Derivation Blend #11
Side Project Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

poured from a 750mL bottle on-site. pours a shiny black with minimal head. hardly any bubbles to speak of. clings to the glass a little bit. smells like bourbon chocolate marshmallows. taste is similar with an assertive whiskey sting on the back end. once again, with SP BA stouts there is no shortage of barrel character. feel is thick but the barrel aging shows it’s mark as it’s not as thick as the draft pour of CSV i had after the D11. still, no complaints on the mouthfeel. overall, while vanilla stouts are really not my jam it’s hard to admit that this isn’t good.

Pours pitch black with a finger of dark brown head. A little head retention in a thin ring around the outside. Nose is spicy bourbon, boozy chocolate, marshmallow fluff, stung my nostrils a bit. Taste is big dark chocolate, vanilla is layered throughout, marshmallow char, rye whiskey is very present. Mouthfeel is a little thinner than some of their stout offerings, but not unpleasant and silky smooth. Overall, a fantastic offering. If I had a bottle, I would let it sit for a year to mellow into perfection.

L: Dark, viscous and thick off the keg. Legs for days with specs of vanilla in the glass. Dark brown mahogany foam head.

N: Nose is all rye and vanilla with some chocolate on the backbone, not quite as barrel heavy on the nose like OWK and not quite as sweet smelling as VR

T: Perfect balance of vanilla sweetness with a rich chocolate and rye finish. A little heat but balanced.

M: Side project seems to always kill it on the mouthfeel aspect and this is no different. Thick and chewy reminiscent of D2/OWK that coats the mouth.

O: Overall, very similar to OWK but with the rye finish that takes this beer up to the same realm as OWK and a jump up from Derivation 2.