Berkshire Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout
Berkshire Brewing Company

Berkshire Bourbon Barrel Imperial StoutBerkshire Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout
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From:
Berkshire Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
83
Avg:
3.67 | pDev: 19.35%
Reviews:
69
Ratings:
75
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 08, 2015
Added:
Jan 15, 2008
Wants:
  11
Gots:
  5
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by damienblack:
Photo of damienblack
Reviewed by damienblack from Massachusetts

4.62/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Coincidentally, my 50th review. Yay!

Pours jet black, one finger mocha head full of little bubble islands. Average lacing. Standard RIS appearance. Smell is strong, actually smells more like bourbon than beer. The bourbon overwhelms, competing with it is the standard smell of dark, burnt malt and a little hop. Little bit of coffee and no chocolate.

First impression: Everything is in wonderful balance. Bourbon flavor comes in a lot more subdued than per the odor. It may throw you for a loop at first, it's a little strong, but that doesn't overpower the flavor of the beer, or detract from the drinkibility. Still prevalent, but enhances the different flavors going on here. Malt is sweet, doesn't really taste roasted or burnt at all. Also has a licorice taste going on. Whilst at room temperature, a little raisiny as well. Coffee comes in the mid-palate, but it's not as in your face as some other stouts like FBS, there's no harshness behind it at all. As it warms more, I'm actually getting more chocolate than coffee, or at least an even split. Everything mellows together in a mellifluent blend. A little spicy at the end, something like anise maybe, not a real spicy flavor, but gives it a little bit of zing. Vanilla or something similar, maybe? Minimal hoppage, this is on the sweeter side of big stouts, there really isn't much bitterness here from a beer standpoint (more bitterness from the bourbon). Mouthfeel is alive, super creamy everything is big, sticky, cloying, yet it just zings the palate. I don't know what the ABV is, but whatever it is, it hides it incredibly well. This is a super easy drink.

I am a fan of Berkshire's traditional Imperial Stout. I've enjoyed it before, and to me, this is just everything kicked up a notch. To me that is a sessionable imperial stout, and this is a super drinkable aged stout, despite the bourbon burn. It's not really a burn, but more like the imprint of the barrel etched into the experience. There's no harsh boozey bite, no harsh cocoa, no harsh burnt malt, everything blends together, amalgamating to the highest heights. If I can procure more of this I'm definitely going to, and if you can find some, it's definitely worth your time. Not as huge as some of the other big aged limited beers, it doesn't do handstands for your attention, but it revels in its own quiet excellence.
Jan 24, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of SPLITGRIN
Reviewed by SPLITGRIN from Kentucky

4.11/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
An equal ratio of head and body is achieved with a generous pour. Three fingers of rocky caramel colored head sits on top of a jet black body. The first thing I notice on the nose is a soured chocolate that is almost funky. There are some dry mineral based malt notes along the nose also. With first sip the sour feel does play a big part, but it is nicely pleasant. There is a lot of creamy chocolate wrapped up in the sour which plays out like a dark chocolate fruit truffle. The flavor profile runs from playful to bold and romantic. Mouthfeel is not to heavy and wonderfully palatable. Sour feel softens as the beer warms a bit. A super drinkable brew.
Jul 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by zestar from California

Aug 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by BColton1 from Rhode Island

Jan 20, 2014
Photo of rudzud
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts

2.63/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75
Picked this up a while back at Russell's in Amherst, MA. Back when I knew the beer manager. This is batch 2 or 3 (that painted bottle, batch 1 was not painted and is NOT infected).

A - Poured into a Duvel tulip a nice deep dark blackish brown with a good two finger tan head that fades to leave a nice thin blanket. Solid for a stout.

S - Mmmm..bourbon, chocolate, and cherries. Nutmeg, light coffee. Knew this was infected before cracking (as all painted bottles are). Still, I've smelled worse from stouts that were NOT infected...soo, yeah.

T - Lingering coffee roast aftertaste/finish. Up until that though, its all infection. Bourbon is faint, with light chocolate. Then WHAM, metallic sour cherries. Ah, oh well.

M - Mouthfeel is thin and overly carbonated.

