Mr. Sandman XO
River North Brewery

8 ball black with a thin but creamy espresso crema head.

A bit smoother and rounder than a couple of the prior barrel aged stouts we had at DLD, this is a touch forward of vanillin with a hint of cinnamon from the barrel, all contained within a quite chocolatey base.

 

 

 

 

arguably the best beer i have ever had from river north, aged almost two years in rye whiskey barrels, this is a spectacle to behold, maybe the best big stout in colorado right now, and there are some good ones! the richness and depth of this are unrivaled. its huge and full and impossibly viscous, but its not just big for the sake of it, which i feel like a lot of them are, the roast on the grain is amazing, its like glowing embers of fire, warming with the alcohol, a bit of smoke in the mix, and a woodiness and char that brings it to the foreground in this. things like raisins and leather and cigar are in there too, even brown sugar and molasses, but i didnt find this to be decadently sweet or anything. licorice and anise spiciness from the rye, a cereal character that isnt dark but works with the roasted barley so well is here too, and the booziness seems fully appropriate with all this body. the whole thing totally coats the palate and it stays on the tongue awhile, pleasant as can be, warming and cozy even. the rye is bold, but its better than just tasting like whiskey, there is enough beer character in here to make it something new entirely, and its just velvet to drink on. a new high watermark for these guys, a level of refinement and perfection i have not known in their beer before. where can i get more of this?!