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Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
Winding Path Brewing Co / Wyndridge Farm Brewing


- From:
- Winding Path Brewing Co / Wyndridge Farm Brewing
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #360 - ABV:
- 13.9%
- Score:
- 95
Ranked #1,304 - Avg:
- 4.38 | pDev: 5.25%
- Reviews:
- 22
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jul 08, 2023
- Added:
- Jan 24, 2018
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 6
Our Imperial Stout was aged for 9 months in bourbon barrels from three prominent Kentucky distilleries. The barrels were filled with this stout within 48 hours of being drained of bourbon, giving the beer its pronounced bourbon character. The beer pours jet black with an aroma of toffee, coffee, and dark chocolate. Irresistibly rich and flavorful.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ItsBeer4Me:
Rated by ItsBeer4Me from Pennsylvania
4.29/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Jul 08, 2023
4.29/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Jul 08, 2023
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio
4.34/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
8 ball black with a short tan head.
Solid and clean, the roast is chocolatey and nutty while the barrel is drying and caramel forward. It also exudes some vanillin that helps to emulate Tootsie Roll qualities before a darker woody char brings it swiftly back down to Earth.
Dec 19, 2022Solid and clean, the roast is chocolatey and nutty while the barrel is drying and caramel forward. It also exudes some vanillin that helps to emulate Tootsie Roll qualities before a darker woody char brings it swiftly back down to Earth.
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut
4.46/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Sampling a cellar temp 16 oz can poured into my snifter. I picked up the can while visiting Pennsylvania for Christmas. The can is datestamped something /17/21. Hard to read. Also ABV on this year says 12.2 on% label not the 13.9 listed on site.
The beer pours a deep black coffee color with a fluffy brown head of 3.5 cm. This foam fades very slowly and leaves dense clingy lacing on my glass. Swirls bring back the lacing each time. Beer looks great!
THe aroma is spot on for a bourbon barrel stout. I get dark chocolate and rich bourbon and a little bit of charred wood. I also smell a little molasses. No hop character is noticed and I dont get fusol hot booziness, but the rich bourbon note makes me aware the ABV could be elevated.
First sip reveals a medium to thick body with very fine and gently tingly carbonation. The texture is a little sticky and the beer coats my palate and remains on my lips with each sip. Feels the part of a big stout.
Flavor is bourbon up front with some hints of vanilla. This moves to some dark chocolate and a bit of charred wood. Finish is a little sweeter chocolate, more of a deep fudge note. This flavor lingers long after the swallow. No hop character, and again booze is fairly well hidden with no real heat, but the robust flavors and physical traits keep me on the sipping rate for this beer. Pleasantly surprised with how good this beer is from a brewery I dont know much about in south central PA.
I would gladly buy this again when in the area.
Jan 08, 2022The beer pours a deep black coffee color with a fluffy brown head of 3.5 cm. This foam fades very slowly and leaves dense clingy lacing on my glass. Swirls bring back the lacing each time. Beer looks great!
THe aroma is spot on for a bourbon barrel stout. I get dark chocolate and rich bourbon and a little bit of charred wood. I also smell a little molasses. No hop character is noticed and I dont get fusol hot booziness, but the rich bourbon note makes me aware the ABV could be elevated.
First sip reveals a medium to thick body with very fine and gently tingly carbonation. The texture is a little sticky and the beer coats my palate and remains on my lips with each sip. Feels the part of a big stout.
Flavor is bourbon up front with some hints of vanilla. This moves to some dark chocolate and a bit of charred wood. Finish is a little sweeter chocolate, more of a deep fudge note. This flavor lingers long after the swallow. No hop character, and again booze is fairly well hidden with no real heat, but the robust flavors and physical traits keep me on the sipping rate for this beer. Pleasantly surprised with how good this beer is from a brewery I dont know much about in south central PA.
I would gladly buy this again when in the area.
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
4.1/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from a wax-topped bomber into a Dogfish head tulip
L: Inky black pour with a finger of mocha colored head. Nice ring of lacing.
S: Cocoa, coffee, bourbon, and roast.
