The Dogfather (Bourbon Barrel Aged) - Laughing Dog Brewing

abuliarose

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2009 vintage. Poured into a snifter, revealing three fingers of thick, tanned head over a murky dark chocolate body. Smells ok, a little hot and malty but not sweet. Some roasted notes.

Tastes nice and bitter with a strong roasted presence. Some far-flung woodiness with an almost fresh, pine-like twang. Mouthfeel is decently thick and a little drying. Soft, pillowy carbonation with a numbness up front adds a bit to the body. More roasted malts as the beer warms and a slight heat from the bourbon.

Overall it's pretty decent. The barrel may have died down a little, but the roastiness is still right up there.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 23:38:02 | More by abuliarose

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle, I have no idea exactly how old this is but I do know I've had this bottle for about 4 months. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch and a half dark tan head. Head retention is very good, and there's a lot of lacing left behind on the glass. Aroma is mostly roasted malt and bittersweet chocolate, along with some bourbon, oak, vanilla and dark fruit. The brew tastes like roasted/charred malt, caramel, bittersweet chocolate, oak, smoke and some bourbon. It's a mostly bitter/roasty tasting stout with not much sweetness. The bourbon in both the aroma and flavor seems weak to me for a barrel aged beer. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's creamy and dry and is well carbonated. It's also smooth and easy to drink. If you're a fan of bitter roasty stouts, then you would probably like this beer. But if you're expecting a lot of bourbon in this brew, you'll probably be disappointed. Even though the bourbon isn't strong in this brew, I still think this is a good imperial stout. I liked it.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 23:35:22 | More by bluejacket74

kirok1999

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark ruby/garnet, looks thick and leaves a nice wispy brown head.
Smells a lot like mild dark chocolate, a hint of bourbon and caramel and some crisp citrus hops.
Taste is like the smell but a bit amped up. Nice chocolate is well balanced by the malt sweetness. This is thick, rich and creamy and goes down very smooth. Lingering notes of milk chocolate and slight alcohol make it a memorable sipper.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 00:51:14 | More by kirok1999

peabody

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours out really dark black with one finger of brown suds. Lacing around the glass.
Smell is bourbon and charred malts along with a very bitter chocolate aroma. Some fruit such as raisin/dates/fermented apricot.
Taste is a little too strong as the alcohol is way over the top. This beer needs some time to calm down. Right now it's not enjoyable at all.
Mouthfeel is sticky and sweet with lots of alcohol coming into the back of the throat.
Overall is has to be a 3.5 because of the overwheling alcohol here.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 23:07:08 | More by peabody

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +12%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Wow what a great looking imperial stout! Extreme black-hole darkness is matched with a monster tan-brown head, spewing forth to about five fingers, and lasting almost indefinitely, leaving monstrous lacing in thick chunks and sheets. Tremendous appearance.

Lots of roasty and burnt malts dominate the nose. Smoky notes follow. Light bourbon, smidge of alcohol. A gentle fire at your campsite in the woods by the lake rounds it out with what's a darn fine smelling beer. Slightly bitter from what's presumably a bit of hops for balance.

Taste wise I like this stuff! Great smoky malts and roasty campfire flavors come through first, followed with a nice bourbon/smoke/chocolate/espresso coffee bean mix, finished with a touch of hops bitterness. Great boldness without overdoing it and making it undrinkable. The subtleties match the simplicity all at the same time without losing the forward momentum of what's destined to be an in-your-face selection.

The booze is there but it's only an accent. Body is full and nicely thick, finishing with a slightly burnt and amply smoky aftertaste.

I see that the ratings for this one are all over the place. I say great job! This one I will buy again for the sole purpose of consuming the entire bomber to myself. I don't know what more you can ask than that.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 18:12:31 | More by AlCaponeJunior

FLBeerGuy

Florida

3.63/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with a creamy mocha head that leaves good lacing.

Nose is bourbon, sweet dark fruit, roasted malts and alcohol.

Taste is bourbon, sweet dark fruit, roasted malts, some chocolate, alcohol and some hop bitterness. It finishes dry, maybe woody.

Mouthfeel is creamy & smooth.

Not one of the best bourbon barrel aged stouts I've had

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 02:26:03 | More by FLBeerGuy

FosterJM

California

2.75/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

577th review on BA
Bottle to Snifter
22oz

Last birthday beer left. Thanks for the gift AL!

