Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
7 Seas Brewing - Tacoma Taproom & Brewery

2023 edition served at the tap room, in a long stemmed Pinot noir type glass, looks awesome, deep dark black with a few subtle shades of brown, thin ring of khaki head that subsides quickly. Nose is potent but a little one note that is kind of muddled: definitely strong bourbon notes, some nice charred wood, pronounced baker’s chocolate. On the taste, everything from the nose is there, and then also a little more roasted grain and biscuity malt, the chocolate is more pronounced, and then there is a little green citrus and floral hoppiness, though it is more malty and less hoppy than many imp stouts one usually comes across these days. It is a little syrupy on the mouthful, but not too heavy, given the abv, and not at all hot. It’s nice and kind of older school (as in what I might have expected from a good imp stout 15 years ago)

 

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing nearly opaque black in the glass with a two finger dark khaki head with great retention and nice lacing; looks great. Aroma of dark toasted malt, cocoa, mild coffee and bourbon. Flavor is dark toasted malt with moderate char, bakers chocolate, woody oak and mild vanilla and coffee. A bit of dry biscuit with lingering malt char and unsweetened chocolate. A full flavored, roasty stout. The bourbon barrel notes are subdued, but there is a little woodiness in the finish. Base stout is malty with light smokiness and good chocolate. It's nice to have a rich malty stout with little sweetness for a change. Old fashioned barrel aged stout, in a good way.