Zelda Zonk
Breakside Brewery - SE Taproom

Enjoyed on draft in a snifter at Breakside Beaverton.

Look:
Opaque black brown with burnt umber highlights where the edges are thin enough to transmit light. No head, but a ring of graham-cracker-tan foam lasts to the bottom of the glass. No lacing. I didn't expect any.

Smell:
Dark chocolate, charred malt, oak, marshmallow, and bourbon. Light green pear notes float on top.

Taste:
Bittersweet chocolate ganache up front, rich and moderately sweet with a savory salty note. Vanilla frosting, oak, caramel, lightly burnt chocolate chip cookies, and char. The characteristic Breakside molasses note found in all their barrel-aged beers. A proud smoky character. A clear, dry, boozy pear note. More booze in the dark chocolate finish, combining bourbon and pears.

Feel:
Hefty. Full and plush. Built for comfort, not for speed. Curves everywhere, like the thigh bulge above the stocking tops. Carbonation like a throaty Kathleen Turner chuckle.

Overall:
I am a big fan of these Breakside barrel-aged blends. The bourbon and pear brandy influences play well together in a zaftig stout base that is more than up to the task. Dark chocolate and vanilla meet a wave of oak, bourbon, and boozy pear without blinking. The pear brandy influence is pretty subtle now, but may become more prominent over time (if Breakside's other multiple spirit barrel blends are anything to go by). Another great beer from Breakside's barrel program.