App- When it comes out of the bottle its a very dark brown with some garnet edges. Has a two finger big puffy and pretty thin albeit bubbly head. Couple dots of cling

Smell- I agree with threeviews. I have sat here for about 1/2 hr and cant think of some good adjectives or comparisons. I don't get the usual stout or Imperial or Bourbon smells so I am lost. Spritzy seems to fit, a bit of wet sod? maybe.

Taste- Where is the stout? Where is the bourbon? Its missing a lot of things for me to like this and a thickness with some bold flavors are the key. Its a bit of a spritzy, bubbly stout that seems to be more akin to a foreign export stout, high on the bubbles and low on flavor but missing.

Mouth- A bit thin and really bubbly. Just leaves a thick feel on the tounge but not much flavor behind it.

Drink- I really had high hopes for this beer. I loved the premise of the name and the bourbon. I was hooked and then I saw it and got pulled in. The smelled it and felt sad, then tasted it and it was worse. Oh, well. At least it was free.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2011 03:27:37 | More by FosterJM

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

2.25/5  rDev -38.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle poured into a pint glass

A: Pours black with a thick, syrup consistency. The head is a beautiful tan color and is prominent. Very prominent. In fact, it’s been sitting for about 10 minutes now and there’s still about a half inch on there. I could lay on it like a pillow. Mmm, maybe next time.

S: Smells very potent with espresso and charcoal and a hint of olive, similar to DogZilla Black IPA.

T/M: The taste is lighter than the smell makes you think; rich roasted coffee beans, a hint of nuttiness and some alcohol in the finish. Fortunately, the olive smell doesn’t come through in this one. Unfortunately, the bourbon isn’t noticeable either. The alcohol sting in the end could be it, but it tastes nothing like bourbon should taste.

It’s like they brewed the beer, then tasted it and realized, “Oh crap, we forgot to put it in bourbon barrels. Quick, add some more random alcohol, no one will ever know.” It could be much better.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2011 00:14:21 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

threeviews

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into a short-stem, tulip glass

A- Pours like a bottled stout or a porter....a 1", golden head which stands strong for a good minute or so...liquid is black as night

S- This is where I am completely lost...after a 1/2 hour, I still cannot place the nose of this brew. It is sweet, but unlike I have ever sampled before...dare I say some sort of bourbon/malt/chocolate/smoke/vanilla hybrid...and that still does not define it well. I apologize, but I dare anyone to try and classify the nose. However, this is NOT what I expected to emit from an Imperial Stout (Bourbon Barrel Aged or not)...(grassy and woody are terms that also come to mind)

T- Good and even Better as it warms...when this puppy (pun intended) warms a bit, the bourbon notes start to flourish.

M- Really good. Poured a bit aggressively and let sit a few minutes, the carbonation seemed just right. I certainly wouldn't recommend drinking this one straight from the bottle...glassware is in order for sure!

O- As I close in on my first bottle, I am enjoying it more and more. I do taste the bourbon booze, but only as it warms so I say that this is a sipper...I encourage everyone who has access to this libation to try it, as it will challenge your palate...

Furthermore, I would love to know just exactly what type/brand of bourbon barrels they used, as that might by dictating that curious nose...nothing on their website gives indication.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 22:03:26 | More by threeviews

ryanonline

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep dark black and lots of tan foam. Humongous gobs of lacing.

Lots of chocolate and vanilla flavors. Even a little bit of sarsparilla scent. Light floral scent. Very sweet, not much roasty flavor which is odd.

More sweet and flowery flavors but am now findng the more roasty coffee like flavors. Not really finding a lot of bourbon but there is a there is a very dry flavor to it, somewhat woody.

The mouthfeel is very dry with a heavy body and very foamy carbination.

Actually quite drinkable, however heavy and strong.

Awesome beer. A bit odd in some respects but I really enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2011 03:00:06 | More by ryanonline

UCLABrewN84

California

3.33/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

10.85% ABV per label.

Pours an opaque black with a 1 inch dark tan head that becomes a film on the top of the beer. Random splotches of lacing form on the glass on the drink down. Smells of dark malts, dark candied fruits, chocolate caramel, and wood. Taste is woody to the max. There is an off chemical taste almost, like the wood was treated somehow. Other flavors are dark malts, licorice, and cocoa powder. There is a moderate bitterness on the palate after each sip. The beer has good carbonation which makes it crisp and smooth. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with a very nice smell but the chemical wood taste take some points away from the experience.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 04:13:15 | More by UCLABrewN84

barleywinefiend

Washington

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured jet black with good carbonation leaving a nice brown cap and bubbles

S: Bourbon, light funk, cocoa and booze

T: Bitter chocolate merried with booze, hints at funk, roasted malt, light coffee, bourbon.

