John's Dark Secret (Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout)
Beyond the Pale Brewing Company

Pours black with with a couple fingers of brown head with decent retention and lacing. The nose is dominated by dark roasted grains and hints of coffee and char. The taste is also dominated by dark roasted grain, boiled esspresso and burnt wood. I don't get much barrel character other than maybe the char from the bourbon barrel treatment. Finishes dry, harsh and astringent. It has a full body and drinks bigger than its 6.1% ABV. Overall, this beer was just too harsh in the finish for me making the bottle hard to finish.

This beer pours a very rep brown/black with a one finger head that breaks quickly leaving little lacing behind. The smeels is nice with the bourbon barrel is very subtle on the nose, pleasant and inviting. There are also malts and roast notes present. The taste continues the subtle barrel flavor. The roasts and malts continue through as does some vanilla and wood. There is however an astringent feel to this beer that is the only weak point. Carbonation is good and otherwise feel is great.

All in all a great beer. I'm looking forward to seeing what a little more time does.

Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color ale with a medium size brown color head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of bourbon and vanilla notes are quite dominant with some light dry roasted malt notes also noticeable. Taste is a dry with some woody notes with bourbon and vanilla clearly identifiable. Body is about average with good carbonation. I enjoyed the fact that barrel-aging was prominent while keeping some balance with the based beer. Also, it does taste like an imperial stout even though it is clocking well below on the ABV.