Catch & Release
Varietal Beer Company

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing nearly opaque in the glass with a one finger dark khaki head with great retention and nice lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, whiskey, vanilla, cocoa and mild oak. Flavor is dark toasted malt, whiskey, cocoa and light oaky vanilla. Light cocoa and whiskey finish. Medium bodied with moderate creaminess. The use of wheat malt gave this a little lighter body than most imperial stouts, but it is quite substantial enough to support the solid whiskey barrel character. I've never had a wheat whiskey, but I'd imagine it would be lighter in grain flavor and that seems to be true here, although the whiskey notes are clear and flavorful; it is somewhat like a rye barrel treatment without that grains tartness and distinct flavor. I enjoyed this quite a bit.