Barrel Aged VB Stout
River City Brewing Company

I received a 500 ML bottle from @woemad in an NBS BIF. Poured into a tulip glass. It pours a very dark walnut - nearly black - with a think creamy, light khaki-colored head and lacing. It has a really nice nose: roasted malt, freshly-brewed coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and whiffs of leather and tobacco. The barrel adds a subtle but noticeable aroma. The bourbon is far more evident in the taste than the smell. It's front and center but not in a distracting way. It's nicely balanced by the vanilla bean and bittersweet chocolate. The are also notes of earthy char and tobacco. I'm impressed by the delicacy of the flavors. You can taste them all but none overpower. And I wasn't expecting such distinct barrel notes from an 8% ABV Stout. The mouth feel is more like a Porter; it's medium-bodied with light/moderate carbonation, and it's highly quaffable with the temperate alcohol level. If there were such a thing as a "session BA Stout," this would be it. Overall, it's very well made and a pleasure to drink.