Synergy (Vanilla Coffee)
Counterpart Brewing

Durand purchase. Cost was a whole arm and a leg. 2023 version of this brew. 60% aged 24 months in Booker's bourbon barrels and 40% aged 22 months in ex-Buffalo trace maple syrup barrels. Then conditioned on Honduran espresso beans and a blend of vanilla beans from Uganda and Madagascar. Served well chilled into a trappist glass.

Appearance - Oily and slick black liquid comes from the bottle. Virtually no head poured and this beer is super black.

Smell - Bourbon and coffee shine through nicely, the vanilla is present as is the maple syrup. Good brewing to be able to get all 4 aromas to echo without overpower the others.

Taste - Initial bourbon and the stout shine through, some sweetness from the maple before the coffee beans really kick in. A bit chocolate that reminds me of eating dark chocolate covered coffee beans. The bourbon lingers and keeps a bit of a booziness throughout the sip. Drinks like a slightly lower ABV, the 13% is masterfully hidden here.

Mouthfeel - Thick and slick, very full bodied with very low carbonation. A definite sipper. Some warming in the back of the throat after a few seconds. A touch powdery if that makes any sense, maybe aiding in its perceived density.

Overall - Pretty wonderful brew, a special treat and a nice change of pace during the summer months with a cool evening. The flavor is expressive, the aroma spot on and diverse and just a beer that checks all the boxes in what you are looking for in a big BBA stout.

Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color stout with a dark brown foamy head with some retention and some lacing notes. Aroma of cocoa/chocolate notes with some deep bourbon barrel notes, some vanilla and floral coffee notes and light residual sugar notes. Taste is also a mix of rich chocolate notes with some vanilla and floral coffee notes which are well-balanced against deep woody bourbon notes with some residual sugar notes. Body is pretty full with an oily texture and good carbonation with some discernible alcohol notes. Solid BA stout with a nice level of complexity and a smooth finish.