Dark Alley Barrel Aged
2 Row Brewing

16 oz. Can
ABV: 14.6%

Poured into a chalice a very nice dark brown color, very nice carbonation, very nice thick/creamy one-finger tan head, which also leaves a very nice medium-size oil slick, some nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is very nice, malty, hoppy, with a very nice chocolate/toffee, bourbon, oak, vanilla, licorice. The taste is very nice, malty, hoppy, with a very nice chocolate/toffee, bourbon, oak, vanilla, licorice. Full Body, ABV is hidden pretty nicely, a pretty nice touch of sweetness, a very tasty complex/sipper. Overall, this is a very nice brew.

12 oz bottle from Toby. Ruddy brown pour with a small frothy head. Big boozy aroma, sharp alcohol notes, sweet.Taste is roast malts, chocolate, strong. Alcoohol so prominent that it obscures most of the elements of this beer.

this is just massive, and even a shared little bottle felt like a little more of this than i wanted. i also think it lacks the "oh my god" quality the best of these have. its a touch oxidized too even though i think its relatively fresh for something like this, i had higher hopes. this abv is insane, but i dont smell it being all that hot through the sticky dark brown liquid once we let it sit a minute. the short tan head that rises up on the pour fades pretty fast, and this looks close to still before too long. subtle coconut and almond to the nose, a little barrel char but not a ton of whiskey to me, light molasses sweetness but it doesnt appear diabetic, and there is some good depth here, even if there is a little bit of a cardboard thing happening too. it tastes about like it smells, kind of rich, but faster finishing with the alcohol rising up a little, never as intense as it seems like it should be. as mellow as it is, i wanted a little more from the barrel, light oak and maybe trace whiskey here, but it doesnt seem as mature in flavor that way as it could. it gets sweeter as it warms, raisin and fig notes come out, a dr pepper layer too, and then some dustiness on the finish. solid overall, not as boozy as it seems like it should be at this absurd strength, but the flavors were not special, and this didnt seem as high end as i wanted it too. im still a little hit or miss with what ive had from these guys...

12 oz bottle sent from Hinda65, 15.0% ABV, 18K14 bottling code.

Light hiss of the cap, deep obsidian ink pouring from the bottle into the Christmas chalice, thin ring of beige caramel head.

Deep, thick aromas of leather, sticky molasses, chocolate muffin, guano/river water, slight maple, greenery, charred oak, some liquid smoke, and sweet bourbon.

Flavor opens with slight cherry cola and vanilla, some cardboard and oak, floral hops, slight sarsaparilla, honey, more mild floral notes, and whiskey heat on the back end.

The alcohol heat on this is INSANE. Almost like a shot of straight whiskey. Nice carbonation to supplement. Some drying qualities but not nearly what you'd expect from a burn this forward.

Overall, a somewhat shabby barrel aged stout. I like the ABV here, and the heat is no joke. It begins to get a little cloying as it warms, but keep the bottle cold and pour as necessary for best results.

 

 

Pours a deep brown to jet black. Medium brown head on heavy pour. Nose is Whiskey forward with notes of molasses roasted malt. Taste whiskey/Bourbon forward as well. At 15.1% you get a lot of heat up front but once that peels back, notes of dark roast coffee, toasted malt, molasses, brown sugar and light vanilla shine. Sweet candied Bourbon finish. Medium to full bodied but not heavy or soupy for the size of this beer. Finishes hot.