Barrel Aged Kitten Mittens
Kulshan Brewing Company

 

bottle into glass
Thin, frothy tan head. Very dark, nearly black, clear, brown with an auburn hue in the pour stream. Slightly charred (toasted) barrel wood aroma mixed with bourbon and a little butterscotch in the aroma. Very heavy toasted oak and a bourbon tang starts the taste and has a tiny molasses note. Thinner bodied than a barrel aged stout.

Look - Very similar to a glass of cola, poured a dark brown with some penetrating light around the edges of the glass, and topped with a fleeting fizzy tan head.
Smell - Bourbon dominated the aroma with vanilla coming in second. A deeper roasty smell developed as it warmed bringing out some toffee and chocolate.
Taste - Again, the bourbon strikes first. Once accustomed to it, the underlying beer begins to reveal itself. A roasty winter warmer with vanilla, toffee, and only hints of dried fruit.
Feel - Well carbonated and much thinner than the look suggests.
Overall - One of the more complex Winter Warmers I've had with a big kick of bourbon. Very boozy, but would benefit from a bigger body and a higher concentration of the base flavors that are often overwhelmed by the bourbon barrel treatment.

Served in 14oz goblet. Poured a solid black color with 3/4 inch of tan head that very good retention and lace.

The aroma was dominated by the bourbon, with strong vanilla, over a solid malt base.

Mostly the same on the tongue, with the bourbon being a bit mellower, letting the base beer show through better.

The body was pretty thin for the style, smooth, and had a sweet finish.

Drinkability was good, but I wouldn't want two in a row.

Overall, a pretty nice brew. worth shot if you see it.

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown with little light transmission in the glass and a quarter finger khaki head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of semi-sweet dark malt, caramel, bourbon and oaky vanilla. Flavor is sweet, lightly toasted malt, bourbon, toffee, cocoa and light cinnamon and clove. The malt deepens while spicing and oak is enhanced in the finish. Medium bodied with light creaminess. A very pleasant winter warmer with great bourbon barrel character. The profile is close to an American strong ale in the malt and cocoa notes, but definitely has appropriate winter spicing. After a mild winter, we are having a bit of a more typical winter cold spell and I'm glad I remembered this sitting in the fridge. A perfect winter evening tipple.

Rich and spicy dark brew. Dark brown with just a swirl of carbonation in the snifter. The boozy aroma is tantalizing. Moderately sweet. Slight bitter aftertaste. Very alcoholic.

A touch of licorice and lots of cinnamon. It's really spicy. The bourbon goes right along with that, but it's more of a spice cake with a little Yukon Jack drizzled on top. From the 500 ml bottle purchased at the brewery tasting room.

Pours very dark brown with a garnet hue. The half finger of tan head head settles into a lasting wisp and leaves thin sheets of lacing.

Big, warming aroma of vanilla-laden bourbon, toffee malts, light coffee, creamy chocolate, very light stone fruit and alcohol vapors.

The bourbon and malt depth are a little less pronounced in the taste, although certainly still present, with light chocolate, plum, a ghostlike hint of winter spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves) and a moderate piney hop bitterness mixing with alcohol burn in the finish.

On the thin side of medium bodied with a slick feel and low carbonation.

This is a great cold weather beer. I love that it’s not overly spiced. Sort of reminds me of an American Barleywine mixed with a little quad and chocolate malt. Good stuff.