Bo & Luke
Against The Grain Brewery
- From:
- Against The Grain Brewery
- Kentucky, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #115 - ABV:
- 13%
- Score:
- 94
Ranked #2,225 - Avg:
- 4.25 | pDev: 9.41%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 124
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 24, 2025
- Added:
- Oct 08, 2012
- Wants:
- 375
- Gots:
- 249
SCORE
94
Outstanding
94
Outstanding
Originally an Against the Grain Brewery and Brouwerij De Molen collaboration beer. For the first incarnation, De Molen head brewer Menno Oliver hopped in a muscle car and drove straight through from the Netherlands to Louisville, KY (that's USA folks) to brew this bourbon inspired ale, and we liked it so much, we decided to do it again. We took the ingredients in bourbon whiskey (Barley, Rye, Corn) and then smoked them with cherry wood and brewed a huge imperial stout with them. Then to top it off we aged it in Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrels. The resulting beer is rich, smokey and complex, with a bourbon character of caramel, vanilla and spice.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by Manta200 from Kentucky
4.25/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Single can from Party Source
Dec 24, 2025
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina
4.25/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Look: It pours very dark brown with a brown head. Head retention is good.
Smell: There are some smoky elements up front that are likely bacon like with chocolate and nuts. There are like wood aromas with bourbon as well.
Taste: It has strong smoke and nuts in the flavors with roast and chocolate. There are some vanilla notes in support with bourbon.
Feel: It has a full body with strong alcohol warming and a bittter kick in the finish.
Overall: When I first looked at the can, it sound like something that was not going to mix well. Great job to Against the Grain because not only does this flavor combination work, it works well.
Jan 26, 2025Smell: There are some smoky elements up front that are likely bacon like with chocolate and nuts. There are like wood aromas with bourbon as well.
Taste: It has strong smoke and nuts in the flavors with roast and chocolate. There are some vanilla notes in support with bourbon.
Feel: It has a full body with strong alcohol warming and a bittter kick in the finish.
Overall: When I first looked at the can, it sound like something that was not going to mix well. Great job to Against the Grain because not only does this flavor combination work, it works well.
Reviewed by cwm51662 from Indiana
4.19/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Black, little head. Not smoky in aroma, but try biting the head and you get it! Beyond that, a solid bourbon barrel stout, definitely boozy and coming in a pint can, caution, caution!
Aug 28, 2024
Reviewed by mntlover from Tennessee
4.27/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark back no wonder light getting thru anyway, nice big thumb sized dark tan head falls slow and laces well.
Aroma is nice smooth lots of smoke, cherry notes, chocolate some lighter coffee, vanilla spice light barrel notes.
Taste is big ass stout, roasted malt with a good smoke presence. Cherry, vanilla chocolate bourbon notes finish lightly spicy. Alcohol is noticeable but it's not hot per say.
Mouthfeel is big smooth made a little lighter by the alcohol perhaps.
Overall a big ass stout that's enjoyable, the smoke is a nice touch.
Dec 29, 2023Aroma is nice smooth lots of smoke, cherry notes, chocolate some lighter coffee, vanilla spice light barrel notes.
Taste is big ass stout, roasted malt with a good smoke presence. Cherry, vanilla chocolate bourbon notes finish lightly spicy. Alcohol is noticeable but it's not hot per say.
Mouthfeel is big smooth made a little lighter by the alcohol perhaps.
Overall a big ass stout that's enjoyable, the smoke is a nice touch.
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
4.01/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look - Fanastic classic black and thick with a great foamy tan head and lacing
Smell - toasty malt slight tobacoo and wood
Taste - black liquice along with some woody tobacoo and chocolte malt
Feel - medium full body light carb
Overall - interesting different ba stout
May 18, 2023Smell - toasty malt slight tobacoo and wood
Taste - black liquice along with some woody tobacoo and chocolte malt
Feel - medium full body light carb
Overall - interesting different ba stout
Reviewed by SFACRKnight from Colorado
4.46/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Looks good, smell is pretty average, nothing standing out, booze and roasty malts. Flavor, well it's a damned good beer. Chocolate, Coffee, smoke, booze, oak, marshmallow, sweet roasty malts. Good mouthfeel, could use more heft. Overall, yeah, great beer. I'm digging the smoke trend in stouts lately.
Jun 16, 2022
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
4.23/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
This one was an extra in an in person trade with zid! I appreciate it man, I love smoked beers in any capacity, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a smoked stout, so I’m excited for this one. A big old RIS is perfect for this freezing night as well, so let’s just crack it open
Pours nearly pitch black with 2 fingers of dark brown head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing
There’s not all that much smoke going on in the nose here, more of just a typical RIS roast. I’m picking up on aromas of dark chocolate, dark roast coffee, toasted malt, char, sweet caramel, light oak, and raisin
Oh man, the smoke is way more hefty in taste, adding a really nice vibe on the latter half. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting rich toffee, dark chocolate, smoked oak, medium roast coffee, brown bread, and caramel. The swallow brings notes of cherry wood smoke, rich caramel, earthy hops, toffee, rye whiskey, and dark chocolate
A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a rich and velvety beer. Finishes mostly dry and becomes completely dry after the smoke takes full effect in the aftertaste
This is definitely a sipper, but it also drinks easy for what it is. Great stuff
Jan 04, 2022Pours nearly pitch black with 2 fingers of dark brown head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing
There’s not all that much smoke going on in the nose here, more of just a typical RIS roast. I’m picking up on aromas of dark chocolate, dark roast coffee, toasted malt, char, sweet caramel, light oak, and raisin
Oh man, the smoke is way more hefty in taste, adding a really nice vibe on the latter half. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting rich toffee, dark chocolate, smoked oak, medium roast coffee, brown bread, and caramel. The swallow brings notes of cherry wood smoke, rich caramel, earthy hops, toffee, rye whiskey, and dark chocolate
A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a rich and velvety beer. Finishes mostly dry and becomes completely dry after the smoke takes full effect in the aftertaste
This is definitely a sipper, but it also drinks easy for what it is. Great stuff
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