Velvet Walrus - Bourbon Barrel Aged
Väsen Brewing Company

CANNED ON 10/25/19

Opaque black with chestnut edges and 1-finger beige head with decent retention but pretty amazing lacing for the style.

Aroma is huge with marshmallow, milk chocolate, toffee and then the more barrel related notes of vanilla, coconut, and bourbon alcohol. There are some subtle coffee notes and some roast poking through.

Flavor is good but feels like it is trailing off a bit with a lot of milk chocolate and lighter roast and cappuccino notes with some booziness and bourbon and toffee sweetness in the finish. Bitterness is low and could be higher to help balance the high sugar load.

Feel is a bit thin for the style although improves somewhat with warming. Carbonation is appropriately low but body is medium+ rather than high as it should be for a barrel-aged imperial milk stout.

I can’t argue with this beer — I think they could make a few tweaks to the base beer to upgrade the feel and flavor and really hit a home run. As it is, it is a good barrel-aged stout but has room to improve.

Dark and boozy with a nice coconut/barrel kick toward mid palate. The barrel note tastes wet and fresh. Cocoa powder and cream. Some residual sweetness and a tinge of fruit in the finish. Medium to full-bodied. Recommend.