Velvet Glove
Smartmouth Brewing Company

I don't really pay attention to other reviews of beers but it was hard not to when only two other people rated (didn't write review) this beer and pretty much curb stomped it.
To each his or her own, but for stout fans and especially bourbon barrel stout fans, I really enjoyed this beer.
The body is black with minimal tan head and lace and has an aroma that is roasted malts, not boozy but definitely woody and also packs in some cocoa and toffee/raisins (dark fruit notes).
The booze doesn't overpower like other stouts since it's low (in relation to style) and while the bourbon barrel/woody/oaky taste isn't domineering it is prevalent and so is the vanilla like sweetness.
Roasted malts, some chocolate notes and dark fruits like toffee and more of laid back black cherry feel than raisins are all in this beer and add balance.
Nothing new or defining greatness is to be found in this beer but it's worth trying and I enjoyed my pint.

 

A: dark brown, maybe some ruby highlights. not opaque. No head, disappointing for an 8.5% beer. Looks like a porter.

S: not a lot going on, some malt, some bourbon.

M: body on the thin side of medium. Mouth feel Not creamy and doesn't coat the mouth.

T: gently roasted malt with decent amount of bourbon as the smell indicated, some grassy hop flavors detected. A bitterness is present in the background, not coming from the hops but something of unknown origin. Needs a truckload of chocolate/other malt to balance the hops and bourbon.

O: the issue isn't the barrel but rather the base beer. It is a crime to call this an imperial stout. Taste is subjective but this beer just doesn't have the body or malt backbone to fall into the impy bucket-that isn't debatable. The bourbon flavor is probably the highlight here. It would be unfair to compare with the firestones and bourbon county's but I was hoping for at least a dragon's milk equivalent but I didn't get that for my $8.