Dark Rage Barrel Aged
Arvon Brewing Co.

Lots of rich chocolate for a base, very nice. The barrels are wonderful, oaky tobacco and a nice boozy bite. The cold brew is pretty subdued, but provides a satisfying undercurrent. The vanilla is more potent than I prefer but I imagine others would appreciate it more. Overall a very well done stout. Thanks Craig!

Barrel Aged Dark Rage from Arvon Brewing. 16 fl oz can. Received from @Whyteboar in Barleywine and Stout BIF #2. Received 22/02/25, reviewed 26/02/25 (Review 3455). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Undated can. Stored at 39 degrees F at home. Served at 55.9 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 65.6 degrees F.
Appearance – 4
First pour – Deep Brown (SRM 30), nearly opaque.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, red amber at the edges.
Head: Average (1.3 cm, aggressive center pour), caramel. High density. Average retention, leaving a 0.15 – 0.3 cm crown and no cap.
Lacing – None
Aroma – 4 – Weak chocolate. No hops, no yeast, no ethanol (13.8% ABV, as marked on label). No disulfide or diacetyl. Oddly, no coffee.
Flavor – 4.25 – Begins with both chocolate and coffee, but not any bitterness (cold brew). No yeast, no hops, no ethanol. No disulfides, no diacetyl. Barely noticeable gastric warming, remarkable for the ABV.
Palate – 4 – Medium; approaching creamy; soft carbonation.
Style: Follows the loose style guidelines as condensed by BA.

Final impression and summation: 4 (After deducting 0.25 point for an undated personal container) Very nice! The cold brew coffee balances the chocolatey malt well. The initially weak gastric warming rises extremely slowly (we’re talking 10+ minutes) to a borderline uncomfortable level, then falls precipitately. Good beer – looks like a trip to Horrocks in Gd Rapids is in my near future!

I’ve heard good things about Arvon brewing but they price their beers out of my normal budget. That stated, a BA Stout with vanilla and coffee? Had to try it.
The pour was espresso brown and opaque black in the snifter. The very enthusiastic head didn’t know if it was coming or going so it left. No lacing either, maybe should knock down that rating another notch.
The aroma, not much getting through my nose since my bout with Covid but I did get a sharp, almost whisky smell. Interesting.
The taste has zero whiskey flavors. Plenty of bourbon, touches of vanilla and coffee may be in there or it’s just malt, not sure. Lots of roasted malts and no harsh notes or hops detected. I think this is a delight to drink.
The feel is good, sufficiently viscous for the ABV. Nice sipper.
I picked this up for research. Yeah, that’s the ticket, research. Wish I could have afforded the 4 pack so I could stick a few in the cellar. Ah well. If I find it again I’ll definitely pick one or two up for NBW BIF purposes. Gotta have good beer to bomb porches with!