Barrel-Aged Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout
Wynkoop Brewing Company

 

 

 

19.2 FL. OZ. can
Served in a snifter

It black in color with a couple inches of tan head that leaves some decent lacing.

I get some caramel and vanilla notes interspersed with roasted malt and dark fruit. The chocolate and coffee that I smelled in the non barrel aged version has faded in the barrel aged version.

The taste is sweeter than what went into the barrel. I started out tasting the dark fruit, but the caramel and vanilla came to the rescue in the finish. There was some lingering dark fruit flavors though.

Full mouthfeel

I almost think I like the non BA version a little better. The BA version lost the chocolate and coffee flavors and aromas that I liked in the non ba version. This is still a unique and flavorful beer in its own right. I would not shy against drinking this again.

 

 

 

 

 

19.2 oz can. Pours dark brown/black with a medium creamy tan head that quickly goes to a thin film that laces the glass some.

The aroma is sweet chocolate malts and some medicinal bourbon and a touch of salt.

The flavor is sweet roasty fudgy chocolate malts and a little salt with some harsh bourbon in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with smooth carbonation.

Overall, not as good as the original. The bourbon barrels add some off notes and harsh alcohol.

Appearance: Black with red on the edges. Pours a dark tan tight head that dissipates quickly

Aroma: Vanilla, bourbon, rum soaked raisin, roasted malt. Bourbon present but not overpowering

Taste: Very similar to nose. Big vanilla, bourbon, dark fruit, roasted barley, dark bitter chocolate.

Mouthfeel: Medium. Thinner than others in a similar style and fairly highly carbonated but not harsh.

Overall: Really solid beer here. Would buy again if a single can wasn't nearly $9. Not sure what the Rocky Mountain Oysters do besides sell the beer. Pleasantly surprised by this one.

A: A dark black color in the glass with a dark tan head. Fluffy with some frog eyes.

S: Vanilla, and some sharp aromas. Woodsy.

T: Something Very sharp in there. Oak, and Vanilla, as well as the Bourbon. Not a lot of ball taste.

M: Medium, but on the thin side, and fairly high carbonation for the style.

O: Overall the beer isn't strong enough to carry without the gimmick. I could not discern any testicle flavor, but perhaps that's for the best.

 

 

Slighty sour, seems to be a common theme with breweries and stouts nowadays... Didn't affect the beer too much, would drink this immediately before it gets any worse or avoid rolling the dice, if you're thinking about purchasing. Waste of $10.

 

 

19.2 fl oz aluminum can served into a tulip at high altitude Castle Rock, CO. Reviewed live as a barrel aged stout per the label. Served chilled and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. 7.80% ABV. Expectations are high; I quite enjoyed the base.

HEAD: 3 fingers wide. Nice khaki colour head. Good creaminess, thickness, and fullness. Great shiny complexion. Foamy and frothy. No lacing sticks to the sides of the glass as the head recedes. Retention is excellent - ~6-7 minutes.

BODY: Opaque solid black. No yeast particulate or hop sediment is visible.

Appears well-carbonated. Not unique or special-looking, but apt for the style.

AROMA: Dark malts, caramel, marshmallow. It has a soft aroma. Fudge. Milk chocolate. Chocolate malts. Cream. Pleasant notes of bourbon: genuine vanilla bean, some lightly toasted oak, maybe some faint barrel sugar.

It's a pleasant aroma of average strength.

TASTE: It's a bit salty on the climax - the only trace of testicle I notice. The bourbon barrel is similarily faint, but still pleasant: light vanilla, some white oak. Caramel, dark malts, chocolate malts. It's not too sweet, but boasts nice notes of marshmallow and milk chocolate. Incredible cream. Fudge.

Good depth of flavour, though it's a bit reticent. Average duration and intensity of flavour.

Balanced but a bit closed off. There could be more complexity. The testicle doesn't really come through too much, and is more a gimmick than anything else. Still, the beer does deliver as a stout, and grows nicer as it warms. The bourbon is subtle, perhaps to its detriment.

TEXTURE: Creamy, soft, smooth, wet, unrefreshing, comforting, full-bodied, and aptly thick. Has an aptly heavy presence on the palate. This texture is a good companion to the taste, but doesn't elevate the beer.

OVERALL: She's a sipper alright, but it's a tasty stout. Still, the price is a bit high for the quality. I'm excited to see where Wynkoop goes with their barrel aging from here on out. The fudge note steals the show. I'd recommend this to friends, but it's not world class. Luckily, it avoids being the gimmick beer it could easily be. Well worth trying.

B