Wheelhouse - Double Barrel-Aged
Four Fathers Brewing LLC

 

 

 

 

2020. Strong coffee nose that was very roasty.

Mouthfeel was a bit thin and barrel was light for my expectation of a double barrel stout. Expected more viscosity for the beer.

Overall, a decent coffee stout, but a bit disappointing for a double barrel aged stout.

Recieved in a trade and shared with JLindros. 2019 vintage.

A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice dark brown almost black with a thick two finger mocha head that faded slowly to leave nice wisps and a thick halo. The legs are excellent.

S - Aromas of rich, gooey cookie dough, almost peanutbutter like cookie dough! The chocolate and roast elements are good. The coffee is bright and fragrant, nutty and fruity, litte sweet. There is an almost baking spice like aroma, really nicely balanced barrel elements as well. The whisky isn't super prominent, however, everything is really really well rounded. Alcohol is nice as well but not fusel.

T - Taste is similar to the nose with more of those intense cookie elements almost with nutty notes. Not quite as heavy handed cookie as the nose, the coffee is pleasant. The chocolate is pleasant, as is the whisky element. It's nice and smooth and properly balanced, but the finish does flash with whisky. There is lingering sweet whisky and light vanilla.

M - Mouthfeel is nicely carbonated, little creamy but kind of fizzy. Alcohol is hidden well though.

O - Overall this was a solid enough imperial stout. The two barrel treatment was solid, however, I dont think this was nearly as as the regular BA Wheel House. Like the regular BA version the appearance and nose were just lovely, unfortunately the taste didnt live up nearly as much.

Serving Type: Bottle

Another thanks to rudzud, 2019
Pours a large frothy brown head with great retention, a little sticky lacing, good legs, pitch black color

Nose is awesome and wafts throughout the room, loads of coffee, chocolate, cookie dough, fresh toasted coffee grounds and mild roasty coffee, cookie dough, baking spices, cinnamon notes, dark chocolate fudge, super nutty like peanutbutter as well, big peanutbutter cookie dough batter, raw earthy vanilla bean, light overall whiskey, light perfumey alcohol

Taste is fairly sweet with some perfumey alcohol up front, then big into peanutbutter cookie dough again, nutty coffee, a little roasted and freshly toasted coffee beans, a bit more earthy vanilla but into a smooth vanilla as well, more dark chocolate cocoa, mild toasted oak barrel notes, a little whiskey, a fruity spicy rye whiskey, fruity coffee beans too, light perfumey alcohol borders fusel but not quite there, a bit of bitterness mostly from the roast, a bit of a drier finish lingering roast and vanilla, and more nutty coffee

Mouth is fuller bod, a bit rich creamy, lighter but fizzy small bubble carb, a but of warming alcohol

Overall started really nice, great aroma, taste dropped off a bit, mouth was OK, but in general a really good balance but not a ton of whiskey either

 

Had on tap. So my qualm with the single barrel aged wheelhouse was that I wish there was more barrel flavors with the coffee and other subtle stout staples. Here that problem is solved, adding in yet another layer of rye whiskey. The smell is a modern marvel, with the barrels, coffee, chocolate, molasses, whiskey and vanilla combining beautifully. Body is still viscous and sneaky creamy, but now more refined

11/17/18 (Chicago): 2 oz 10.0% ABV taster glass pour at FOBAB. This was a bronze medal winner offering under the Specialty Strong Porter / Stout category. Dark tan/black pour, thin tan head settles nicely. Very strong coffee aroma, backed nicely by emerging whiskey. Taste consistent with aroma, coffee prevails, whiskey masked well for a strong offering, nice balance here. Thin mouth feel and texture, smooth drinking. Overall very good offering.

 

 

 

500ml bottle poured into HF stemmed globe.

Appearance: dark black bodied stout with medium to dark brown colored head.

Smell: burnt / acrid coffee. Spiced bourbon. Coffee almost overtakes the entire aroma of the barrel aged stout. Coffee smells pretty fresh.

Taste: Cocoa nibs and chocolate chip cookies and spicy bourbon get this stout off to a bittersweet flavor profile to start. The beer transitions and finishes with spicy rye, espresso / heavy coffee, and really really dry oak notes.

Mouthfeel: thick substantial body, but not quite motor oil.

Overall: I still think that I like barrel aged wheelhouse better than double barrel. The usual BA wheelhouse has such a great balance between the chocolate/bourbon sweetness and heavily roasted coffee. Double barreled wheelhouse has less balance than BA wheelhouse in my opinion.

Appearance - On tap on the day of the release, the beer was murky and black in color.

Smell - This beer smelled of straight booze. The nose suggested it to be hot.

Taste - The beer was not as hot as I feared. There was a level of burn. My first thought was big boozy fudge as fudge is most noticeable beyond the booze. Dark malts and a hint of smoke followed. The coffevwas no longer a factor.

Mouthfeel - Double barrel action can thin a beer, but this still acted like a double stout.

Overall - I amended my review after aging a bottle for nine months. Patience is rewarded.