Speed of Darkness - Coffee/Vanilla Barrel Aged
Oliver Brewing Company

Picked up this can at a shop in Pennsylvania. Date stamp is Nov 12/2021. Been in my cellar for the past couple weeks.
Im pouring at cellar temp into my snifter.
the beer pours a black coffee hue with no light passing through my glass. A fluffy beige to khaki colored head foams up 2cm and fades to a sturdy edge layer and some wispy surface covering.
The aroma is some roasted malt, dark chocolate, a little bourbon. this nose also allows some coffee notes and comes back to roasted notes again. No real hop profile and no fusol notes or anything else to give away the ABV.
First sip reveals a medium body with smooth texture and only a little tingly carbonation, almost cask like in spaciousness. There is a bit of residue on my lips after each sip.
Flavor is very briefly sweet chocolate and then moves to roasted malts, coffee grounds and some dark chocolate. I do get a little bourbon and then the flavor rolls back to roasted notes. Almost charred to be fair. I never get any of the vanilla promised on the can. Also no hop notes and hidden ABV.
I enjoy this Imperial Stout and Im glad I bought the can on a whim.

The darkness that fell into a clear Imperial pint glass came from a pint can. Despite the contents being at room temperature, there's little and quickly no head nor glass lacing. The aroma is a bit of vanilla, maybe coffee, but mostly of tannins. It drinks smoothly for a brew with barrel aging and an ABV at this level. Be advised, that doesn't mean it's smooth, it's just smoother than expected. The taste is dominated by the tannins. After that comes a little roasted malt, vanilla and coffee, which makes a noticeable appearance in the finish. This is for the limited audience that likes beer to taste like boilermakers.

Undated can into pint glass. Pours a very dark brown (SRM 39-40) with a brief tan head. Initial impression is coffee and vanilla (duh...). Taste becomes much richer as it warms. Mouthfeel is smooth and fairly thick, although I prefer my Imperial Stouts to be VERY thick. Alcohol is quite well hidden. Finish is mostly coffee, and surprisingly dry. Overall, a very enjoyable Imperial Stout. I'd like it a little thicker, but YMMV.

Poured as a nice dark black color with a thin brown head on top. The smell has some nice notes of coffee on the nose. The taste of the beer follows the aroma with coffee, chocolate and subtle vanilla in there too. The feel of the beer is good, not overly heavy and not too thin either. Overall it's a pretty solid beer!

A - Pitch black pour with ultra thin caramel colored lacing.

S - Deep roasty coffee aroma with vanilla, and light smoke / char.

T - Coffee bean, coffee roast, light vanilla, lingering roast and coffee bean char on the back end with dark roast chocolate.

M - Thick and silky smooth with a semi-dry finish.

O - Very coffee forward.