Ralphius - Dystopias Barrel
Free Will Brewing Co.

sampling a 2023 bottle of this beer. It was picked up for me at the brewery and received as part of a trade. This 375 ml bottle is pouring at cellar temp into my trusty snifter.
The beer pours a rich cola brown color with slightly frothy beige head of about .5 cm and this foam fades to a sturdy edge layer and thin covering. There is surprisingly clingy and fine lattice on the glass when I swirl or take a sip from the glass.
Aroma is rich and malty and very complex as well. I get brown sugar and toffee with hints of date and other dark fruit. There is also some black pepper spiciness which I attribute to the booziness. NO hop character on this aroma that I can pick up.
First sip reveals a medium body with very smooth texture and very fine and soft carbonation. Beer drinks pretty easy for being bigger ABV and barrel aging.
Flavor is similar to the nose, but here I do get some chocolate brownie notes and a little roasted note. But brown sugar and fruit kick in mid swallow and that sweetness lingers, but isnt cloying by any stretch. there is some warming booze after the swallow but not a ton. Hops are absent throughout.
Quite nice stout with great complexity. Would love to drink another bottle of this one!

Matte black with a half-finger of creamy-looking, chocolate milk-colored foam head with solid retention for the style and eventually settles into a lasting wisp and thick crown. It even leaves some strands of lacing, which is unusual for the series.

Interesting nose that combines dark chocolate, blueberries, cooking sherry, roasted meat and umami and leaves relatively dry impression.

Similar elements carry to the taste: chocolate milk, chocolate-covered blueberries, cherry, red wine, dark caramel, leather, piney bitterness and some alcohol bite. Lingering heat, a little pepper and fairly strong red wine character.

Slick feel bordering between milky and silky, with restrained carbonation.

Tons of depth at 10 months or so. Doesn’t quite seem like the sweet spot, despite being pretty excellent all around. Might have preferred a little fresher or possibly even a bit older, as the flavors here are starting to meld, but aren’t all the way there yet.

 

Plenty of spirits here overall. The Dystopias comes across as either stronger than the bourbon in the 2 year versions or maybe it just isn't quite as harmonious and therefore more noticeable? The stout is not lost but it is definitely blunted. Medium roast up front joined by caramel, molasses, and strong, warm, flavorful booze. The finish adds a nice ashy cocoa note. Very nice beer overall.

Pairing the last part of the glass with a separate small pour of Dystopias, nice combination.

I'm proud to post the first BA review of this 2023 Ralphius variant. Poured into a stout glass at 62° It pours a dark walnut with almost a finger of creamy, medium mocha head and film of lacing. A big, bold nose with dark chocolate, toffee, raisin, molasses, and whiffs of anise and dark fruit, along with distinct liquor from the Dystopias barrel. The taste is just as good: caramel/toffee, butterscotch, burnt coffee, rich chocolate, raisin, fig, leather, tobacco, and molasses. The barrel influence is strong but not overpowering. There is great depth of flavor but the tastes blend seamlessly. It's definitely boozy and warming and should be sipped slowly. There is a touch of alcohol burn at the finish. The mouth feel is luxuriously plush and creamy with low moderate carbonation. You could easily cork it and open again later. The 15.1% ABV is powerful. Overall, this Ralphius variant is a gem. I haven't had the opportunity to drink Free Will's Dystopias American Strong Ale but after this hint I surely hope to do so.