Lily The Great - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
New South Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picked up a growler at Piggly Wiggly in The Market Common in Myrtle. Served in a snifter, the beer is a very dark, oily black coloring with a thin, filmy, halo of light brown head. Nose of bitter coffee, vanilla and cream, boozy highlights, earthy notes, and bittersweet chocolate. Flavors are heavily roasted forward, with a bold blast of bittersweet baker's chocolate and cocoa nib, heavily roasted coffee, booze highlights, some old world fruit sweetness, and a heavy wood characteristic. Very layered and balanced palate, with the barrel aging adding a lot of characteristics. Smooth, mid-bodied, with a slightly drying and bitter linger to the finish. The aftertaste is heavy cocoa nibs and wood, with a booze warmth that slowly builds as you drink. Decent brew. Happy anniversary New South!

 

Lily the Great Imperial Stout spent 11 months in a first-use bourbon barrel, and emerged last night to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of New South Brewing. It is dark and creamy in the glass, while the nose reveals layers of chocolate, roasted grains, and a kiss of vanilla from the oak. On the palate, the creamy texture coats the tongue, and the same flavors promised in the nose are delivered, along with notes of bourbon. The 11.3% alcohol hides well, but this still a brew to be sipped.

Lily the Great was first brewed in the fall of 2012, with a trial batch being brewed when New South hosted the local homebrewers for a brew day. Based upon the success of the small batch, the recipe was scaled up to the production batch size. Most of that batch was released last winter, but a portion was barrel aged in anticipation of the 15th Anniversary celebration. A second batch will be brewed later this year.

The name is a tribute to the head brewer's daughter, Lily.