Bourbon Barrel Aged Hello, Darkness
River North Brewery

Lighter black body with a tan ring. Smell and taste are clones: robust wet earth, bittersweet dark chocolate, bourbon, dark oak, char and a hint of toasted caramel. Taste is deeper. Feel is where I want more depth though, robustness recedes and barrel is not the most complex, still a smooth, warm and indeed a dark feeling porter

Pours a clear, dark brown color, opaque in the glass; thick, tan head, one-finger thick and long-lasting with a semi-creamy texture. Big dark roast grain aroma infused with bitter chocolate and cacao nib traits. Huge, rich malt flavor base that quickly exposes a deep, bourbon underpinning; bittersweet chocolate; boozy. Heavy body; thick and chewy; plenty of boozy heat; lip smacking stickiness.

I really love this 2024 vintage. The looks and the taste are improved compared to my experience with the 2022 vintage. The barrel aging exudes boldness yet, in balance, plays nicely with the base imperial porter. A stunning ass-kicking beer!

ABV: 13.7%; pouring temperature: F; bottling info: Vintage 2024
Source: local purchase (Coaltrain Fine wine, Craft Beer & Spirits)

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August 02, 2022 scores and review:

3.75 4.25 4.25 4.25 4.25; BA weighted overall score: 4.22; rDev: -0.9%

Opaque, black-looking body; thin, patchy head, creamy; partial rings and patchy globs of foam inside the glass. Outstanding roasted and charred grain aroma; charred wood; a bit of caramel and toffee. Rich, sweet dark malt flavor infused with a fine bourbon whiskey component; Oreo wafers; espresso; moderate bitterness. Heavy body; smooth; alcohol heat develops midway through and lingers well into the finish; moderate residual sugar heft.

This beer kicks dorsal posterior and oozes dark, rich decadence. The bourbon barrel aging neatly complements the rich dark malt base beer.

ABV: 13.9%; pouring temperature: 57 °F; bottling data: Vintage 2022