Evasion - Cherry and Vanilla
Taxman Brewing Co.

Review: 2196
Name: Evasion - Cherry Vanilla
Brewery: Taxman Brewing
Location: Bargerville, IN
Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
ABV: 14%
Date: 04/06/2020
Returning to the Evasion series, I explore Taxman Brewing's intriguing blend of Cherry and Vanilla. Served in a tulip glass at 48 degrees, the pour unveils a visually striking, inky black, opaque color charting at SRM 38. The pour creates an airy, one-fingered, dark tan head with poor retention, yet the overall appearance is visually stimulating.
Nosing the glass, I smell tart cherries, chocolate, bourbon, and wood. I was expecting the cherries to have more character than what was noticed on the nose. Swirling the glass again, I detect raisins, figs, light smoke, a skosh of Maillard, earthy leather, tobacco, and a light, yeasty note. I do detect a faint floral and medicinal note. I am not picking up the vanilla note.
The cherry and vanilla flavors shine through on the palate; the cherries are tart and bright, with a light supermarket vanilla. The barrel aging adds myriad layers to an already complex beer, with notes of oak, plenty of whiskey, caramel, char, and light smoke. The hops make their presence known, adding to the beer's impressive complexity with floral, resin, and grass flavors.
The body of the beer is heavy with low carbonation. The body is chewy and finish quite warm.
This is so far my favorite beer of the Evasion series. The nose was not as bright as the taste. The cherries were tart with a lovely vanilla undertone. Overall, this beer is not just delicious but a personal delight.