Black Friday Vintage Reserve
Lakefront Brewery

First pour at 52 degrees is rather lack-luster appearance-wise...however, second pour at 58 degrees reveals dark brown almost black liquid with ruby see-through opaque body with some clarity under fizzy, then mousse-like finger thick dark tan head of mixed bubbles; warmer beverage presents decent cap retention, solid ring and sticky lace; medium legs on swirl. Nose is toasted brown sugar, bourbon, caramel malt, dark berries/fruit, currants; some oaky bourbon on exhale; complex mix of fruity and burnt malt aromas. Taste follows nose, and continues to open as liquid warms; oaky vanilla middle with earthy bitterness alongside tobacco and black licorice; herbal hops present with prunes/plums/dark fruity esters; dense rich roasted malt finish. Medium body, some slight warmth from 16.8 percent ABV, but not hot or boozy; dry barrel tongue coating; medium minus carbonation. Overall, a tour de force of aromas and flavors, especially as the beer warmed; thin for ABV and style, but that’s my only real knock; on the other hand, this imperial stout is not syrupy, adjuncty, or phenolic; great balance between malts, residual sugars and barrel notes; nice bitter roast linger; surprisingly little heat from alcohol, but still very deceptive...I do feel the effects near bottle’s end; really a treat and so enjoyable to experience; world class.

Hesitant to drink this because I only got 1 bottle. Supposedly 1000 of these were made but after Lakefront employees etc got theirs, about 750 remained on Black Friday for the rest of us. This is a blend of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 vintages of Lakefront's Black Friday Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. With it being 16.8 abv, I made sure to sip it slow on Christmas Eve. This beer was absolutely incredible. And like I mentioned already, only got one bottle so don't know if I will ever have it again.

Initially it reminded me exactly of Bourbon County on the nose and the taste. But as it warmed it got even better. A beer like Bourbon County is amazing but slightly over the top with it's barrel character and taste. As this warmed, it turned into a fudgey, chocolately, smooth treat. You would have no idea it was almost 17% abv. It drank more like 10 or 11. Mouthfeel was a tad thin but that would be my only complaint. One of the top 5 beers I've ever had.