M: Hearty. Big body, lots of flavor.

O: Good beer worth trying. Easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2011 15:08:36 | More by barleywinefiend

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottle of this at Julio's after missing it on tap at the Armsby Abbey.

A - Poured into my Duvel tulip a deep brown nearly black pour with a HUGE fluffy three finger head that quickly slumped down to leave a dark mocha cloud and spotty side lacing. Impressive head for a strong brew.

S - Somewhat burnt sugar/sweet carmel roasty malts. Super light chocolate aroma and decent coffee with not nearly enough bourbon or wood for that matter.

T - Similar to the nose here, with the chocolate and coffee being slightly more pronounced. The bourbon is here too, though very subtle. Its good, yeah, but not that assertive in-your-face bourbon that is so typical with this style.

M - Nice and creamy and smooth with the alcohol being hidden nicely. Isnt quite as chewy though as one hopes.

O - Overall, this is a tasty stout. Its just, there are so many better barrel aged stouts out there, some even lower than this price, that I can't justify spending the money on this again.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 01:49:17 | More by rudzud

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.03/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Review based on notes, tasted in February...

Pours mahogany with a pinky of fast falling tan head. Above average head retention, average lacing & a nice viscious look to this

S:Dark fruit, figs & woody hops. Bourbon notes shine once warm

T: Figs, dark chocolate, vanilla, woody hops & oaky boozeyness up front. Bourbon notes, black cherry, oakyness & plums, plus figgyness as this warms. Finishes with strong oaky notes, some warming booze notes & figs & vanilla

MF: Fairly chewy, firm carbonation, doesn't smooth out as much as I hoped

The booze bite detracts a bit, but I do like this a little better than the regular version

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2011 03:46:14 | More by russpowell

harrymel

Washington

3.08/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Heard rumors this puppy was infected. So, here we go:
Vintage 2010

A: Pours a black as night beer. Two fingers mocha head falls slowly to a sheet of the same. Sub-cobweb lacing.

S: Spicy bourbon character. Vanilla, oak, malt, licorice, alcohol. As it warms, hints of sharp vinous character comes thru, only hint of infection.

T: Lots of malt. Bourbon is a little more subdued. Soil flavor in there as well. Oats. Bitterness (presumably from hops). Not particularly complex for a BBA.

M: Medium to heavy body with lower carb.

O: I really appreciate the Dogfather, the BBA version gets much of it's character from the barrel. I wish they were more aware of the time to benefit ratio (they age it 8 months and blend it back with fresh stuff) for the beer. Would do better with less time IMO.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2011 17:25:49 | More by harrymel

TheDudeRules

Minnesota

2.78/5  rDev -24%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into my Darkness snifter.

A very dark brown, not quite black pour with a mountain of tan mocha head. Sticky lacing remains. Fig and dark fruit, most notably plum emit from my glass. Very thin in my mouth. Drinks much like a brown ale. Carbonation is there but not a whole lot. A bit of a creamy chocolate taste, with a note of raisin. A boozey burn on the back end. The more the beer warms the booze bite becomes unbearable. Rubbing alcohol.

I opened this because I read several people citing it may be infected. I can safely say this bottle is not. This is more of a heavy duty brown ale than a imperial stout for me. If I am to grade on style, this is pretty poor. An underwhelming attempt for a fledgeling company. I do think there is potential here in the future though.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 03:48:30 | More by TheDudeRules

jwinship83

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle picked up at a local liquor store. ive never seen this brand sold anywhere else in my area. hmmm. no date anywhere to be found. bottle reads 10.85% ABV. drank from my stone IRS glass.

A- this one pours out an opaque pitch black colored body with a rather large dark khaki colored head on top. the head lasts for a minute before falling, and leaves behind a nice complete wall of lacing. cant ask for anything more from the style. perfect.

S- the high level of alcohol makes itself known in a big way and fast. the bourbon barrel adds to it some. dark roasted malts. lots of chocolate (dark mostly, but some milk chocolate as well). vanilla/oak from the barrel. coffee at the end.