O - Overall, well, I knew this was infected from the get go. Unfortunate, but yeah, one less bottle in the fridge.
Aug 07, 2013
Photo of mikereaser
Reviewed by mikereaser from Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Had this beer in the cellar so I thought now is a good time to pull it out, the day before Thanksgiving. This bottle is from 2008 I believe.
The beer pours a pitch black with a good amount of tan foam that is just sitting on top of the glass with no plans of retreating. Very interesting aroma. There is a lot of sweetness that I wasn't expecting, i'm picking up the bourbon along with some oak. I'm also getting some dark fruits and maybe even some sourness. The taste is definitely a bit sour. Dark fruits up front, you can feel the maltiness trying to push its way through but not very successful. The bourbon is there but again the sour is driving this one. Its not overly sour and still remains drinkable, almost enjoyable. In the end its still drinkable although i definitely wish I would have consumed this fresh. My bad for sticking it in the back and forgetting about it.
Nov 22, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Aug 22, 2012
Photo of starrdogg
Reviewed by starrdogg from District of Columbia

3.52/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Jon for sharing this one, another random rare bottle!

Beer pours a dark reddish brown with a thin white head. Smell is very interesting, there are hints of bourbon and oak, but it's got more qualities of a quad than a stout - lots of dark fruit and caramel malts. Unfortunately the flavor is a bit oxidized, the bourbon comes through at first with some dark fruits, but the back end of the flavor really drops off, there's not much to back up the initial flavor. The mouthfeel is the big letdown of this beer. It's way too thin and can't support the big flavor. Overall, this is a pretty interesting beer that I think might have been great at one point, but is clearly past its prime.
Apr 14, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jan 30, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by PittBeerGirl from Ohio

Nov 22, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by richbrew from New Jersey

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of twiggamortis420
Reviewed by twiggamortis420 from Texas

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22 oz bomber of the 2008(?) vintage courtesy of jkane. Pours a near-black color with a thin froth of brown head. Fades pretty quick and leaves a nic e collar.

Nose smells sour, lacto-licious with equal parts bourbon and wood permeating the light choco-roast. Definitely got infected somewhere along the way.

Taste is definitely sour, not in a horrible drain-pour way though. With the Medieval label, barrel flavor and sourness, I am imagining drinking what an imperial stout might have tasted like 500 years ago. Lots of wood, some bourbon and fairly light on the chocolate and roast.
Jul 29, 2011
Photo of thegodfather2701
Reviewed by thegodfather2701 from North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
A-Pours pitch black, mocha colored head with no lacing.

S-Chocolate, brown sugar, molasses stand out. There is a Belgian yeast and sour note that is also very strong. I have never smelled a beer like this before. Where's the bourbon? If there is any, it is only a trace.

T-Chocolate, a sourness like unripe fruit (apple/pear) which is actually refreshing. There are also some nutmeg and spice notes. As it warms some nice roasted notes and even espresso emerge. Again, no bourbon.

M-Thin and carbonated.

D-This is tricky, I know this was an infected bottle and didn't taste like it was meant to taste, but I still enjoyed it and was easily able to finish the entire bomber. I think the drinkability is somewhere between a 3.5-4.0, but gave it a 4 because I liked it.

Overall, I got this in a trade which at first was excited about until I found out it was going to be infected. However, I enjoyed it because it was unlike anything I ever tried before. Its worth trying if available, but don't seek this out.
Feb 22, 2011
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

1.39/5  rDev -62.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
22oz bottle that opens with a loud hiss. That's not a good sign. Pours pitch black and completely opaque without even the faintest tint of lighter color when held to a light and a one finger frothy beige head that immediately fades into a lasting ring. Sporadic spots of lacing left behind.

Boozy aroma with lots of earthy oak and deep roasted malt. Hints of roasted coffee, oatmeal and chocolate underneath but the nose is dominated by the barrel character. Slightly sour and metallic smelling. Looks like this one might be infected.

Yep, ths one s overly oxidized and completely nfected. Harsh tight carbonation and an awful sour mettalc flavor with an abysmal aftertaste that lingers. want to scrape my tongue after takng a few sips. A complete mess and utterly undrinkable.
Feb 17, 2011
Photo of hoppymcgee
Reviewed by hoppymcgee from Maine

3.97/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Bill for this bottle! Poured from a 22oz. bomber into a Cigar City Snifter.

A: Dark brown, just about black with "small bubble" carbonation that lingers around.

S: The best feature of this beer (also the first sign that this beer is infected). Bourbon barrels, dark fruits, and mocha. Quite a bit of booze is detectable on the nose.

T: Oakiness with just enough bourbon is unfortunately taken over by a sour tinge (reminds me of Black Albert BA No. 14). Each sip is pretty nice with some chocolate, coffee, and surprising amount of booze left in this guy.

