Barrelywine Volume 9: Bourbon
Kros Strain Brewing

Brownish black opaque body, brown ring. Tastes of caramel, date, molasses with a second wave of bourbon, barley, brown sugar and oak with a kiss of oxidation. Smells of raisin, molasses, bourbon, with lighter licorice, cola, barley, toasted caramel and faint vanilla. Feel is warm, smooth, barrel forward with plenty of malt with some barley too

 

 

Kros Strain Barrelywine Volume 9: Bourbon, Barleywine, 13% ABV. Pours dark brownish black (or blackish brown) with a half-finger of light-brown head that left no lacing. Aroma is bourbon, chocolate, fruit, and toffee. Taste is sweet bourbon, strong chocolate, grape, and a hint of toffee, quite sweet, slightly tart, faintly bitter. Excellent mouthfeel, sticky lips, overall world-class. More complex than I expected, and like the others, let it warm a bit.

A wine-hued dark brown with a finger of khaki head that quickly fizzes away into a wisp and crown. Leopard spot lacing melt away in face of thick, viscous sheet-like alcohol legs.

Molasses dominates the nose, with some vanilla, caramel and anadama bread behind.

The same elements carry to the taste, where they’re joined by a strong berry and port wine sweetness. Theres also a hint of acidity I don’t expect from the style, but just a hint. Vanilla and dark molasses are what linger in the aftertaste.

The mouthfeel is thick, oily and chewy.

Very enjoyable. Definitely on the dark side for a barleywine, and not quite as euphoric as other reviews of the series had me hoping.