T- the taste starts out with some darkly roasted malts and quickly shows the alcohol again. lots of booziness without much bourbon at all. the vanilla/oak barrel still comes through and plays nicely with the copious amounts of chocolate in here. both light and dark, but the dark seems heavier. lots of coffee on the finish.

M- this is a solid full bodied beer. plenty of warmth from the alcohol. a little on the sweet side. the carbonation is at a nice and subdued level.

O- i liked this one more than i thought that i was going to. i had it at EBF, but i dont really remember the details. well call it palate fatigue. looking forward to the other bottle i have of this.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 03:13:55 | More by jwinship83

jera1350

Minnesota

3.7/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks again to Jesse (arniepnminne)!

Pours a solid black with a massive mocha colored head. Maybe too much head? Loads, and I mean LOADS of sticky lacing all around the glass.

Very sweet smelling. Molasses, chocolate syrup and vanilla. A little bit of oak and bourbon with some hop scent.

Chocolate syrup dominates the flavor. There is also some smokey notes. Almost a bacon fat flavor. Hop bitterness happening along with roasty malt and molasses. Some oak in the background, but not really getting bourbon. There is some warm alcohol though. Toasty char aftertaste. The taste seems to be all over the place even though it has complexity. The overall product doesn't really mesh.

Their seems to be a bit too much carbonation even though it is very soft. A bit thin for the style, but not way off.

I think this is a nice attempt, but their just seems to be too much happening. Maybe the non-barell aged works better? Not much in the way of bourbon barrel happening which I was most hopeful for.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 01:34:37 | More by jera1350

Naugros

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

No marking on the bottle to tell this was the bourbon barrel-aged version, but the first sniff made it clear that Scott was right and that my favorite liquor store didn't pay attention to the cases when they came in.

The only way to get a stout to look any better than this is to have the Face of God magically appear in the head. Super dark with a light brown head that has a ruddy tinge to it. And the head is HUGE and rocky as all get out. I got it to extend above the rim of my nonick by about 1/2" before it spilled over a little.

I had wanted a bit more bourbon in the nose, but it takes a backseat to big, bold roasty notes. Coffee, for sure and a little bit of meatiness and slightly muddy or soy sauce. It's possible that there is some autolyzation, but hard to tell in a beer this big.

Again, I had wanted a little more aggression from the bourbon imparted from the barrels. As it stand it only comes through as a tingle on the tip of the tongue and the upper palate, just above the tip of the tongue.The malts throw off a ton of bitterness that get your saliva running from all the back corner recesses. The soy sauce sense is back but the meatiness is gone.

Not quite viscous, but certainly mouth-filling. The bitterness lingers in the aftertaste as does the bourbon tingle on the tongue.

I enjoyed this version of The Dogfather and I'm glad that we got it at the place I frequent. I had picked this up just to give me a relax, drink and enjoy beer with no pressure to review, but once I got a whiff of it and realized what I had, I had to get some notes down so I could compare to the original. Time to hit the "Review" button and go see how the scores compare.

QUICK EDIT: Identical scores! Gotta love consistency!

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 02:24:40 | More by Naugros

Arkofsax

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +21%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- almost pitch black with a reddish outline, great dark tan head with excellent lacing.

S- By no means bad, but the smell didn't quite seem to match up with the stellar quality of everything else about this brew. Very much a mirror of the taste; hoppy coffee with a hint of chocolate and raisin?

T- Excellent, the barrel-aging certainly adds a forward taste to the beer, chocolate completes the "middle-section" and the coffee and fruity tastes provide an incredibly complex aftertaste.

M- Carbonated perfectly to provide just the right amount of bite and heaviness. I definitely wouldn't want to drink more than 1 of these... or maybe i do!

O- Definitely a top notch brew. Everything comes together so perfectly to create a memorable drink that I would certainly purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 04:14:16 | More by Arkofsax

Bierguy5

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. bottle, 10.85% abv. Pours very close to pitch black, maybe just a hint of a brown hue. Huge rocky tan head. Excellent retention here as well as lace. Hard to look much better.

Nose is full of roasted malt, dark chocolate, dark ripe fruit. Bourbon, oak and vanilla notes come in. Caramel covered fruit. An earthy and slightly spicy note at the finish.

