Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Imperial Stout Trooper
New England Brewing Co.

12oz can served in a Spiegelau tulip. Pours the color and clarity of cola with a loose, mocha-colored head that immediately disperses into a thin band around the shoulders. Nose reveals cocoa, molasses and char, as well as a kiss of ethanol at the finish. Taste follows nose - spirits are amplified towards the middle but I don’t know that I would discern apple brandy. Finishes with brown sugar. Mouthfeel is light-medium in body with a slightly assertive carboantion for that style. Overall, well-crafted but could use a little more malt for the body and perhaps a little bit more time in the barrel to bring out the nuances. Quite enjoyable, nonetheless.

12oz. can into a Tree House teku.

Can't believe the day is finally here. This used to be a Draft Only No Growler beer..... now it's being canned... what a time to be alive.

Pours dense and dark. 1 finger deep mocha colored head with good retention. Spotty lace. Nice legs. Huge apple brandy notes up front. Dark chocolate, roasted malt, smoke, and some syrup. Very aromatic. Beer opens boozy. Barrel character is readily detectable. I get hints of apple brandy, chocolate, roasted malt, fudge, and cocoa powder. Sweetens in the middle. Touches of sweet soy sauce, molasses, and more apple brandy booziness towards the end. Some slight syrup notes, fudge, and smoke in the aftertaste. Deliciously complex. Body is medium to full with moderate carbonation. Some bubbles in the mouth and slightly prickly on the aftertaste. Goes down messy with a lingering aftertaste.

This one could use a bit more body but the nose and flavor are excellent. Worth trying.

 

 

vintage 2018

 

 

Poured from a 12 oz can into a tulip glass.

Pours a near pitch black color with a small tan head. The head leaves a ring of lacing around the glass as it settles into a thin halo.

The aroma brings notes of brown sugar, milk chocolate, and coffee up front, followed by a wave of roasted malts, vanilla and fresh apples.

The flavor brings lots of sweet McIntosh apples, vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, and chocolate cake. There's also some dark roast coffee and roasted malts.

The feel is medium-full bodied with soft carbonation. Exceptionally creamy and smooth with a dry finish. Rather boozy on the end.

Overall, a very good barrel aged stout that absolutely brings the apple brandy flavors forward without subduing the other, more subtle flavors.

 

 

Pouring from a 12 oz can into my snifter. This beer is at cellar temp and was purchased at the brewery this afternoon.
The beer pours a rich dark cola color with a minimal beige head that fades quickly to a wispy surface layer and thin edging on my glass.
The aroma of the beer is roasted malt and lots of dark chocolate and a good dose of sweet apple brandy aroma. General brown sugar notes also pervade the nose. Not really any hop character that I can detect, seems about as expected for the style.
First sip reveals a silky smooth textured average body with mild spacious carbonation. The beer is gentle on my palate during and after each sip. Flavor is lots of sweet chocolate and brown sugar mixing with sweet apples and a coating brandy syrupy note that lingers long after each sip. I get a little bit of warming booze on the swallow. The flavor is kind of sweet and I enjoy this beer quite a bit. Very glad to have scored a few cans and hope others get a chance to put this one in your sampling queue.