RIS & BARLEY W. BLEND - Bourbon BA Blend 14 mois
Popihn

Pitch black body with a light brown head. Aromas of dark chocolate, raisin, roasted malt, barley and bourbon in the gentler than expected nose, though decently deep. Taste starts with barley, roasted malt, and bourbon, before raisin, tobacco, and bittersweet dark chocolate jump in earnestly, some finishing prune there too. Feel is smooth and warming with a bite on the finish, boozy yet dry, not as thick as wanted though and the barrel or body doesn’t elevate the palate to great heights

Dig this: 33 cl bottle, poured room temp into a European brewery snifter. Vapors is the first sensation. Pops the schnozz quick. Pours nice and thick, perfect short pillow of photogenic foam atop a stoutly black bog of brew.
No retention.
Nice legs.

Nose is prunes, bourbon (and its barrel), dark cherries, dry dark chocolate.

Taste impressively hybrids 2 styles; an intense attack of prunes, almost burnt caramel, dark roast malt, dark chocolate, woodsy, fine center line hop note, distant coffee, sweeeet, it’s got a little smoky peat, a short bitter finish with a Bourbon accent, niiiiice 12.5% ABV warmth, leaves sticky lips. (Gah damn, is there a spicy pepper heat a minute later?!?)

Mouthfeel is lush and full; the Barleywine adds richness.,. there’s moderate carbonation.

Overall, an elbows-up mosh pit punch in the mouth (“удар в рот”).
Each sip is mighty, different, yet somehow familiar.
A beautiful head on collision.
Honey dripping off a knife.
A playful muss of your cowlick.

I want another.

Looks just like an impy stout, no hint of barleywine. Smell is lovely bourbon, vanilla, cinnamon, some wood. Taste is the same, with extra chocolate. No hint or barleywine in here though. Feel is smooth, though dizzier than the appearance would indicate. Nice barrel character as usual from popihn.