T.F: Rich and roasty... modest malt sweetness... dark chocolate and espresso balanced by some char and hop bitterness. Chicory and vanilla... bourbon present and accounted for. Boozy and warming... more complex and tasty as it warms. Medium bodied with low carbonation. Creamy. Roast and booze to finish.
O: A well done big BBA Imperial stout. The ABV is mostly hidden, but this is a boozy slow sipper.
May 31, 2020L: Inky black pour with a finger of mocha colored head. Nice ring of lacing.
S: Cocoa, coffee, bourbon, and roast.
T.F: Rich and roasty... modest malt sweetness... dark chocolate and espresso balanced by some char and hop bitterness. Chicory and vanilla... bourbon present and accounted for. Boozy and warming... more complex and tasty as it warms. Medium bodied with low carbonation. Creamy. Roast and booze to finish.
O: A well done big BBA Imperial stout. The ABV is mostly hidden, but this is a boozy slow sipper.
Reviewed by orcrist_cleaver from New York
4.66/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.66/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
A: The black pour is deep and ponderous. The head is multi-layered as the light penetrates. It's a bright, luminous khaki on top, but underneath a more sponge-like dark mocha.
S: Vanilla bean. Toffee and ripe fruit giving off an impression of honey glazed sultanas. Roasted walnuts, crushed hazelnuts brightened by a grassiness and exotic florals.
M: Full bodied with a syrupy feel to start. Dilutes to a silky creaminess with an assertive espresso roast.
T: Pulls off the sweet and savory really nice that resembles something like date honey. The toffee is rich and nuanced with a nutty tahini and the bright sweetness of golden raisins. Dried apricots and lightly charred wood mixed with coffee. The essence of bacon doesn't elude me. Blackstrap molasses, leather that frequented a tobacconist. The use of bourbon is assertive and complex that actually left an impression of note.
Apr 16, 2020S: Vanilla bean. Toffee and ripe fruit giving off an impression of honey glazed sultanas. Roasted walnuts, crushed hazelnuts brightened by a grassiness and exotic florals.
M: Full bodied with a syrupy feel to start. Dilutes to a silky creaminess with an assertive espresso roast.
T: Pulls off the sweet and savory really nice that resembles something like date honey. The toffee is rich and nuanced with a nutty tahini and the bright sweetness of golden raisins. Dried apricots and lightly charred wood mixed with coffee. The essence of bacon doesn't elude me. Blackstrap molasses, leather that frequented a tobacconist. The use of bourbon is assertive and complex that actually left an impression of note.
Reviewed by firesidewithphil from Illinois
4.1/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The BA imperial from Wyndridge is one of the more aggressive aged beers I have come across. The bourbon comes through from start to finish and drinks like a beer, but edges on the profile of a cocktail.
The beer is tough at first because the barrel is so overwhelming. However, this one gets better the longer you drink it and ends up finishing above average.
@firesidewithphil
Mar 26, 2020The beer is tough at first because the barrel is so overwhelming. However, this one gets better the longer you drink it and ends up finishing above average.
@firesidewithphil
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
4.24/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A - Pitch black pour with thin, but dense toffee colored lacing.
S - Dark roasted chocolate, light char, bourbon, roasted cocoa, and Bourbon.
T - Dark roasted chocolate, roasted cocoa, char, oak, Bourbon, and a nice aggressive roast presence.
M - Thick and a little oily with some warming on the way down.
O - Pretty fantastic and recommended. One of those bottles I wish I had bought more than one of.
Mar 07, 2020S - Dark roasted chocolate, light char, bourbon, roasted cocoa, and Bourbon.
T - Dark roasted chocolate, roasted cocoa, char, oak, Bourbon, and a nice aggressive roast presence.
M - Thick and a little oily with some warming on the way down.
O - Pretty fantastic and recommended. One of those bottles I wish I had bought more than one of.
Reviewed by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington
4.29/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
L: A dark dark brown brew with a rootbeer float-looking head and decent lacing and retention.
S: Chocolate fudge and bourbon. A tinny coffee bitterness.
T: Follows the nose with some more booze and barrel, tiny notes of toffee, char, and cherry tartness.
