Barrel Aged Accident In Hubbard's Cave
Hubbard's Cave Brewery

Good head production but modest retention at best - unsurprising, given the ABV and barrel aging.

No hiding the bourbon influence on the nose; this beer clearly spent a good amount of time in the barrels. Base stout tones of molasses, brown sugar, coffee, and chocolate are a bit subdued as a consequence, but it smells very nice.

Very much on the sweet end for an imperial stout (one without any flavorings other than the beer itself and the barrel aging), but much like the nose, this owes as much to the bourbon as it odes the base beer (which, if I recall correctly, was fairly sweet for an unflavored stout). Bourbon influence can run a few different ways, depending on the bourbon used; this one is definitely on the sweeter (and less sour) side, similar to other barrels Hubbard's Cave has used with other beers.

Tasting notes include honeycomb, syrup, brown sugar, molasses, prune, cherry, red grape, vanilla, toffee.

For all the rich dark tones, it lacks the mouthfeel to match, coming across as a touch thin. Decent amount of heat and sting, between the barrel and the pure ABV. A touch oily or syrupy. The mouthfeel isn't bad by any means, and I get the feeling that they weren't going for a super thick feel.

This is an excellent BA imperial stout, certainly on the sweet side. It lacks a touch in complexity, and is driven by the bourbon, if I'm to nitpick.

16 oz. Can
2020-2
12% ABV

Poured into a Trillium glass a very nice dark brown/black color, with some really nice carbonation, with a really nice thick/creamy one-finger plus tan head, which also leaves some nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, hoppy, with some really nice chocolate/toffee, with a nice touch of vanilla, licorice, bourbon, oaky. The taste is pretty nice, malty, hoppy, with some really nice chocolate/toffee notes, nice vanilla sweetness, licorice, with a really nice bourbon/oak note. Full Body, ABV is hidden very nicely, a pretty complex brew, with a nice dry/bitter finish, a pretty nice sipper. Overall, a very nice brew! Glad to see it around here.

Drank from a 1 pint 9.4 fl oz (750 ml) bottle purchased at Fort Point Market, Boston, MA
2019-1
Served in a tulip

Thick, oily, absolute pitch black appearance. This was definitely one of the more intense looking imperial stouts I have seen in quite a while. The body was topped by a small, frothy, saddle brown head that slowly fell to a thick, lasting collar. A wall of spotty lacing trickled down the glass after the first few sips.

The aroma was intense but also well rounded and complex. Malty and robust. Boozy, but bourbon did not stand out specifically. Loads of brown sugar sweetness. Chocolate fudge notes were also quite apparent. Dark fruits came through strong as well. Super raisiny.

The flavor profile was also really intense and quite similar to the aroma. Rich and malty with tons of brown sugar-like sweetness. Big dark fruit presence too. Raisins and plums came to mind. Mocha and vanilla notes appeared in the center. Some boozy warmth was noticeable on the back end and the finish. Considering the ABV, however, the alcohol was surprisingly well buried.

Viscous, full bodied mouthfeel. Uber creamy and slick on the palate. The liquid contained a medium bubbled, tongue blanketing effervescence. After a few sips, the sugars in the beer left a super sticky film on my lips.

Hubbard’s Cave make some of the best shelfie pastry stouts available in New England, and this barrel-aged take on Accident in Hubbard’s Cave was definitely another winner. If you have a high tolerance for sweet stouts, you will likely be a big fan of this beer.

Had on tap. Thick, opaque, black pour with only a ring of brown bubbles. Thick, viscous, chewy and heavy in the feel. No complexity here, taste and smell are clones, both featuring huge chocolate waves with fudge accents, bourbon booze, slight wood and more chocolate fudge. Delicious, chewy and decadent