BA Midnight Moonlight
Ashton Brewing Company

Poured from 500 ML bottle into a stout glass at 59°. It's inky black in color with a large, foamy, medium-mocha head that fizzled away quickly. It has a big, bold nose with dark chocolate, burnt coffee, molasses, caramel, burnt nuts, rye bread, and a heavy dose of bourbon. Wow, this is very good! It opens with a mix of slightly sweet cocoa and bitter bakers chocolate, along with acidic burnt coffee grounds. In the background there is some additional caramel and molasses sweetness but it's subtle. At mid-sip I can taste the rye and barley from the Crossroads and Patriots Trail Bourbon barrels which add dryness, along with nutty char. The barrel notes are strong and it's a bit boozy for the ABV. The locally distilled bourbon is not quite as smooth as the better known brands. There is a touch of hoppy bitterness at the finish. The flavors blend very nicely. It's mouth feel is excellent: silky and creamy with a pleasant level of carbonation. This batch is 12% ABV and it drinks big. Overall, BA Midnight Moonlight is a very well-crafted BA Imperial Stout. This is top flight by New Jersey standards - not at the level of Kane's top BA Stouts but really very good. Its whole exceeds the sum of its parts. It's a nice winter sipper.