STLTL
Fonta Flora Brewery

Pitch black body with a brown ring. Smells of vanilla hazelnut tempered very slightly by baker’s chocolate, bourbon barrel and malts back. Taste is focused on the hazelnut and vanilla with bourbon, then bakers chocolate, caramel and a hit of date emerges, sweetness adds up a bit. Feel is large and so smooth, warm and has a fleeting bite of roast and nuttiness, heavy overall, but barrel is pretty limited

Appearance: Pours the darkest brown with coffee-colored highlights around the edge; no more than a vague film develops regardless of the pour; very leggy, however

Smell: The Bourbon barrel is distinct and almost matched by the roasted chocolate tones; hints of vanilla but not much from the hazelnut

Taste: Toasted Bourbon tones forward with the barrel being quite prominent; chocolate underneath along with hints of vanilla; the hazelnut is a little more discernible on the palate but still quite vague; boozy finish

Mouthfeel: Full bodied and creamy with almost indiscernible carbonation; warmth in the gullet

Overall: My preference for these big stouts is to have the Bourbon complement rather than dominate; this is good but not exactly what I enjoy best

Picked up as part of a trade with BMBCLT 1-14-23. Bottled June 2022; consumed 4-9-23.

Peer poured black with an okay tan head with the original pour.

Nose is very nice with a mild roasted dark malt base that picks up the strong display of bourbon barrels. Chocolate and vanilla are barely perceptible.

Taste is a mildly roasted malt base that displays the chocolate adjunct that is added with a deft touch. Bourbon barrels provide a nice complement and gives a touch of vanilla. Hazelnuts lend a nice complimentary flavor but not overly perceptible. Finishes with a light touch of sweetness as designed but the barrels keep things balanced.

Mouthfeel is large bodied and very smooth.

Overall a really nice beer, glad i had the opportunity to try!