Double Barrel Derivation - Stagg Jr. 2022
Side Project Brewing

 

poured from a 375mL bottle into a snifter. pours deep dark black with no foam and hardly any bubbles to speak of. huge oak and whiskey on the nose. taste offers more chocolate but with a harsh, bitter whiskey sting on the finish. thick mouthfeel but it’s in your face barrel. the base imperial stout does offer nice chocolate notes and i love that but can’t help but think this needs time to settle down. that said, it still tastes great now.once it warmed and opened up it became a little more balanced and let the base stout shine instead of being all barrel. this would be a fun one to try with around a hear of age on it as i think having the barrel toned down just a bit could make all the difference for this beer. as about as intense oak and whiskey as i’ve had in a beer without being offensive to the palate or tasting like you’re licking the inside of a barrel.

 

Pours black that pours still in effervescence. The life shines through this beer every swirl of the glass, with the edges of the glass retaining a caramel darkness long after the beer has been swirled away. Those oily legs slowly drain back into the beer after some time has passed.

Aroma is roasty and toasty malts with a spicy whiskey kick. Whiskey pushes spice, and leather notes, while retaining balance within the rest of the profile. Soft toffee and molasses round it out, bringing forward a minute amount of sweetness. In total, the aroma is dark and expressive, leaning heavily into the tasting notes of a neat pour of whiskey chased by a hearty, thick imperial stout. Barrel adds additional character, but is reserved enough to refrain from pushing bitterness.

Flavor profile is big, bad, and bold roasty and toasty malts. They hit hard and heavy, developing their own dynamics, with whiskey pushing these dynamics to greater extremes. Whiskey brings with its own dynamics and notes, developing a spicy, leathery undertone to each sip, pushing the heat up a few degrees without becoming unwieldy. Vanilla soars amid the stout vs. whiskey dynamic, adding sweetness in the middle. Fudge and toffee add additional sweetness and depth, although this beer is far removed from 'sweet'.

Mouth feel is thick, viscous, full, and hearty. It feels splendid.

Overall, this beer pushes the boundaries of imperial stout notes -and- showcasing whiskey through barrel aging. It manages to pair a heavy, robust, hearty stout with a sharp whiskey, and never becomes overcomplicated. The 17% ABV is a slippery slope here, as this beer never tastes or feels 'hot'.

Served from a 375mL at The Brewery. Reviewed from notes.

Poured alongside other Double Derivations on 2-19-22. Pours as still as can be, with maybe a bubble clinging to the edge. Putting my nose to the glass I can pick out a sweeter side of a bourbon barrel, with a touch of age and depth. Thank you to whoever donated the Stagg Jr. barrel! Flavor follows the nose. There is a depth of flavor that this beer puts off. Very rich and nuanced vanilla with tannins that are perceived, but not overpowering. A fantastic beer all around.