Good Queen Anne
Ten Eyck Brewing Company

Pours a very deep brown, revealed only around the limb when held up to the light, with moderate foam that never completely disappears. Smell is initially dominated by bourbon, but as it warms, the malt also comer through. Flavor starts with rich and sweet malt and a bit of cocoa, joined shortly by vanilla and bourbon from the barrel. This combination, in excellent balance, hold through to the end. Only in the after taste does the booze come to dominate. The mouth feel is also very well balanced between the rich, full body, significant fine carbonation and the high ABV, although the alcohol also wins in the end here. Overall, this is a tremendous barrel-aged stout. Achieving this balance between beer and barrel is the greatest challenge in barrel aging, and the brewers have done very well here.

Dark pour with little head and a surprisingly powerful (though pleasant) aroma. Very smooth flavor with plenty of cocoa and vanilla, but also a tasteful fruitiness. The bourbon flavor notes blend seamlessly with the rest of the beer, and it notably avoids the boozy flavor pitfall somewhat endemic to high-ABV aged stouts. Truly a finely crafted beer!

A pint can into a Nonic. A dark pour with a nice khaki head and sparse lacing.
Nicely caramelized malt that aged well in the barrel. Pleasant cocoa and dark roasted coffee and subtle vanilla notes. Mild hops bitterness and a smooth finish. The 13% ABV is surprisingly well masked by the flavor profile, not as boozy as expected.