Bourbon Barrel Stout
Hinterland Brewery

 

 

 

 

Pours an opaque dark brown almost black with minimal khaki colored head. Bourbon whiskey, coffee, oak, roasted malts, and some chocolate on the nose; follows onto the palate. Full bodied. Finishes with bourbon and woody notes.

 

 

 

 

16 oz bottle poured into a Hinterland tulip.
5.8% ABV

A - Dark black throughout the pour and in the glass, this stout looks significantly bigger than it is with it's tall ivory foam and heavy lacing on the inside of the glass.

S - Roasted espresso meets fudge-dipped flourless chocolate cake balls injected with just a touch of bourbon. The aroma is bold but the alcohol is not - a welcome departure from the typical booze-laden barrel-aged stout out there!

T - Bold coffee roast washes over the tongue with up-front bitterness cut by smoother malt sweetness on the back end where warming bourbon notes and vanilla suggestions from the wood come into play.

M - Unlike most other examples of this style, trailing bourbon warmth is minimal in this barrel-aged stout giving it a light warming quality that works very well with the beer's smooth body and faint bitter finish.

O - Hinterland's Bourbon Barrel Stout incorporates a nice level of barrel-aging into their Luna Stout without going over the top keeping it easy drinking and smooth with underlying complexities of bourbon, vanilla, and wood resulting in a nicely balanced beer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smells pretty good. Bourbon, molasses, slightly roasted malt and coffee. Does not have much coffee flavor too it for those who are not a fan. More of a smokiness honestly. Also has a very sweet taste. A little too sweet for me. Comes across like a Dopple or dark Belgian in that regard. I do give them credit for having a nice barrel characteristic. Paid $6 for a 16oz. The only other Hinterland I have had is the Maple Bock, which ranks about the same for me. Not a bad beer at all, but as a "stout" I would give it around a 3.50 overall. This one makes me want to try their Bourbon Dopplebock more than anything else.