Barrel Aged Mint Chocolate Chip Bear
Werk Force Brewing Co

Got in a BIF from FBarber. 16 ounce can into tulip glass, 2022 vintage. Pours dense pitch black color with a small fairly dense dark brown head with too retention, that reduces to a ring of lace that lingers. Light spotty lacing and moderate streaming carbonation. This was fantastic. Aromas and flavors of big milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, mint, toffee, vanilla, cream, toast, dark bread; light bourbon, oak, smoke, char, dark fruit, herbal, pepper, and yeast earthiness. Bigger dessert nose with added brownie, fudge, and ice cream notes. A bit of booze as it warms. Light-medium hop/char bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; very creamy/silky malts; some sticky hops, chalky roast, and slight oak tannins in the mouthfeel. Lightly increasing lingering bitter dryness, no cloying/astringency. Mild increasing warmth and booze of 11.5%; with lingering mint coolness through the glass. Dangerously smooth sipping. Hardly any barrel at all, but the balance of stout and adjunct flavors was nearly perfect. American style without being too bitter/drying. Loved it.

 

 

16 ounce can into a snifter. Released March, 2021, had 3/26/21.

Pours near black and opaque, with only a brief head and light, soapy cling. Aromas of mint, bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, malt. Flavors are the same, but it’s more barrel forward than the aroma- then chocolate, mint, vanilla, malt. Smooth, a very good full body, appropriately carbonated.

Pretty straightforward, but really well done with just the right touch on the mint. The barrels show really well too. Solid effort. Very enjoyable.