The Anatomy of Restlessness
Sand City Brewing Co. - North

 

This is similar to Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, it's a dark brown with an off-white head. The 13% abv is forefront in the flavor, with a tobacco-ish body behind it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/16/19 bottle date, teku glass
1 finger tan head lacing fades quickly
Smell is coconut and soy sauce tase follows with soy sauce at the front and some roasted bitterness . Overall feels nothing stood out and missed the mark

 

 

 

Bottled 01/11/19, this pours pitch black color with a 2+ finger foamy tan/brown head that was packed with bubbles of all sizes, fading very slowly and leaving nice spotty foamy lacing. What I expected from a barrel aged stout.

Smells of dark chocolate, soy sauce, burnt coffee grinds, brown sugar, cocoa powder, molasses, faint piney hops, espresso, vanilla, smoked malt, dark fruit like black cherries or chocolate covered raisins, light oaky notes and more chocolate. The Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels seem to provide that oaky/vanilla accent which tames the sweetness and adds complexities to the dominating chocolate malts.

Tastes like it smells with dark chocolate, soy sauce, cocoa powder, burnt coffee grinds, brown sugar, espresso, molasses, vanilla, black licorice, peat moss, Merlot wine, dark fruit like black cherries and chocolate covered raisins, light oaky notes, floral hops, brownie batter and then some bourbon which loops back in the sweetness like vanilla and woody notes that add more complexities. Thankfully it's not cloyingly sweet and the malt components unify for a real nice flavor that should be a slow sipper but goes down very smooth and easy.

Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth, almost watery yet thick enough to keep in the stout range with light carbonation that lets this slide down easier than a 13% ABV brew should. It's strong but not boozy, full of nice rich malty flavors, and still has enough fruity and oaky accents to make it one of the best brews out of Northport, NY. This will age well, mellow even more and build up the ABV as it ages. Look forward to drinking more bottles down the road. I really like how this is so easy to drink now as it should age well.

 

This needs to age. I’m getting a floral nose???