Barrel Aged Guatemalan Café Ink
Rhinegeist Brewery

 

16.9 ounce bottle, 2025 vintage. Served in a Rhinegeist snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch tan head. Head retention and lacing are both good. Aroma is nice, to me it smells mostly like coffee along with some vanilla, burnt/charred malt, bourbon, and some dark chocolate. Taste is similar to the aroma, but with the addition of some graininess and oaky flavors. As with the aroma, I think the coffee stood out in the taste. Barrel was noticeable but I was hoping for more of a bourbon kick, although that's a minor complaint since I thought this was tasty. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's slick and a bit creamy with a moderate amount of carbonation. The 12.1% ABV is hidden well. I thought this was pretty good, think it would have been great if the barrel was kicked up a notch or 2. Might have to pick up another bottle the next time I see it!

Very nice dark reddish-brown color to the pour, opaque and black appearance in the glass; thick head, tan colored, densely frothy, long-lasting. Pleasant nose combining soft cocoa elements with dark roasted grains. Wonderful taste; milk chocolate interspersed with sly whiskey notes; a bit of caffeine presence. Soft and velvety feel; residual sugar stickiness; soothing boozy warmth.

It is nice to find a barrel aged imperial stout that one can describe as mellow yet delivers a soft jolt. Well-balanced, boozy but not terrifyingly so, with a fine variety of flavor complexities.

ABV: 12.1%; pouring temperature; 54.8 ℉; bottling info: 2025
Source: Tavvour

From the 1 pt 9 fl oz bottle in a snifter. This solid little imperial pours a rich
muddled blackish brwon with a very nice head of light brown foam that subsides
to a thick ring, thin layer, and displays some nice lacing. Nose of bourbon, heavy
coffee, char, dark bakers chocolate, and subtle vanilla....nice but all rather muted.
Flavors surpass the nose with a fine presentation of bourbon, mild oak, vanilla,
rich coffee, subtle toffee, char, brulee. and bakers chocolate. Mouth feel is full,
medium light leaning more towards medium carbonation, smooth, rich, lightly
coating, warming, and finishing with a rich bourbon and bitter malt note dashed
with coffee.

Overall, the coffee doesn't shine as much as I expected and the heft is a fair
light (mouth feel) as well as the New Riff bourbon having a little bit of a raw note.

That said it is a well done imperial from a great brewery.

Cheers