Year 9 - Birthday Bourbon Barrels
Cycle Brewing

 

Pours thick, viscous, deep dark chocolate color; opaque; thin, dark brown, partial head, lasting. Chocolate covered macadamia nus with a tinge of bourbon. The taste amplifies the smell components; rich, sweet, dark chocolate; raspberries; caramel; a flicker of roasted nuts; whiskey backdrop. Incredibly thick and dense mouthfeel; sludgy residual sugars; soul warming booziness.

Cycle did a phenomenal job with this anniversary beer. The two years of Old Forester barrel aging have worked miracles with the overall taste and feel of this mammoth beer. Cycle never lists an ABV for their beers although BA has it listed as 11.5%. I think this may be a bit on the low side. Regardless, the balance and depth of this beer are extraordinary.

Pouring temperature: 48 °F; bottling info: 2022
Source: Tavour

 

 

L: Pours a dark, malty brown that's a near-black color. Forms a minimal chocolate head that fades quickly, with a faint trace of residual retention on the surface. Held to the light, this beer is a dark umber, almost bark-colored brew that is opaque.

S: Peanut butter. Bourbon barrel, hazelnut and hints of coffee. Light roasted malt and chocolate.

T: Peanut butter, chocolate fudge, bourbon barrels, hazelnut, roasted malts, hint of char. Very boozy. Tastes like Panera's Hazelnut medium-roast coffee. Chewy and viscous.

F: Full-bodied and lingers. Chewy, and coating. Light carbonation.

O: Although I'm not much of a fan of peanut butter, this beer won me over. It is a classic barrel-aged IS, with lots of flavor and a very dark profile. Not cloying, not too bitter. Terrific mouthfeel. Definitely one that deserves a second look.

 

Why do I keep trying new BA Stouts when I have found so many I enjoy? Because you might find one like this! Pitch black opaque body, finger of brown foam, speckled lacing. Smell has strong and deep barrel the whole sniff, with molasses, chocolate fudge, dark fruit, and brown sugar mixing in. Taste has all of that plus light caramel thread running through and vanillins off of the complex barrels. Reminds me of a gourmet rare dos, not as viscous, but still smooth and decently heavy, with good chew.

 

 

Excellent beer. It as good as the 8th anniversary, but maybe I should have let this sit another year. Strong roasted malt that blends well with the bourbon barrels. A bit thick any syrupy, but the booziness and flavor make up for it. Sweet, bold, and subtle in its own ways.