and messy crown.

Milk chocolate, light roast, umami and distant grapes in the nose.

Chocolatey tasting as well. It gives off a s’mores-like vibe at times (light roast, light smoke, marshmallow and chocolate). More of that grape shows, too. A little honey. Flashes of umami. Of course, Ralphius doesn’t hide the alcohol.

Smooth, creamy feel with tight, restrained carbonation.

I really loved the Double-Barrel that included Cognac and Bourbon. I may be underrating it a smidge in comparison, but this is a little too much fruit for my taste and the flavors don’t meld all that harmoniously. That said, even lower tier variants are very good.

I bought 4 varieties of Ralphius and this is one I was least excited about since I prefer brown liquor barrels to graped barrels by a wide margin. But I'll be damned, this is absolutely phenomenal. The base beer seems drier and more roasty than Ralphius generally is. From the extended oak time perhaps? Still somewhat fudgy, I get more cocoa powder and charred brown sugar. The Cognac addition immerses itself seamlessly with sweet raisins, mellow vinous grape skins, and a beautifully boozy exhale. Overall this is masterful, just a joy to drink.

Pours pitch black, opaque and viscous. Thin, weak mocha colored head forms on the beer, lingers a moment, then dissipates.

Aroma is incredible - rich notes of roasted and chocolate malts, molasses and brown sugar giving way to rich notes of cognac, oak, must, and grape. The aroma absolutely showcases the cognac barrels in all the best ways.

Taste has notes of roasted malts, brown sugar, molasses, maple, cognac, oak, and tobacco. Its rich, moderately sweet, but also has a nice pleasant warmth to it from the cognac. Definitely showcases the cognac barrel again, but since it is just the base stout, it does not overwhelm what is there.

Feel is fuller bodied, chewy, but smooth. Mild carbonation. Warming.

Overall this is a world class offering from Free Will - it is one of those experiences where I don't want to finish the beer because I don't want it to end