Ralphius - Fiddler Bourbon Barrel/J. Reiger Bourbon Barrel
Free Will Brewing Co.

Picked up a 375 ml bottle from Shangy's in Emmaus, PA on 9-23-25 for $19.99. 2024 edition consumed 2-25-26.

Beer poured black with a decent tan head that dissipated quickly.

Nose is nice with notes of mild roasted notes and chocolate.

Taste is a large mild roasted malt base that emits notes of chocolate. Barrel brings a lot of wood and imparts some leather and some heat. Finishes nicely hopped and with the wood this is very balanced.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth.

Overall, i totally dig the Ralphy franchise. While this is not the best barrel choice there is still enough going on to make this a worthwhile try! Glad i was able to score some!

Sampling a 375 ml bottle that I picked up at a local beer store. Drinking at room temperature and poured into my snifter.
The beer pours a black coffee color and no light is passing through my glass. Minimal beige head of less than 0.5cm foams up and fades to nothing by halfway through the sampling.
Aroma is bourbon, some charred wood and hints of very dark chocolate and a little fusol booziness. no hop character on the nose of this beer.
First sip reveals a medium body with silky smooth texture and very soft and gentle carbonation. Flavor is pretty similar to the nose advertisements. I get some mild roasted malt and charred wood, a bit of bakers chocolate and some bourbon notes. A little spicy black pepper booze on the finish but not a lot of warming. Never any hop character on this one either. I really enjoy the Ralphius line of imperial stouts from Free Will. This one is good, but its not amazing in my book. Other barrels and treatments have been more interesting in my opinion.

375 ml capped bottle, 2024 release

pours jet black, with tan colored head that fades. huge aroma of oak and dark chocolate, a touch of earthy cinnamon. similar taste, a little "hot". smooth silky mouthfeel, full bodied. Good but not one of my favorite variants

Poured at fridge temp. Pours a very thick black. I'm immediately getting black licorice and bourbon on the nose. Vanilla, roasted malts, chocolate, molasses, and a slight nutty note come through. A nice dark berry fruit note emerges more as it warms.

The taste is so dang smooth. Malt balls, caramel candy, marshmallow, bourbon heat, molasses, and a cardboard note. The booze isn't hidden on this one, but it's not off-putting.

Mouthfeel is pretty thick, and the aftertaste is a nice mix of vanilla, chocolate, and bourbon.

Opens with a pfft and shows matte black with a slight reddish hue. A vigorous pour yields a half finger of airy mocha head that fairly quickly settles into a lasting, soupy crown that impresses for the style.

Toasty caramel brownie in the aroma — more toasty than sickly sweet. Maybe a little wood popping through, too. World class sniffer.

The taste doesn’t quite live up to the nose for me. There’s a kiss of caramel hard candies, but not any brownie to speak of. In comparison to the smell, it comes across a little thinner; what I had perceived as toastiness is more of an oaky astringency here; and there’s lots more alcohol heat. Still very good tasting, but not necessarily in the upper echelon of this series.

Sticky feel that’s perhaps a touch thinner than expected in the modern era. More highly carbonated than most Ralphs.

The look and smell approach the tip top of beerdom. The taste and feel are merely excellent. If I had to put my finger on it, I’d say it’s a touch oakier and more heavily carbonated than necessary. A pleasure to drink nonetheless.