M: "Tight" carbonation hits the tongue - a nice beer to swish around your mouth. Has a tart/dry finish from the crazy yeast that took over this beer.

D: I found this to be pretty drinkable whether right out of the fridge or room temperature. I'm not sure what the ABV is (probably +/- 9%) but this held up nicely considering the infection.

Overall, a beer that I was able to enjoy but probably won't have again.
Jul 20, 2010
Photo of Arbitrator
Reviewed by Arbitrator from California

1.38/5  rDev -62.4%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 2
Chilled bottle into a glass. Received in a trade from tprokop7 in February 09. Thanks Todd!

I'm guessing this is a late 2008 or early 2009 vintage. I know there were some reports of infections, so I had suspected that my bottle was likely to be off. Here goes:

A: Bottle opens with a nice hiss. The pour is a pitch black body with 2" of billowy mocha colored head. Uh oh. It's overcarbed. That suggests some bacteria at work.

S: Yep. Infected. Tart, sour cherries and a darkly vinous component. Hints of caramelly bourbon. If I close my eyes I think I'm sniffing a bourbon barrel-aged Supplication, which is interesting. That's the only thing that saves it from a 1 here.

T: I was told this had mild bourbon character to start with, so I didn't expect it to be a bourbon bomb. I still pick up hints of it, with some chocolate, but the infection dominates, by far. It introduces dark cherry tartness, lactic sourness, and an undercurrent of horse blanket / brett in the finish, which is otherwise watery. It's drinkable but not enjoyable.

M: Thin-medium body. No heat on it. A tart, prickly finish from high carbonation.

D: This wasn't undrinkable. I liked the cherries in it, and I did my best to salvage some enjoyment out of what may be an irreplaceable bottle. But I was expecting a barrel-aged imperial stout, and this did not deliver. Nor did the infection mutate it into a beautiful hybrid. It's just crappy.
Mar 31, 2010
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.12/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this as part of the Central New England BA meetup #1.

Lots of bourbon and fruit, tons of oak as well. A little tangy, sweet, and super smooth. Quite a bit of the bourbon taste, but not too boozy. Creamy, rich, complex, and tasty. Compared to the regular BBC Imperial stout, almost all the chocolate and hop bitterness is gone. This is much smoother as well, and lots more fruit and tangy flavors.
Feb 11, 2010
Photo of DrJay
Reviewed by DrJay from Texas

2.12/5  rDev -42.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Looks nice. Very dark brown with clear, ruby-brown edges and a thin tan cap of fine bubbles. Good head retention, a bit of lacing. Smells... funky and wild. There's the faintest hint of a stout in there, a bit of toffee and chocolate, but there's a lot more hay, vinegar, and tartness. Same in the flavour, lots of wild character and cherry tartness along with a bit of chocolate, roast and toffee. Not much bourbon character. The body's on the thin side and the carbonation's a little high. My experience was disappointing, but not unexpected based on other reviews.
Jan 23, 2010
Photo of jsh420
Reviewed by jsh420 from Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
pours dark with a 1+ finger tan head that left spotted lacing

smells of chocolate and tart cherries

taste is much of the same - tart fruit almost like many wilds or sours - i dont pick up any bourbon

mouthfeel is a bit thin - very slick little carbonation

drinkability is so so - beer was more of a wild sour then a RIS - abv not know but it tastes 10+
Jan 04, 2010
Photo of GbVDave
Reviewed by GbVDave from Illinois

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22oz bottle into two white wine glasses. Special thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist. Extra special thanks to gnOsis for this from our recent trade!

A: Pours a dark, dark black with slight mahogany highlights at the edges. Not much head to speak of, but what's there is is a dark khaki color. Some minor lacing left behind.

S: Interesting. Aromas of bourbon, heavily roasted malt, and tart/tangy fruit. Cherry, tart peaches, and apricots. Aromas of white wine, too.

T: Pretty much as above. Heather said it tastes just like a chocolate covered cherry. Bourbon, dark chocolate, dark fruit, brown sugar, tangy white grape, peach, and apricot.

M: Starts off a tad thin, but thickens a bit as it warms. It never gets thick enough to stand a spoon up in it, but I guess it holds its' own.

D: Really good. We were quite surprised by the tangy fruitiness of this. Sort of a-typical, but sort of good, too!
Nov 28, 2009
Berkshire Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout from Berkshire Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 75 ratings