Barrel Aged Abduction
Pipeworks Brewing Co.

Bought a bottle from Mark at the Doge (2018) ; then cellared at home. Drank 3 years later.
Notes: BA variant of Abduction. Big, not boozy. Barrel notes of wood, vanilla, nougat. Base Abduction seems added some hints dark fruit. Really delicious. Enjoyed on deck with a Padron 1964 Maduro Diplomatico. Ahhhh… marriage made in heaven.

 

1/12/25 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased a single can for $11.01 with tax on August 23, 2024 at the Pipeworks Dojo, refrigerated at home until this morning. 16 oz canned July 16, 2024. 13.0% ABV. Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. Label Art by Beejay Olson. 2024 Pipeworks Brewing Company. Brewed and Canned in Chicago, Illinois.

Appearance: Poured 2/3 of the can into snifter. Dark black thick pour, thin dark tan black head lasts less than a minute before leaving just a bright eclipse looking white bubble ring around the base with about 5% cover over the very dark black with shades of chestnut brown base. 4.0

Aroma: Mild bourbon aroma leads several minutes in, with bakers chocolate malt and leather backing. Nice to finally get the base after the prior versions with additives and or heavy barrel treatment. Let sit a few minutes more and the bourbon strengthens, smooth and enjoyable. 4.25

Taste: After15 minutes to warm, found a constant and very enjoyable flavor, with a smooth bourbon complementing a nice bakers chocolate malt base, chocolate fudge . Liking a lot, Bourbon tasted sweet with initial sip still very cold, so take your time. and let this warm 4.5

Mouthfeel: Medium to full sticky body, drinks about at ABV, drinking feels much easy until the second half. Nice balance between the bourbon and malt sweet base. Faint carbonation, nice chocolate fudge and smooth bourbon finish. 4.75

Overall: This is an excellent BA stout, no additives required. The bourbon barrels applied in proper measure, the base allowed to shine. Really enjoying this experience, will pick these up despite the intimidating 16 oz size, when released in the future. 4.5

 

2016 vintage. Pours very dark brown, low carbonation, dark red highlights. Fudge, vanilla, marshmallow, dark cherry and raisin. Very smooth and essentially no alcohol burn. A little bitter roast on the back end , medium thick mouthfeel.

 

Appearance - The beer was black with a modest tan head crowning the glass. It was a surprising head for a barrel aged selection.

Smell - The nose is was boozy, but the chocolate malts were definitely detectable.

Taste - At the front, bourbon was very detectable. It was followed by notes of chocolate and sweet licorice. Having been cellared for over a year, they beer was not overly hot. There was just a touch of heat in the finish.

Mouthfeel - The body on this beer was very full. While the base beer was not thin, this beer was almost tar-like.

Overall - Believe the hype on this one. Assuming you have a non-infected version, this is elite.

 

 

 

 

 

The last bottle, I think, from our visit to the lair of Al Capone in September. 22 oz. bottle split with the wife while chatting with our daughter visiting from her first semester of college. She cute!

The pour is black, with a mild head that audibly snaps. Smells like bourbon & vanilla & sugar. Add in baseball & this would be perfect.

The Abduction – if ET served this, I’d volunteer for an alien probe or two. Heavy bourbon right between the eyes, with a chaser of vanilla. Light char, much booze. Full & dry. Probably too sweet to take down an entire bottle, but damn, I’d like to get the canker sores trying.

This charms on first sip & never lets up – it’s the epitome of a straight-up barrel aged stout created with skill & aplomb that proves complexity is overrated. Pure top shelf.

First stout from Pipeworks. Thanks Greg for the trade! This beer is a contender in the stout arena. Nearly zero head on black opaque oil in the glass. Thick and smooth on the palate. Wholesome and rich chocolate fudge and bourbon with a touch of vanilla quality. Required either more carbonation, coffee, or bitterness to balance it better and a touch more aging on my part to reduce the booziness a bit. Solid.

 

 

Bottled May 2017; drank 6/10/17 @ the Yarchives.

Black appearance.

A rough pour yielded a small dark tan head; no lace.

Oak, milk chocolate & bourbon heat notes in the nose.

Oak, milk chocolate & bourbon notes in the nose.

Thick, smooth mouthfeel.

Oak & milk chocolate flavors up front; mild cream & strong booze heat notes on the finish.

These need some time; I've learned 6 months really helps a Pipeworks barrel aged beer; this is too hot.