The Stout - Barrel Aged
Western Collective

16oz can at share. Black pour, small beige head. Bourbon hits the aroma first, backed up by rich, roasty malts. Taste adds some chocolate notes to the formula. Pretty straight forward BA stout.

2022 pint can. Half a finger of head on an opaque base, with light lacing. Nice aromatics, on the sweet and fudgey side, but joined by some tart berries and plum notes. Strong bourbon character on the palate, with a suggestion of smoked malts or hickory ageing that I don't think actually are in the recipe. Does an interesting trick of feeling thick and slurpy on the sip but thinner by the time it reaches the back of the palate.

really well done, no frills stout here without so much barrel character that the base beer is overwhelmed, i am not real keen to try the variants. it drinks big, but not this big, surprised how well hidden the alcohol is. its shiny and black from the tap, has a short but lasting tan head, and isnt as viscous looking as it seems like it needs to be at this size. the nose and taste are the same, dark chocolate fudge brownie batter, straight up, but without the attendant sweetness, impressive. chocolate cookie, almost burnt black coffee, and just a little oak through the whole thing. in some ways its simple, not lacking complexity but not challenging either, slightly speedier tasting and feeling than a slow sipper, i dont feel the need to be super patient with it, and its not sticking to my teeth, but i do get some cool nuance the more i drink it, licorice and cigar, pure dark chocolate bar, and a hint of real vanilla too. pleasant in taste and texture, high end even in terms of quality, and i am again impressed with how far these guys have come in the couple of years i have lived in the state, from decidedly mediocre to approaching excellence across the board. ill get down there to try the variants as soon as i can!