Barrel Aged Ink
Rhinegeist Brewery

I look for the BA version of the imperial stouts that I think are good, and often (but far from always) they are indeed a step up. This is one of those that is better.
Poured coffee color into my glass, “stout black” when finished with virtually no head at all.
The taste leads with the malt base of Ink, but leaves off the hops presence and any char that is in the base stout. To my surprise and happiness, this isn’t a sweet, gooey beer- it’s missing the hard edge of the original, but it isn’t needed here. Chocolate and vanilla and leather are all present, coffee (mild breakfast blend) and dark fruit come into focus later. This is a treat, sad it’s retired.
The feel is lightly viscous, maybe too light, I drank this inside 30 minutes.
OA, glad I picked this one up, wish there was another there so I could share it with my SAN group.
Good beer.

Any other day and this one probably rates a 5. But it honestly doesn't hit the heights of some other BA stouts that I quaffed to ring in the new year today.

Note for 2024: Resolve not to use "quaffed" ever again.

Pours a very dark color with a slight head and lacing
Aroma has abundant bourbon, chocolate and vanilla hints
The taste follows the nose with a well balanced bourbon, chocolate and vanilla flavor
A medium bodied well carbonated beer
A great bourbon stout

 

 

Just as beautifully sculpted from dark grains as the original ink, this time the burnt sugars and complex nuance from of alcohol and char are met with a strong bourbon barrel-aged complement. Rhinegeist is using their proximity to Central Kentucky to their fullest.

Just a shade off of black opaqueness, the stout pours intimidatingly dark and casts a frothy mocha-stained creme. The wonderfully burnt sweetness of caramel and toffee swirl underneath its the earthen barrel char. Strongly scented with dark chocolate, espresso, walnut and undeniable bourbon not-so-subtle nuance. As the taste ensues, the sweetness carries a char similar to smoky chocolate, burnt toast, toffee and vanilla.

The middle palate is lavish and bold as equal parts coffee, campfire, bittersweet chocolate and walnut mingle with toffee, molasses, and then later grape and plum for a sweet, fruity and roasty medley that become quite intent on full saturation of the tastebuds. As the espresso roast gains strength, the bolder bourbon flavors play out with weathered oak, cherry, vanilla, caramel and a strong Kentucky whisky jolt.

Rich and full upon the palate, the beer's creamy carbonation allows for the lightness of burnt marshmallow or java milkshake. Velvety and smooth, but with a heated whisky numbing sensation, its sweetness and char both complement and balance the whisky spice in an Irish Cream kind of way.