Barrel Aged Dark Matter Wheat Porter
Logboat Brewing Co.

Limited release exclusive to the Columbia and Jefferson City Hy-Vee grocery stores. Hand numbered with blue wax top. Nice looking bottle. Pours dark brown, almost black with big off-white head, small bubbles. The head dissipates quickly, and for a little bit, it appears to be a cola, the bubbles quickly rising to the top of the surface acting like the carbonation. Smells like a very nice barrel aged beer. Unfortunately, that was the highlight.

The taste is a good study of what additional flavors a barrel can bring to a beer. Nice touch of oak, with a slight vanilla sweetness. You just know that the beer is barrel aged. That being said however, the base porter imparted no discernable flavors to the beer. You are left with barrel flavoring, and that is it. After a while, the beer is no longer pleasant drinking.

Overall I was disappointed with the beer. I guess I should have known better, as the alcohol is a mere 7%. I think the base beer was a poor choice to barrel age. Something like a higher percentage stout would have been able to hold its own and contribute to the barrel flavors, instead of being overpowered by them.

Pours brown, quite dark in the middle but see through around the edges. Fizzy 1+ finger head is light tan and bubbles off quickly. Minimal lacing.

Big bourbon aroma. Some oak, vanilla, and caramel. Mild chocolate.

Taste is more big bourbon, just a touch sharp. Lots of barrel notes, oak and caramel in particular. Wheat malt, mildly roasted. Hints of chocolate and licorice.

Moderate mouth feel with stronger carbonation than expected. Strong barrel throughout.

Nice beer. Barrel is the star, a bit at the expense of the beer.

Jet-black appearance with a small, tan head. Great bourbon aromas with a hint of that chocolatey porter. Very smooth blend of flavors - bourbon, vanilla, oak, chocolate and a very slight bitterness.