F: Moderately thick and finishes dry and bitter.
O: I wanted to fall in love with this stout as it was well executed overall, but the complexity wasn't there nor a good standout note to hang my palate on. Still a very nice work from Wyndridge very worthy of your own oppinion.
Jan 24, 2020S: Chocolate fudge and bourbon. A tinny coffee bitterness.
T: Follows the nose with some more booze and barrel, tiny notes of toffee, char, and cherry tartness.
F: Moderately thick and finishes dry and bitter.
O: I wanted to fall in love with this stout as it was well executed overall, but the complexity wasn't there nor a good standout note to hang my palate on. Still a very nice work from Wyndridge very worthy of your own oppinion.
Rated by flgimp from Pennsylvania
4.26/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.26/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I wish this seasonal style from Winding Path wasn't so hard to find and was less seasonal. It's a tremendous offering!!
Jan 19, 2020Reviewed by ThaneMcC from Germany
4.5/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a can into tulip
Inky black with fab of khaki head-scant effervescence- smells of cocoa, leather, woodsy bourbon notes - taste is sweet molasses, vanilla, cocoa - caramel, smoke and leather with a semi sweet finish. Full body- almost syrupy with good palate cleansing acidity.
Solid bourbon barrel aged imperial stout- complex and comparable to the classics- definitely got to stock up
Jan 16, 2020Inky black with fab of khaki head-scant effervescence- smells of cocoa, leather, woodsy bourbon notes - taste is sweet molasses, vanilla, cocoa - caramel, smoke and leather with a semi sweet finish. Full body- almost syrupy with good palate cleansing acidity.
Solid bourbon barrel aged imperial stout- complex and comparable to the classics- definitely got to stock up
Reviewed by branham1989 from Texas
4.53/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Wyndridge Farm Brewing’s Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout 13.9% ABV. This Imperial Stout pours a jet black color with a mocha colored head that dissipates rather quickly leaving heavy lacing on the glass. The aroma is of roasted grains alcohol with hints of chocolate molasses and toffee/caramel and coffee charred wood and leather. The flavor is of anise bittersweet dark chocolate espresso blackstrap molasses burnt brown sugar like creme brulee a heavy dose of bourbon and woodsy flavor along with some nuttiness before finishing with a slight alcohol burn along with dark fruits tobacco leather. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a silky creaminess I love the mouthfeel of this beer. This is a superb bourbon barrel aged stout with amazing flavors and at 13.9 abv is very easy drinking. 9.6/10
Dec 22, 2019Reviewed by beerbully from New Jersey
4.47/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
L-Jet black......1 finger mocha colored head that dissipates leaving some heavy lacing........absolutely no light passing through this beer
S-roasted grains........booze, chocolate, molasses, caramel
T-chocolate, booze, wood, dark fruits, mocha., sweet bourbon, black licorice, caramel, vanilla........quite complex.........finish is dark bitter chocolate and lingering coffee
F-Thick, creamy, feels exactly as it should.......low carb......highly viscous
O-well crafted beer......as good as any BBA stout I have had........highly recommend.......smooooth........alcohol heat is subdued but this is a big bold BBA stout of high quality
Dec 07, 2019S-roasted grains........booze, chocolate, molasses, caramel
T-chocolate, booze, wood, dark fruits, mocha., sweet bourbon, black licorice, caramel, vanilla........quite complex.........finish is dark bitter chocolate and lingering coffee
F-Thick, creamy, feels exactly as it should.......low carb......highly viscous
O-well crafted beer......as good as any BBA stout I have had........highly recommend.......smooooth........alcohol heat is subdued but this is a big bold BBA stout of high quality
Reviewed by DrDemento456 from Pennsylvania
4.68/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.68/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Wow amazing stuff mostly surprised to see it never even heard of it until today. Even at almost 14% I got no bourbon burn and even convinced the bartender to try it much to his surprise. No hard bourbon hits smooth chocolate slight bitter coffee. Again world class stuff
Nov 30, 2019
Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout from Winding Path Brewing Co / Wyndridge Farm Brewing
Beer rating:
95 out of
100 with
47 ratings
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