Silver Series: Somnia Bourbon BA
Pühaste Brewery

Copenhagen 21/8 2022. 33 cl waxed bottle from Mikkeller & Friends BottleShop, Torvehallerne, Kbh. K. Simple silver label stating the name and style with a red seal declaring that this is made from small batch.

Pours opaque, dark brown with a small beige head. Settles as a flimsy patch and a thin rim of foam running along the side of the glass. No lacing.

Aroma is intense with dark sweet and salty odor brimming with alcohol. Dark roasted malts, salty licorice, dark bitter chocolate, sweet bourbon. Sharp and dark.

Light carbonation. Rather thick, oily, viscous, creamy, fat, lightly tingling texture.

Flavor is intense with a heavy sweetness followed by a moderately strong bitterness. Aftertaste is sweet and laden with boozy alcohol. Lingering with a light burn. Finish is warming.

Solid boozer with a healthy dose of barrel.

 

Pours a pitch-black coloration with a small, creamy, mocha-colored head. Smells of roasted, caramel malt, chocolate and lighter vanilla, licorice and hints of dark fruit and oak, with a certain boozy bourbon note as well. Taste is a great balance of roasted, caramel malt, distinct chocolate and lighter notes of dark fruit, with notes of plum and fig, vanilla, licorice and brown sugar, as well as a rich, boozy bourbon presence and hints of oak. Finishes bittersweet, with a light/medium sweetness and some roast, chocolate and bourbon lingering in the aftertaste. Full mouthfeel with a rich body and medium carbonation.

While this makes for a very nice BBA stout, it is perhaps just a little bit disappointing by the very high standards set up up by the Silver Series. Some people might appreciate the strong Bourbon presence to this, but it's quite a bit too boozy for my personal taste, although there is a very nice balance of roasted, bitter and sweet notes here that kinda makes up for this. While it's got quite a rich body to it, it feels just a tad overcarbonated for the style, which isn't really too bad though. Overall, this makes for a rich and boozy, perhaps a bit too boozy, BBA stout that is well-balanced, but just not quite to my personal taste.