Coyote Waits
Bow & Arrow Brewing Co.

 

up there with my favorites i had in here, and showing a little more technical proficiency than most of the others, this is a mole type stout, aged in wyoming whiskey barrels for three months and spiked with cinnamon, cocoa, and chili peppers, all of which are subtle enough to be subservient to the base stout, which i think is excellent as it is. the beer is shiny and black and appears a little more lively than all of the others i had here. it smells like burnt barley and licorice, and has tobacco and molasses sweetness underneath, with rum raisin and oak notes. its smart to keep the barrel time short, i think the mild whiskey is a good call, more oak than booze, and really enhancing the beer itself, rather than really flavoring it or taking it over. the cinnamon is fresh ground tasting, the essence of itself, while the peppers are lightly smokey to me, and flavorful but without heat. cocoa adds a nice bitter layer and also some richness that the oak supports well. the balance of complex flavors here is exceptional, and the full, smooth, round, mellow body is really a nice texture for them. a nutty thing comes up at the end too, walnut maybe, woody in its own right, nice with the cinnamon, and just a really cool wrinkle. great stuff! i cant wait to get back to this place, the beers are so inspired!