Silver Series: Memor Bourbon BA
Pühaste Brewery

Pours a pitch-black coloration with a tiny, frothy head. Smells of roasted, caramel malt, chocolate, coffee and coconut, with lighter maple syrup, dark/red fruits, with notes of raisin and plum, and hints of vanilla, bourbon and musty, tannic oak. Taste is an excellent balance of roasted, caramel malt, maple syrup, chocolate, coffee and coconut, as well as some dark and red fruits, with notes of raisin, plum blackberry and redcurrant, as well as lighter vanilla, licorice, bourbon and hints of quite tannic, musty oak. Finishes with a medium sweetness and light roastiness, with some chocolate, coconut, maple syrup, dark/red fruit and tannic, bourbon-soaked oak lingering in the aftertaste. Full mouthfeel with a rich body and light/medium carbonation.

I have to admit that I was kinda wary of this at first. I mean, maple syrup and coconut, really? But the Silver Series really very, very seldomly disappoints and they have pulled this one off marvellously, not feeling sickly sweet at all and with hardly any sharp booziness coming through despite a rather deep bourbon presence that is especially rich in musty, tannic oak and dark and red fruits. I would really love to know which barrels were used here exactly. There's a great balance of roasted, sweet and tannic notes going on here, with quite strong chocolate and lighter coffee and licorice coming through here in addition to the additives and barrel notes. I honestly bought this expecting to hate it, but putting my trust in the Silver Series, which was not disappointed. Not a Pastry Stout at all, but well-balanced and rich in barrel character, with a deep complexity, You know, I often argue that 750ml bombers are a terrible format for 13%+ ABV BA Imperial Stouts and that I really prefer these 330ml bottles we get in Europe, but I really wish that I had a 750ml bottle of this right now, high praise, indeed.