Barrel Aged Riah Jane Rye Stout
West Sixth Brewing Company

West Sixth's bourbon barrel portion of their portfolio often allows the beer to become accented or even accelerated with malt sweetness. But with the success of their Riah Jane rye stout, the spice of this grain might be just what the brewery wanted.

Expectedly black and pouring with a milk inky cling to the glass, a firm but short statured head builds to greet the rim. As its roasty, toasty and sweet scent rolls off the rim, the savory aromas of caramel, coconut, chocolate and coffee fill the nose. Dessert-like in its portrayal, the sweetness hits the tongue with force. Toffee, caramel, sorghum and molasses have a candied effect on the early palate.

As the ale crosses the middle palate, the rise of rye tackles the sweetness of lavish maltiness and that of the whisky for a peppery grit that balances the sweetness. The malts patiently fade and the warmth of whisky billows into a savory port-like or sherry-like tone but with the strong overtones of espresso and bittersweet chocolates looming. Whisky warmth decorates the late palate with those coconut, caramel and spicy rye flavors lingering on the back of the tongue.

Full, sweet and decadent, the imperial stout trends honey-like until is butts up against cloying textures before backing off. Oddly drinkable and not as thick as you'd imagine, the beer shares a sense of drinkability through all that sweetness and spice, thanking in large part to the rye in the end.

Recently added to the Brewery's Barrel Room tap list, poured into a Teku glass. Lots of chocolate with a hint of barrel on the nose, there's never any heat given the low ABV, but it still finishes like chocolate milk with a shot of whiskey. Hope this hits the crowler list before it's gone.