BBC Bourbon Barrel Stout
Bluegrass Brewing Co. - East St. Matthew's

 

 

 

 

 

 

A: On tap at Lizzie B's in Prestonsburg, KY, this beer initially appears to be an opaque black in the glass, but held up to the light, it is actually a very rich, dark mahogany. The head is a thin, creamy khaki mousse that lingers far longer than one would expect.

S: Aromas of roasted grain, caramel, coffee, dark chocolate, moist earth, hickory, black walnut, roasted chestnut, and pungent tobacco fill the nose. Upon first sniff, a subtle hint of bourbon and molasses are detectable in the background. As the beer settles and warms in the glass, these aromas become more prominent, melding nicely with the nutty, earthy, pungent scents already noted.

T: The first sip reveals firm notes of honeysuckle, woody spices, dark chocolate, coffee, roasted grain, caramel, molasses, cream, toasted almonds, roasted chestnuts, hickory, tobacco, and black walnut. At mid-palate, more bourbon-like notes of caramel, spice, charred oak, and vanilla emerge. The finish is warming and drier than expected with robust notes of nuts, chocolate, tobacco, coffee, woody spice, caramel, and molasses.

M: Full-bodied and dryish, but noticeably slighter than one would expect from a big, barrel-aged stout. A little boozy, but not really rough. This is definitely a sipper, and in my opinion, is probably best suited for use as a dessert beer or nightcap.

O: This is a really solid effort from a brewery whose products can be hit or miss. Still, it is not the most refined or complex barrel-aged imperial stout one will run across. In the end, it wins points from me for approachability and consistency compared to BBC's other attempts in this area.