Old Ben Benthic (2020)
Half Acre Beer Company

16 ounce can into a snifter. Canned 10/13/20, had 12/3/21.

Pours near black and opaque, with a half inch head of darker foam and light foamy cling. Aromas of coffee, coconut, malt, bourbon, oak, char, light vanilla and molasses, light tobacco when warmed. The flavor begins with bold coconut, then bourbon- more as it warms, coffee, malt, vanilla, some chocolate, some oak. Smooth, an excellent full body, appropriately carbonated.

Delicious. Huge coconut a year down the road, expressive aromas and flavors, great barrels that really open up when warm. A stellar effort.

 

 

 

 

16oz can, dated 10.13.2020, poured into a half acre "occult" snifter glass.

The beer pours a deep jet black color, thick and viscous with a finger or so of tan head, modest retention and nice spotted lacing. The aroma is excellent, tons of rich dark chocolate, bittersweet and very decadent with a great oaky barrel character, moderate char, coconut, toffee, caramel, stone fruits, a hint of coffee roast and a nice toasted grain base. The flavors are great, chocolate covered espresso bean, rich dark chocolate ganache, hints of stone fruits that play with the coffee acidity help bring out the barrel character which is rife with charred oak, toasted coconut, toffee, caramel, hot bourbon spirit while a nice dark brown bread base helps tie things together. The mouthfeel is excellent, coating, creamy, heavy full body that is luscious and finishes easily with a hint of warm alcohol.

Verdict: An excellent blend of vintage Benthics that makes for an impeccable stout. The barrel character is so well layered with the adjuncts, the balance is tremendous but the depth of flavor is what makes this so great. Just an excellent beer.

 

 

Canned October 2020; drank 12/26/20 @ the Yarchives.

Black appearance.

A rough pour yielded a HUGE tan head (careful pouring!); strong lace.

Milk chocolate, oak, coconut, mild vanilla & faint bourbon notes in the nose.

Thick, creamy mouthfeel.

Oak, milk chocolate & cream flavors up front; mild bourbon heat & faint vanilla on the finish.

Basically, wood and bourbon forward Benthic; it's interesting, but I think I might prefer the regular iteration better! Still, absolutely worth trying.

 

 

Jet black viscous body, brown head that settles into a collar. Wonderful bourbon barrel aromas baking into the semi-sweet chocolate, coconut, coffee in the nose. Taste is an odyssey of excellence: warm bourbon, black strap molasses, toasty oak, vanillins start before the heavy and huge chocolate fudge and coffee meld in seamlessly, with more bourbon riding on the coattails, but the grand finale of huge toasted coconut added in. Glorious. Feel is big, heavy, warm, has amazing barrel character, and hits all the right BA stout notes with amazing smoothness without lactose. Best body of the series. The wife loved it