No Touchy (Elijah Craig 8)
Pathlight Brewing

Pours a heavy, dark brown with oily legs that stick to the glass after a swirl. Head is a finger of khaki bubbles that is more fizz than foam. Aroma features bourbon right off the front, forming a firm foundation for barrel, and roasty, toasty, caramely, and faint bready malts. Fig, chocolate, and toffee show up to add a little further sweetness. As a whole, the balance is sublime, with the heat of the bourbon counters the late sweetness well.

Flavor profile expands on this wonderful heat vs. sweet dynamic, tossing toffee and figgy pudding over whiskey and barrel notes. Heat is present, but faint, never overwhelming the senses. Caramely, toasty, and roasty malts further develop depth.

Mouth feel is medium-thick with a crushed silt that adds texture to the bottom half that sits on the tongue. Outside of the silt, it's creamy.

Overall, barrel and whiskey are forward just enough to have a firm impact in the end result, without being a deterrent or distraction from the rest of the beer. Wonderful to sip.

Draft. Reviewed from notes across two separate draft pour visits.