Barrel Aged Sleepy Bear (Death By Chocolate Cake)
Werk Force Brewing Co
- From:
- Werk Force Brewing Co
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Pastry Stout
- ABV:
- Not listed
- Score:
- +6 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.2 | pDev: 3.1%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 1
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 27, 2026
- Added:
- Dec 12, 2025
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
NO SCORE
-
-
Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Cacao Nibs from Puerto Rico, Haiti, Trinidad, Uganda and Ecuador as well as Madagascar Vanilla
That's right folks. Get ready for our chocolate bomb Sleepy Bear. We sourced cacao nibs from all over the world and freshly roasted them to go into this heater of a pitch. The base is a blend of 21 month aged Sleepy Bear held in Buffalo Trace Mash #1 and Mash #2 barrels. Don't hibernate on this one, it's incredible.
That's right folks. Get ready for our chocolate bomb Sleepy Bear. We sourced cacao nibs from all over the world and freshly roasted them to go into this heater of a pitch. The base is a blend of 21 month aged Sleepy Bear held in Buffalo Trace Mash #1 and Mash #2 barrels. Don't hibernate on this one, it's incredible.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by ChicagoJ from Illinois
4.19/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
1/24/26 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased at store temperature December 10, 2025 at Beer on the Wall Park Ridge for $15.38 including tax. Refrigerated upon returning home before opening this morning. 16 oz., no can date but a release date of 11/26/25, no ABV on the can. Two Thousand Twenty Five Bourbon Barrel Aged Sleepy Bear Death By Chocolate Cake. Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout brewed with pale wheat, roasted barley, oats, rye, chocolate, honey and caramel malts, and milk sugar, Madagascar Vanilla, Marshmallow and a blend of Roasted Cacao Nibs from Puerto Rico, Haiti, Trinidad, Uganda and Ecuador. Hopped with Magnum and Fuggle Hops. Fermented with Chico Ale Yeast. Brewed and canned by Werk Force Brewing Company, Plainfield, Illinois.
Appearance: Poured about two thirds of the can into a 12 oz snifter, near black dark blown base and a brief bubbly dark tan head that leaves no trace but a thin bubbly ring around the rim and sustained rising carbonation. 4.25
Aroma: Nice Vanilla upon open, dark roast malt, dark roast malt and bourbon several minutes after open. Consistent after warming toward room temperature. A lot going on here, vanilla strong, every other aroma took effort and concentration. 4.0
Taste: Dark chocolate, and vanilla duke it out for pole position, getting the marshmallow, a nice rich chocolate fudge. Barrel felt more than experienced, but slowly emerges to bring a sweet and strong bourbon flavor. Everything comes together nicely. 4.25
Mouthfeel: Creamy medium plus body, faint carbonation. Sweet vanilla and chocolate fudge start to finish. Drinks strong, would be nice to know the ABV. Bourbon helps offset some of the excess sweetness, but not enough. 4.25
Overall: This pretty much stayed consistent throughout between cold and proper temperature. I typically would like the base beer vs. one with added vanilla and cocao nibs, but this is a more well rounded offering than their 2025 standard Sleepy Beer. Still no rye. but overall I'm enjoying this experience and would consider future purchases even though I am not a big pastry stout drinker. Good work Werk Force! 4.25
Jan 24, 2026Appearance: Poured about two thirds of the can into a 12 oz snifter, near black dark blown base and a brief bubbly dark tan head that leaves no trace but a thin bubbly ring around the rim and sustained rising carbonation. 4.25
Aroma: Nice Vanilla upon open, dark roast malt, dark roast malt and bourbon several minutes after open. Consistent after warming toward room temperature. A lot going on here, vanilla strong, every other aroma took effort and concentration. 4.0
Taste: Dark chocolate, and vanilla duke it out for pole position, getting the marshmallow, a nice rich chocolate fudge. Barrel felt more than experienced, but slowly emerges to bring a sweet and strong bourbon flavor. Everything comes together nicely. 4.25
Mouthfeel: Creamy medium plus body, faint carbonation. Sweet vanilla and chocolate fudge start to finish. Drinks strong, would be nice to know the ABV. Bourbon helps offset some of the excess sweetness, but not enough. 4.25
Overall: This pretty much stayed consistent throughout between cold and proper temperature. I typically would like the base beer vs. one with added vanilla and cocao nibs, but this is a more well rounded offering than their 2025 standard Sleepy Beer. Still no rye. but overall I'm enjoying this experience and would consider future purchases even though I am not a big pastry stout drinker. Good work Werk Force! 4.25
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