Mexicake Virgin Oak Barrel
Tempest Brewing Company

 

Really dark brown color with a bit of tan head. Aroma is quite intense on the wood character with old barrel and dusty cellar notes, some earthy spices, coconut and malt sweetness. Taste follows with the wood notes, roasted malt bitterness, chili heat on the finish, not very intense though. Medium body and carbonation. Quite good with intense wood notes but overall not very well put together.

Poured from fridge temp after obtaining from a shop in France. Pours jet black with very little head. Aroma is full of licorice, smoke (like charred wood from a burnt out fire). Some cinnamon and vanilla are present. Taste is super nice. Smoky and roasted malts dominate, with a hint of licorice and even maple on the back end. Very different from any stout that I have tried. Definitely a lingering tobacco taste, and slight sweetness in the after taste. Some cinnamon spice, and a bit of chili pepper. Very interesting taste, and much more complex than the nose would suggest. Alcohol is well hidden and mouthfeel is medium bodied, but creamy. Aftertaste lingers for a while. Overall, a really nice Scottish stout. I think I prefer the bourbon barrel-aged version of this, but it's still great.

Another variant of this mole-inspired greatness. The balance is perfect in this imperial stout. The adjunts are nicely present with cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon notes. The oak barrel aging brings more vanilla notes to the mix and a certain dark berry character. It has more complexity than the original version.
A great beer