Farnham Ale & Lager 65 - Imperial Russian Stout Bourbon Barrel
Farnham Ale & Lager - Vermont Laboratory

Poured into a snifter, the appearance was a pure dark brown close to black color with a thin off white to tan head. Minimal lace. The aroma blends the bourbon sweetness to the roasty coffee beans and lush robust cocoa beans nipping at some vanilla bean. The flavor takes the previously mentioned aromas to boot and blend wonderfully. The aftertaste is lush and centered around huge thick chocolate malts and roast and dives into the finish the same way. On the palate, this one sat about a medium on the body with a full sipping quality rolling about. Alcohol hides itself way too well and no alcohol heat/burn is felt. Overall, a barrel aged imperial stout showcasing all of it’s finest qualities, damn right it does. Would I have this again? Does a baby like milk?

Poured from a 16oz can into a speiglau barrel glass.

Look is a deep black with a cafe au lait head.

Aroma is a lot of sweet roast with a slight bourbon hotness at the end.

Taste is more roast malt and less bourbon except for a slight vanilla sweetness at the end.

Excellent balanced BA beer.

 

 

 

 

 

can generously kicked my way courtesy of steve, the hero of the group...after a recent tasting with the crew. not sure how you can call a 7.8% brew a imperial russian stout, but who am I to judge? that said, this puppy packs a fairly robust flavor profile and thick rich body for such a low abv RIS. deep wood flavor, little rough around the edges, but overall a pleasant treat and nice that it isn't 13+%

 

Draught

 

Picked up a can of this a few weeks ago. Pours a pitch black with a rich, luscious brown head. Cocoa, dark fruit and bourbon in the nose. Rich, roasted coffee gives way to cocoa and molasses with a light touch of bourbon. Slick and almost creamy finish. I'm impressed with this example. Look forward to trying more Farnham offerings.

Moderate pour yields a 3/4 inch medium dark tan head with nice lacing and a very nice dark brown body. Nose of roasted malts, and slight whiskey. Taste follows with some added milk chocolate, vanilla, and very slight coffee. Feel is very nice for a lower abv than average BA stout. Overall, this is very nicely done and I will be looking for other lower abv BA stouts in the future to compare. Nice job and cheers!

Dark dark brown
Nice nose
Straight forward stout taste
They say aged in Whistle Pig barrels, but I can't taste that....

Poured from the can into a large snifter glass. Vintage 2016.

Delicious and incredibly dark rich and creamy looking head. Thick milk chocolate brown color, making a mocha top of easy two fingers. Settles with a nice crowned top, and bubbled puck. Sheets of fine lace and legs while exploring the head, sitting on a black walnut really dark body. Just as big and dark as stouts can get and this is no exception.

Aroma seems to keep it simple. Creamy notes of vanilla and a real nice soft roast and hint of char. Not much sense that this comes from a barrel, but the base beer is nicely done. Slight thickness hinting on the body just a little.

Palate has an excellent mouthfeel. Silky and very round in the mouth with lots full sensing flavors. Flavors coat real well but got for subtlety rather than a big sledgehammer effect. Creamy roast character, just a hint of light dark chocolate but has a more milkier sweeter flavor to it in the mid palate. Light roast hints just a touch of coffee and coats slightly oily going to down the gullet. Vanilla really hits nicely here as well.

Some real nice little touches on this, and also a memorable brew.

great looking brew. on the nose are light roasty aromas and some sweet malts, hint of booze. palate offers burnt malt, dark chocolate, leather, ash, espresso like roast, some oak and subtle whisky note. barrel not too noticeable on this. mouthfeel is pretty light - not much for texture. decent beer overall, kind of like a BA light.