Regular Stout Vs Bourbon Barrel Aged Version

TenFidy is fine without a barrel, thank you very much.

 

Founders Imperial Stout is better than KBS IMO. I have read that base beer for KBS is not the same as the Imperial Stout.

 

Exactly this.

 

I would have to say Great Lakes Blackout Stout is much better than the barrel version.

 

TenFIDY is certainly fine as is but the first time I had the BBA version my Untappd check-in was "Holy Mother of God." Only the CBS I had recently tops it.

 

This is probably Anti-Beer Advocate to say, but I'll take all of my stouts, porters, any beer in a NON Barrel format. If I want whiskey or any other barrel spirit, I'll visit my liquor store. And even then, it will be a gift, not to myself.

I have never cared for Whiskey or Bourbon or Moonshine or any other high alcohol spirit. I enjoy the heck out of Dark style beers, until you drop whiskey in it , or you drop the beer in the barrel.

 

It's a Baltic Porter, but Jacks Abby Framinghammer is better without being barrel-aged, or any of the varieties actually.

 

Here are a few examples where I thought the base was more enjoyable than the barreled version:

Dark Horse Plead the 5th
DDC Peche Mortel
Foothills Sexual Chocolate
HF Daybreak
HF Everette
Närke Stormaktsporter
Bruery Coton

The barreled versions were nice as well, but simply found the regular versions more impressive.

Jeff

 

I agree, I think Bourbon Barrel Aging hides a lot of the flavors I enjoy in a stout/porter/etc plus makes them taste way too boozey and sweet for my liking. I don't mind barrel aging for some beers as long as it's not a barrel that was previously used for any type of spirit.

 

Regular Biscotti Break is better than the bourbon barrel version.

 

The most glaring example for me is Darkness. My favorite non-BA stout, but I had this year's BA version, and it didn't do anything to distinguish itself from the pack. Very disappointing (although good evidence that not everything is improved by barrel aging).

Also, a few months back I had assorted barleywines at GI Clybourn; I forget the names, but there were basically 2 that were non-BA, and one that was BA, and I definitely preferred the non-BA ones.

 

It is hard to imagine the Barrel Aged Narwhal being any better than the regular, but I will find out when I open my bottle, I guess.

 

Regular Stout blows. Bourbon Barrel Aged FTW!

 

I appreciate barrel-aged stouts to mix things up every once and awhile, but I love regular imperial stouts. I think there is usually enough complexity and flavor in a regular stout to more than satisfy my craving for a rich tasting experience.

 

Both please.

 

Love Narwhal but the Barrel Aged Narwhal is even better, IMO

 

I think it depends on your mood and mindset. I usually find myself drinking a barrel aged stout when I want to allocate about an hour to an hour and a half and seriously get my chill on. I really enjoy bourbon and other whiskey, so it's a treat to sip on a well crafted beer marrying the two. Especially considering stouts and other dark beers are my favorite styles. Otherwise, I find non-barrel aged stouts very enjoyable on the semi-regular. TenFidy, Bells Expedition and Founders Imperial Stout are among my favorites.
Also, considering barrel aged stouts seem to be more difficult to get and are more expensive, I typically save them for the right time and savor them.
So, to answer the original question, I can't think of anything I necessarily found 'better' in the original or barrel aged version. Just different.

 

it could have been a bad bottle but i found ba rasputin (XVI) hugely disappointing. and not as good as regular rasputin. not only no barrel character, but it lost the good characteristics of regular raspy.. chocolatey, roasty goodness. could have been that i sat on it too long (over 2 years before opened)

while it was definitely better, ba narwhal was only minutely more interesting that regular. not enough to legitimize the price difference