Rye Barrel Whole Lotta Wonderful
Lil Beaver Brewery

 

Appearance: Pours pitch black with 3/4 finger of a dark mocha head that dissipates immediately.

Aroma: The barrel and adjuncted stout are not integrated very well, but still a good aroma. The barrel brings rye spice, bourbon, drying oak tannin, slight vanilla, and green apple (which I don't think is intended). The adjuncted stout delivers real toasted coconut, slight cinnamon (like Red Hots candy), melted milk chocolate, 70% dark chocolate, slight brownie, roasted malt, caramel, and brown sugar.

Taste: Much more integrated than the aroma would lead you to believe. The rye barrel and cinnamon spice, from what I'd imagine is the toasted coconut (I've picked this up in other coconut beers), balances out the sweeter notes of the beer nicely. The toasted coconut is authentic and not sun tan lotion at all. The chocolate comes in the form of milk chocolate bar, 70% dark chocolate, and brownie batter. Roasted malt, coffee grounds, brown sugar, slight caramel, slight vanilla, rye spice, smooth bourbon, and drying oak tannin round it all out. Also get that green apple character I detected in the aroma (especially as it warms)...doesn't ruin the beer at all, but I can't help but wonder if it's an off-flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. Lightly carbonated, slick, sticky, oily, and silky. For such a big beer, it's pretty thin. Could use a lot more body and carbonation.

Overall: I enjoyed this one quite a bit despite the thin mouthfeel and possible green apple off-flavor. Absolutely love the adjuncts in this one and it does come off as a liquid Mounds bar like others have described. If this one can get dialed in, it will be an absolute joy to drink and one to watch out for.

 

Pours moderately thin for 12.9% barrel-aged stout, but with a full finger of head that rapidly and audibly dissipates. The toasted coconut on the nose is something to behold, but the rye whiskey has also contributed some brightness, some green apple, some cider tones. Very interesting contrasts on the palate, but on the whole, that brightness gives a bit of a candied impression, which adds to the overall boozy-Mounds-bar-in-a-glass that this represents.

Something wonderful, indeed.

12oz bottle; 2019 release. poured into Imperial oak snifter/tulip.

Appearance: Pours a quick thick cap of head which aggressively fizzes with a hiss. No lacing and just a thin cap around the glass.

Smell: Coconut is huge. Rye whiskey is also huge. Chocolate stout is the back drop aroma present.

Taste: Rye whiskey forward with massive amounts of toasty coconut. Coconut is authentic and intense; it takes you all the way to maximum coconut flavor without the overshot of sun tan lotion flavors. Rich bourbon and dry oak notes. Coco nibs / dark chocolate base stout flavors.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with low carbonation. This beer is a little bit thin and has some booze heat to it.

Overall: Great nose and flavors. The rye barrel is on point. The mouthfeel is what distracts from this beer achieving greatness. Its thin and boozy. Have heard reports of green apple notes in this beer; not from the bottle I drank.

12oz bottle that was less than a month old. Had a little bit of fizzy tan head that completely disappeared. Smell was chocolate and coconut with noticeable alcohol smell. Tasted fantastic. The coconut really popped, and the finish was pure chocolate. A lot of woody/spicy flavor from the rye barrels. It was a little bit hot, but the heat didn't overwhelm the flavors. Carbonation level was good, but the only slight knock I'd give this beer was that it wasn't very "creamy." Still fantastic though, and I will thoroughly enjoy the 2 other bottles I still have.

Released 7/27/19; drank 8/11/19 @ the Yarchives.

Black appearance.

A violent pour yielded a nice, loud dark khaki head which quickly dissipated; almost no lace.

Oak, whiskey heat, coconut & chocolate notes in the nose.

Thick, sticky mouthfeel.

Chocolate syrup & whiskey heat up front; coconut & dry oak notes on the finish.

This tasted syrup-y / artificial to me, and was too hot by half. Not one I'll seek out again.

 

 

 

 

 

Lil Beaver is known for exceptional use of stated flavors. If they say "rye", you'll taste it. Now Whole Lotta Wonderful is what they used to call Liquid Mounds Bar when they were making it for themselves and some friends, and yes, coconut is the star of the beer. For me the rye is just a twist, doesn't add or detract from the base beer, which is a strong but smooth coconut stout with a medium mouth. World class beer. Rumor is that they may start limited bottling soon. If you can get your hands on a Beaver, don't let go.

 

 

 

 

 

Had on tap. Wow exceptional flavor here, will remember this beer for a long time. Tastes like an almond joy with some woody rye to balance. Smooth, not overly thick or heavy. Smell is not as deep in the sweeter flavors, but otherwise the same. Really an excellent brew, look forward to trying more from these guys