Barrel Series No. 7 - Whiskey Barrel Aged Avarice | River North Brewery

4.14/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Vintage 2013, bottle 656.

Appearance: Pours out a dark brown color, which appears an opaque black once in the glass. About 1/2" of khaki colored head forms, which has nice retention and lacing, and settles down to a thick ring. Nice looking stout.

Smell: Nose of roasted malts, dark chocolate, tobacco, whiskey, and hints of oaky barrel. Very well balanced and complex nose.

Taste: Nice balance of sweet and bitter. Starts off with roasted malt bitterness, followed by bakers chocolate, with a finish of whiskey and barrel notes.

Mouthfeel/Overall: Only real complaint is that the beer is pretty thin for the style. Maybe a touch over medium bodied. It does have an appropriate level of carbonation, however. Overall, I enjoyed this stout. With a heavier, more coating mouthfeel it would have been exemplary. As it is, just very good.

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4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

this is the best beer river north has made to date, and i really dont think its all that close. this is an amazing glass of ale, rich mocha colored lively head on a hershey syrup colored base beer with a ton of viscosity. the barrel character is absolutely enormous, bigger than almost any other ive had. its so much whiskey, almost like whiskey was added to the beer, its that dynamic, and it brings what was already one of their best beers to the next level. oak and vanilla on top of belgian yeast, espresso notes, chalky chocolate, and booze, its gorgeous and huge and a great slow drink because it opens up a ton as it warms. its only a bit belgian in the taste, but the whiskey and the coffee flavors go great with it. to me this is one of the best beers made in denver right now, its also a perfect winter warmer for me, no spices, none needed. if you like whiskey, and you appreciate its impact on a tastefully made stout. this is distinct and lovely. i should have bought a bottle when it was around, now i wish i did. i bet this ages with the best of them.

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3.86/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

From a 650 ml (Batch 1, 2012, Bottle 413) into a snifter.

A-The brew pours thick and dark. The color is nearly black. A short dark-brown head gives way to a patchy ring of foam. Nice look for the style.

S-I smell a fair amount of whiskey and heat. The is some caramel, light vanilla, and mildly sweet dark chocolate. Lower on the malt than some of the style.

T-Taste is also heavy on the whiskey and a touch hot. Nice sweet, caramel and vanilla mixture with a lightly bitter chocolate note coming in towards the end. Finish is light oak.

M-The feel is on the thin side for the style.

O-This brew has potential. The whiskey character is right up front and a touch hot, but the booze is not overpowering. Flavor is decently complex, and the appearance is great, but the thin feel is a bit of a letdown.

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4.24/5  rDev +1.7%

3.69/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

4.03/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

4.24/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

4/5  rDev -4.1%

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

3.84/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

4.14/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

5/5  rDev +19.9%

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.48/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

3.5/5  rDev -16.1%

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

5/5  rDev +19.9%

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

4/5  rDev -4.1%

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%