Cataclysm III - Barrel-Aged - Vanilla
Heist Brewery - NoDa

 

11/17/18 Share Appearance is terrible for this style. Very good nose and taste. More than half the bottle was a glutinous, sloppy sludge. ABV well masqued. Mouthfeel is reminiscent of cocktails with similar ingredients.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What an exceptional beer!! The barrel is balanced so percectly with the vanilla additions and rich fudgy base. The mouthfeel has a great weight, body and there is no alcohol heat to it that one would expect out of a 14% beer. Flavor is light on the roasted malt which keeps those undesired bitter notes from appearing. Flavor is also slightly on the sweeter side but no where close to being overly sweet. Its just sweet enough to give it those delicious marshmallow flavors. Ive had some straight up amazing "Marshmallow" beers before (Elijah Craig Eclipse white label and BC Vanilla Rye, ORF), but this one is truly on another level. We had this side by side with this years Kane ANTEAD Vanilla and while the ANTEAD Vanilla is an amazing beer too, the Cat was again on another level in comparison. For years the Elijah Craig Eclipse was the BA Stout that I based every other BA stouts upon but that has now changed. Cataclysm III is the new BA Stout that I will now base every other BA stout upon. This truly is the best stout I have ever had. I hope Heist continues to make more BA stouts because one per year is not doing them justice.

 

 

 

Deep brown. No head or lacing. Smell is all barrel and tons of vanilla. Flavor is huge barrel mixed with a vanilla bomb. Mouthfeel is very thick and chewy. This is a crazy beer, especially if you love BA stouts and large amounts of vanilla. Best beer I've had from a Charlotte brewery thus far