Beer:Barrel:Time (2023)
Side Project Brewing

 

 

Motor oil pour, with hardly any head buildup on the pour. As the beer settles, a light brown ring of foam settles, leaving behind noticeable lacing in its wake.

The nose comes on strong - dry baking chocolate, and over-baked brownies, with a touch of dark fruit and char.

The palate is a barrel showcase - oaky tannin frame notes of homemade caramel, smoked chocolate, whiskey-soaked oak, and deep notes of dark, spiced fruit - almost like a subtle Madeira feel on the finish.

There’s mouthfeel - per usual with BBT - is spot-on. Viscous but not syrupy, full-bodied but not overbearing. The ABV is noticeable but it’s silky smooth, boasting a lengthy finish that’s fully of warmth.

Cellared 1 year. Had side to side with BBT 21 and 22. Aromas of decadent chocolate fudge are deep enough to rival the barrel, just beautiful harmony. Usual BBT rustic barrel candy and offerings go with to bring you a glorious nose. Taste has great molasses richness to go with the chocolate tones, barrel less vanilla this time, but has plenty of char, dark soaked wood, earth, and hints of tobacco and even rye in a tempering fashion. Feel is thick and heavy, even for the series, chewy with great warmth and barrel. So smooth

 

**
11/29/24

bottle to snifter

wow

super fragrant. so much vanilla , then coffee, then bourbon/wood.

also tiny bits of brown sugar, molasses, leather, tobacco.

**

 

 

 

Welp, let's scratch off another one.

This viscously void black potion retains a richly thick espresso crema as a collar.

Oaky Tootsie Roll meets mild notes of spiced date with a thin layer of vanilla glaze.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thick dark dark brown, and although a small unaggressive pour no head. Bourbon of course, soft milk chocolate, and faint vanilla. Thick and lightly carbonated, as we’ve grown to love with this series. Like those blends past, delivers again.

Ok, so put a bunch of stuff in this thing. Then, put a bunch of stuff in that thing. Then go ahead a put a bunch of stuff in those things over there. Forget about all those things. A couple years later while spring cleaning, find those things that were forgot about. Just put them all together and apparently magic happens.

Jet black and swirling in the glass like tar, Beer: Barrel: Time '23 entices the senses with its onyx-black demeanor and a decadent array of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, oak, coconut, peppercorn and hints of dark, whisky laden fruits. As its sweeter taste layers on the tastebuds, those dark chocolate, toasted coconut, powdered sugar, honey and molasses malt influences take hold.

Fairly straight forward in its continuing taste, a full slather of molasses, dark chocolate, coffee, honey and coconut that swoon and stew about the middle palate until the oak soaked bourbon spices slowly balance the sweetness, and eventually pull ahead for a sweeter and more chocolaty port character. A light coffee-like bitterness highlights the whisky spice and ensures a warming finish with peppery oak.

Full bodied, pleasantly chewy and coating the palate like fortified sweeter wines, the session closes very dessert-like but off-pastry. Its more like an after dinner digestif, easily replacing port or sherry. A long and savory aftertaste highlights hints of vinous fruit from its long and oxidative collection of flavor.

Look - black thick slight tan head with great rimming and lacing
Smell - woody bourbon chocolate and booze. Minimize the strong booze smell and id give it a 5
Taste - chocolate woody bourbon lots of barrel and booze some dark fruit in the way back
Feel - full body but not overly thick with a light carb, perfect for the beer
Overall - fantastic. What a ba stout should be