Esther's Li'l Secret - Bourbon Barrel-Aged (2021)
Warped Wing Brewing Company

 

A - Medium, to dark brown color with no lacing.

S - The chocolate syrup presence is really cool with the nose but it's a little over the top and sugary cloying. It dominates the nose in a bad way.

T - Bourbon and chocolate syrup with almond.

M - Medium body.

O - Artificial flavor and thin. Didn't do it for me but this is only one person's opinion.

 

12.7oz bottle from the brewery
Dark chocolate is evident in aroma and taste.
Love this one!

 

From the 375 ml bottle in a snifter. Thanks to Bluejacket74 for this one!
This solid little brown pours a dark muddled brown with a decent head
of kahki foam that settles to a thin ring with subtle lacing. Nose of
dark chocolate, nuts, oak, and vanilla. Flavors follow the nose with
vanilla, light coffee, dark chocolate, bourbon, and oak. Nice mouth
feel; medium body, light carbonation, smooth, and a medium dry finish.

Overall, another fine brew from a great little brewery!

Cheers

12.7oz bottle, 2021 bottling date, served in a tulip glass.

Appearance: Dark brown with some suspended sediment (likely all the cocoa solids) and thin ring of off-white head. No lacing noted.

Smell: Rich chocolate smell (milk and dark chocolate) with a definite bit of bourbon.

Taste: Tastes a lot like it smells, with a very strong chocolate taste, quite sweet, and a bourbon + brown sugar finish. Not really getting the almond bark taste at all, but I do note a little bit of caramel as well.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy, but with some residue on the teeth that is unusual - probably the cocoa solids again. Light carbonation. A little bit warming.

Overall / Drinkability: I'm surprised that a bourbon barrel aged beer is only 8% since the non-barrel aged version of this is also 8%. Despite that surprise I'm finding this beer to be a lot like the other ones in the series - a bit like chocolate candy in the glass, and not very much like a beer at all. Don't get me wrong, I really like Esther's chocolates in the Dayton area, but this beer is a bit much. It's a bit hard to finish and way too sweet. But that may be the point with this beer each year, as it's not like they're hiding the fact that they brew with actual chocolates from Esther's.

375 ml bottle, 2021 vintage but no bottling date that I could find. Purchased at the brewery at the release dinner party on 11/4/21. Served in a Warped Wing Esther's Li'l Secret chalice, the beer pours dark brown with about an inch tan head. Head retention and lacing are both good. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like dark chocolate, caramel, coconut, vanilla, almonds and roasted malt. For the most part the taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also the addition of some oak and toffee flavors. Leans sweet tasting with a nice amount of barrel character. I like the coconut and oakiness here compared to the base beer. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's coating with a moderate amount of carbonation. I liked this brew, worth picking up if you get the chance!