Bridging The Divide
Elevation Beer Co.

 

i have been a huge fan lately of barre aged beers that are not stouts or porters, especially bourbon barrels. i had a killer red in bourbon recently, and this is a really great brown ale in the bourbon. telluride already makes one of the best brown ales in the state, so an imperial version makes sense for them. the beer isnt quite as heavy as i expected it to be, maybe a little lighter in body than anticipated, not boozy at all either despite the whiskey and the strength, its actually a hearty warming drink without being filling or too much. i think the brown ale is in some ways more flattering to the barrel flavors than a darker beer with bitter roasted malt, at least its more immediately receptive to the flavors the barrel imparts. the char and the wood really come through here in nose and taste at least as much as the whiskey does. subtle coconut, major milk chocolate and cocoa powder, a mild brown sugar sweetness, a nice toasty quality, and some sweet vanilla from the bourbon. the flavors are awesome, bold and beautifully proportioned. very wintery and cozy tasting, better at warmer temperatures too. i really have a lot of respect and admiration for these two breweries, and i think its cool they got together for this one. its up there with the best beers either of them make on their own. A to A+ for me.

 

 

 

This is a special release collaboration beer between Elevation Beer Co. and Telluride Beer Co., inspired by Telluride's Face Down Brown and brewed and bottled at Elevation Beer Co.

Clear, mahogany brown body; thick, creamy, light tan head. Mocha and roasted nut aroma; rich, woody smell. Mocha and caramel flavors; toasted grains; faint boozy quality; gently sweet; cocoa butter; smooth bitterness. Heavy body with a deceptively light, airy quality; light layer of residual sugars; warm.

An easy drinking big beer that doesn't hide the alcohol presence yet really lets the brown ale grains and oak barrel aging do most of the talking. Nice balance and depth with the malt grain flavors with just the right touch of oak presence at the finish.