Valhalla Stout - Bourbon Barrel Aged (2021)
8one8 Brewing (818)

Im sampling this 16 oz can at cellar temp. Date stamp of 2021. Pouring into my trusty snifter.
The beer pours a black coffee brown and no light passes through my glass as it rests in my snifter. A dense creamy beige head of 1 cm foams up and fades to a sturdy edge layer soon after my pour. Does leave some scattered lattice on the glass when I swirl or take a sip of the beer.
Aroma is dark malts and brown sugar with a bit of roasted malt and loads of bourbon. The bourbon nose is by far dominant, but isnt fusol or hot smelling, just bourbon brown liquor. No hop character anywhere on the aroma.
First sip reveals a medium body and very fine, slightly tingly carbonation. Texture is pretty smooth and the beer drinks easy, with only a little bit of sticky residue on my lips to remind me this is a high octane beer.
Flavor is sort of what I expect, a bit of brown sugar and dark fruit with hints of roast and then a heavy dose of bourbon. NOt really sweet bourbon but not fusol and hot here either. Not much wood character here either. I do get a little warmth on the finish as the beer warms in my glass.
If you like bourbon, like stouts without other additive flavors then this one is for you. I do enjoy the straightforward bourbon stout note.
A worth imperial stout and easy to see why @resistance88 likes this one so much!

Poured from a 2021 pint can.

The body pours an appealing dark mahogany. Negligible head and lacing.

The aroma is a sweet bourbony treat. Taste follows nose but the bourbon flavor is amplified and pleasantly hot. The malt thickens the taste and meshes well with the booze. The beer never gets too hot and the balance makes for a very good experience.

Mouthfeel is heavy as expected. The bourbon gets close but never reaches cloying. Carbonation is minimal, but present.

16oz can at fridge temp .
Pours deep brown with reddish hue and settles into Midnight Black with very little head.
Smell is a mouth watering blend of hefty barrel, cocoa, dark chocolate, plum and dark malts. The taste follows with a wonderful dance of aforementioned smells. The barrel presence is so well executed it's hard to believe this is sitting on shelves and still on tap out here.
This is an expert level barrel aged stout from this great little brewery in Canoga Park .
I had this on tap earlier this year ( fell in love and took a can home to see if it was just as good in canned form) as well as the BA blend of this beer and their BA Baltic Porter and demanded they can it; they wouldn't sell me a crowler of it, but its one i think of all the time. This one is a god damned winner .