e.l.a.
Bond Brothers Beer Company

I received this bottle as a Christmas present 2025. Went to rate it and didn't find it on BA. Figured I'd gather some information from the Bond Brothers website and quote it, but it didn't appear as though they have a general beer list, only a current draft list. Here we go.
The 500ml bottle simply says that this is a barrel aged stout. Other than the ABV, there is no real information to gather from this bottle. Poured into a Treehouse Teku glass.

Appearance: Oh holy hell that poured much darker than I was expecting. Jet black. Barely a hint of carbonation almost unnoticeably rings the glass with microscopic bubbles. No light gets through. A rather vigorous swirl coats the glass, no, stains the glass with lasting legs. No lacing. Finished the last sip of the first pour and it's impressive how stained the glass is.

Aroma: Oh yeah, big bourbon barrel notes, slight heat but not too much. Dark chocolate. There's a hint of vanilla and something sweet hiding behind the alcohol. I can't tell if I'm getting a cherry cordial or licorice aroma. There's something else there that I'm not quite discerning just yet. Maybe it will come through more through the taste. Down to what will be the last sip of the first pour and it's actually quite hot now. I'm sure that will balance out again once I go for that second pour.

Taste: Damn this is good. Bittersweet chocolate. No burn which is a little surprising given the ABV and the heat on the nose. I'm surprised at how well balanced this is. It's like one of the best dark chocolates I've had, yet somehow not bitter, but not sweet. Just...delicious. Not getting that cherry or licorice that I thought I picked up on the note. This might be a 5 on the taste for me. I can't really think of anything that would take away from a perfect score here. I just want to keep slinging it back but I also want to savor this experience. There's almost something smoky hidden in the background. I think I'm getting some barrel notes. It's all so smooth that even if there are oak tannins then the bitterness is masked somehow.

Mouthfeel: I hate to skip the taste and come here straight away. THICK, creamy, velvety. Quite impressive mouthfeel. I am thoroughly enjoying the lack of carbonation with this one. The near stillness plays well with the flavor profile and the silky syrupy texture. This is really good. The more I drink, the better it is.

Overall: I don't really know what to say. This is going to score very high, almost too high. The appearance is quite impressive, the aroma is complex, the taste is near perfect and kept me coming back for more, the mouthfeel is just right and enhances the taste in ever way. The alcohol is there but not in your face, the flavors and aroma are bold yet balanced, the mouthfeel is a conductor of the flavor. I would drink and buy this again in a heartbeat. I would gladly share with others or enjoy another bottle by myself. If barrel aged stouts are your jam, get some of this and some peanut butter and make the best damn PB&J you can.