Hypersleep - Bourbon Barrel-Aged With Chocolate, Peanuts And Vanilla
Other Half Brewing - Center Street

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picked this up along with the other two Hypersleep bottles at Other Half when they were released. Sure, the labels a work of art but not as much as the liquid inside of the bottle. Really rich, this beer epitomized everything that a strong Stout should be, including being drinkable without ending my session. Yes, this was really that good!

Nice, dark pour to this as the liquid looked like milk chocolate, topped off with a complementary and lively mocha head. That settled quickly, unlike the lacing to this. That might have been the wrong word as what was left behind on the side of my Teku glass was more of a coating that was thin and voluminous - not like anything that I've seen before. Bourbon, booze, milk and dark chocolate, and peanuts in the understated nose with much, much more of those in the taste. Rich, nutty, and smooth, this felt like brandy as it was almost too smooth and lacking in caramel stickiness to be aged in bourbon barrels. Slightly powdery, the chocolate was a bit reminiscent of cocoa powder but it gave this beer just the bit of body that it needed, as the carbonation was quite low once the initial head settled down.

Not that I need to state it, but this was a beast and one of these was enough to warm me up for the night, regardless of what I did afterward. There was quite a bit of sediment at the bottom of the bottle that I had to swish out but otherwise, this was one of the best examples of the style that I had in quite some time. It's beers like this that get me through the season and are worth savoring long after my glass empties out. A dessert in a glass if there ever was one, this only reinforced the notion that Other Half can tackle anything that they take on. Easily one of their best...

 

Enjoyed from a bottle on release date, poured into a pint glass.

Look: Brown/black fluid, foam with a heartbeat that fades quickly. Lots of sediment and thick/slimy peanut butter at the bottom of the bottle, I add a little water to rinse it out. Not well blended at all. Will shake the next one.
Smell: Bourbon, Syrup, chocolate, strong alcohol.
Taste: Sweet peanut butter and chocolate, toasted malts, bourbon on the finish.
Feel: Very smooth but a little chalky. Taste blends well and you don't really feel the alcohol.
Overall: This is a serious brew, created by masters of the craft using premium ingredients. The only thing holding this back is the fact that it appears the brewers filled the bottle with stout, added a tablespoon of peanut butter, then shook it up before selling it 3 on Smith Street. Worth the trip nonetheless.