Quadralach
Blue Island Beer Co.

Found at Chicago's Beer Temple. My first from Blue Island. And always a pleasure -- and in this case, a joy -- to find such an interesting beer from a young brewer. A lot was put into this and, if you are a malt-head like me, I hope you find a copy. (And if you are not a malt-head, this is a good way to introduce yourself to a new brewer with something other than an AIPA.)

Pours and Looks like a stout with healthy foam and close-to-opague. The lace has good manners and sticks around nicely.
Smells tell me this is no ordinary lager, but nothing other than malt penetrates.
Tastes are like no other lager I can remember: the barrel-aged stuff (vanilla, some minor spices) really comes through; but this is mostly about the malt and how only a few hops keep it from being too sweet... although it is still sweet.
Feel is very full and smooth/soft for a lager.

I'm not going to quibble with the category of Euro Dark Lager. But I will say that I can't remember having one this good. I think a better choice is to call this a dopplebock. And since I have a classic on hand, I saved the rest of Quadralach and the side-by-side the next night with Andrechers Dopplebock Dunkel. Two things happened. First, it reaffirmed that Quadralach is worth finding again and, possibly, again. Second, that the barrel-aging really makes the comparison apples and oranges.
Bottom-line: Quadralach is the best Euro Dark I have ever had.

500 ml bottle into a snifter, as suggested by the brewery. Had 4/26/18.

Pours a cloudy medium amber, with a half inch quickly dissipating head and some shards of cling. Aromas of bourbon, oak, vanilla, malt, toffee, dates, some caramel and figs, light licorice when warm. Really smells great. The taste is malt, bourbon, caramel, dates, some oak, lighter vanilla, figs, light alcohol. Smooth, well carbonated, a solid light to medium body.

Really liked this one. Terrific aroma, and a great job of barrel aging. The bourbon is prominent, but overall this is really well balanced. To get so much aroma and flavor from the barrels at 7.8%, without being a thin booze bomb, is a sterling effort. Well worth a purchase, if you can still find it.