Night Howler
Urban Village Brewing Company

 

Served on tap at the Gun Hill Brewery in Bronx, NY.
A: Pours very, very dark brown (nearly black) with garnet highlights, a solid, light brown head, strong retention, and complex rings of lacing.
S: Aromas run to dark roast coffee, vanilla, and raisin/fig, although what I would characterize as an Irish Whiskey note is unmistakable to my nose.
T: Semisweet. Flavors favor the nose, but spicier, likely from the rye aging. Bitterness certainly present but hiding a bit behind the rest of the flavor profile.
M: Full bodied with solid carbonation. Chewy.
O: Spoke with the producers; they are using Rye Whiskey barrels for aging. They have produced a very nicely composed American Imperial Stout; regretting I didn't see if I could purchase some when I had it.

really solid barrel aged strong stout here, my first from these guys and honestly its a heck of a first impression. all who shared in this lovely beer were stoked on it, tons of nuance, not just another one that tastes the same as all the rest either, but a unique entity as they go, really well done overall. its inky black and sticky viscous looking in the glass, has an awesome head on it, and nice lace as it drinks down. some cool nuance here, a nose of rum raisin, good espresso, and vanilla beans, with the whiskey well behind the wood. there is a really cool smoked element to the taste, real mild, not intense or dominating or acrid at all, but its pretty evident, like they worked in a pinch of smoked grain here. there may also be some rye or something in the mash, as i get a little dry earthy spiciness between the roast and the sweeter malt layer, really nicely constructed. the barrel isnt too much, but its really woody, way more oak than whatever the barrel held, although there is some whiskey character here too. nice balance, smooth chocolate, earthy fall complexity, and silky texture to it, a bit sweet, but really very good overall. impressive stuff, especially from a brewery i had never heard of before this one. they definitely have a hit here!