Ralphius - Two Year Buffalo Trace
Free Will Brewing Co.

Used motor oil black with no head, but also a little more fluid.

Hot and spicy, viscous dark malt meets big barrel chars.

Intense and complex, I might like this better by itself than amidst all these beers at Dark Lord Day.

Dark brown, approaching black, with a thin, soupy, mocha-colored head that quickly dissipates into a messy crown.

Sticky, bourbon-forward nose with vanilla and cherry notes. Hints of chocolate and charred oak behind.

Dark malts and good alcohol heat dominate the taste. There’s some caramel, vanilla, chocolate and char behind.

Full bodied, sticky mouthfeel. Very viscous.

Not as deeply layered as some variants, but the dark flavors that are there are very tasty.

2023 release. Poured into a stout glass at 59°. It pours inky black with a foamy, medium-mocha-colored head that fizzled away quickly leaving a ring around the edge of the glass. The smell is superb: dark chocolate, strong coffee, caramel, toffee, vanilla, brown sugar, leather, tobacco smoke, and just enough bourbon. Its taste is sublime - largely following the nose but with more pronounced coffee and sweeter chocolate. There are also delicious notes of caramel, vanilla, tobacco, and some nutty char. While the Buffalo Trace barrel influence is strong, the bourbon flavor compliments the other tastes without overwhelming them. That said, you can feel the gravity. Its mouth feel is exactly what I hoped for - creamy, almost chewy, with lite carbonation, and there is no avoiding the 14.8% ABV. Savor it slowly and you'll be richly rewarded. This is an exquisite variant of Ralphius.

On draft at the brewery

Jet black, thin tan head that fades. Aroma of dark chocolate, molasses, a touch of tobacco and leather and citrus. Taste is a bit more earthy and herbal. A little boozy which is fine. Thick oily mouthfeel.