Double Barrel Derivation - Bourbon Port 2022
Side Project Brewing

 

poured from a 375mL bottle into a snifter. pours pitch black with no head. chocolate, bourbon and port on the nose. taste follows with lots of dark fruits and booze on the finish. as this one opens up the port really shines. so if you’re into that then let this one sit for a bit. lots of oak, dark fruit, caramel and chocolate. thick, full mouthfeel. i enjoyed this much more than i thought i would. the port is the star but it doesn’t dominate until it’s at room temp and then it’s pretty much the main focus. dare i say this is the most complex of the 3? either way, it was very good.

Pours black with very little head formation. Swirling the glass leaves sticky, caramel looking legs around the glass. These legs seem to suspend in time, clinging to the glass long after a swirl.

Aroma is huge roasty and toasty malts with a big hit of heavy port and a punch of bourbon behind. Caramel, and later heavy fudge, add some further sweetness. Port is forward, delivering dark fruit notes, and adding a twist of depth to each whiff and sniff. Barrel character sings behind, developing more complexity and depth. Despite all the moving parts, it retains balance and symmetry. Alcohol is indiscernible through the show. It's like a heavyweight, hitting hard, but floating on butterfly footwork.

Flavor profile is lead out by roasty and toasty malts, with port stretching its legs in the sprint train. Bourbon, char, and barrel build out some further bitterness and depth. In between the choruses of heavy malts, port, and bourbon, hits notes of caramel, molasses, and late fudge. Fudge is less heavy here than in the nose. Dark fruits accelerate to the limelight as the beer warms, accentuating the port notes wondrously.

Mouth feel is thick, heavy, and huge. It's smoothness, with a very fine, consistent silt, creates a decadent drinking experience.

Overall, the port notes on this are forward, but refrain from dumping the beer into imbalance. The legs left on the glass of this beer are truly fantastic. After the last sip, the glass looks like a cup used for storing maple syrup or caramel - sticky and dark.

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

Enjoyed with friends on 2/19/22. Poured side by side by side along with Stagg Jr and Double Vanilla.

Pours about as still/low carb as you can get. Black as night with maybe a bit of a bubble clinging to the edge. This brew sure has some legs, as it seems to stain the glass as it is swirled.

On the nose you can tell that this is barrel aged with a bit of the port wine flavor peeking through and saying "hi". Flavor profile follows suit. You get an initial hit of bourbon barrel that rounds off and finishes with a sweet port taste. I can understand if others might not like this particular iteration, but I really enjoyed it. The port really stands up with the other 2 barrels when adding its own distinctness to the overall aroma and flavor of the beer.