Roasty notes up front. Bourbon notes come in quickly and almost a bit harsh. A good amount of ripe fruit, and also some butterscotch notes. Some drying oak tannins near the end.

Medium body, with a higher rate of carbonation. Some warmth from the alcohol. The flavors seem to be contradicting each other rather than complimenting. There is a lingering solvent feel which detracts significantly. Not sure I would get this again. Looks and smells great, but a let down in the taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 23:24:06 | More by Bierguy5

Wasatch

Utah

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to LiquidArrogance for this brew.

22oz. Bomber

Poured into a chalice a nice black color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy tan head, with some sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with lots of chocolate/toffee notes, nice little bourbon/oak note. The taste is malty, slightly sweet, nice notes of dark stuff, bourbon/oak notes. Medium Body, the ABV is hidden very well with this brew. Overall a very nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 01:24:57 | More by Wasatch

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Having never tasted the standard Dogfather I can't compare the Bourbon barrel aging. What I can say is that it's distinct, but not overdone. You find it in the nose but with so much chocolate and roastiness going on it's just a minor component. In the flavor, however, it's quite clear, expressing both Bourbon and wood. That said....

This is one black beer, with a dark brown head (orange cast) that lasts and leaves remarkable sheets of solid lacing behind as it goes.

The nose is completely chocolatey, caramelish, fudge-like, and roasty with notes of fresh coffee grounds.

The flavor is rich and malty, displaying yeasty fruitiness wrapped in caramel, sprinkled with grassy/spicy hops, and then covered in sugared-espresso-like roastiness. It's almost like some kind of Italian dessert. Every sip is full and complete and totally satiating; and in that sense, this is not an "easy to drink" beer. It should be sipped and savored like a tiny cup of espresso (I was initially going to say barleywine, but espresso is more concise). It has some of the dark fruit normally associated with the style, and it hints at the burnt currant that Michael Jackson was so fond of, but it's not quite there. And the hops are leafy, woody (or is that just the wood?), grassy, and spicy. There's also a slight mineral-ish edge to it. Most of it, however, is that velvet robe of roasty malt I mentioned upfront. And I use the word robe because it's covering and comforting and soft, but not heavy or cloaking. It's airy and smooth... but dense and full at the same time. Black velvet... ? Cliche, but succinct. Regardless, the whole of it is that it's superbly well rounded and balanced: there's no harsh edge of dark malt acidity, no bite of alcohol, and no overt bitterness.

Overall, the Bourbon barrel aged Dogfather rises to the challenge. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 01:43:53 | More by NeroFiddled

corby112

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

I've been looking for this one for a while and was fortunate enough to find it at a Total Wine in Ft. Lauderdale.

Pours pitch black and completely opaque without even the faintest hint of lighter color when held to a light source and a frothy two finger mocha head. Excellent retention, only slowly fading into a thick lasting cap that coats the glass with large chunks of soapy lacing.

Sweet malty aroma with a prominent boozy bourbon barrel character. Lots of earthy oak with subtle hints of vanilla and a very strong bourbon presence. Underneath, the base beer is still evident in the nose. Deep roasted malt profile that is slightly acrid with hints of chocolate, toffee, espresso bean and oatmeal. There's also, surprisingly, a strong hop presence with hints of earthy pine and sweet citrus fruit. The nose, although dominated by the bourbon, still has plenty of roasted malt which is a good sign that this won't be a complete booze bomb.

Medium boded with an overly sweet bourbon barrel presence up front that lingers throughout and dominates the other flavors. Lots of dry, toasted oak with sweet bourbon and very faint vanilla notes. The combination of dry, earthy oak and deep roasted malt make this beer a bit to acrid/burnt tasting and the dryness/bitterness from the piny hops add to this sensation. The bourbon presence gives off a lot of sweetness but not a lot of heat or warmth. The ABV is well masked but it's still kind of harsh, making it tough to drink. Underneath, there is a deep roasted malt character with hints of acrid, ashy burnt toast, bittersweet dark chocolate, oatmeal and burnt espresso beans. Bitterness from the hops kick in toward the end of the palate lingering into a long dry finish.

Overall, I was really disappointed with this beer. I love the base beer and have really been looking forward to trying the BA version. The barrel aging adds very little to the beer and in fact hurts it. Not enough bourbon flavor, just sweetness along with a very dry roasted oak presence. This kills the luscious chocolate malts of the base beer without providing anything interesting or tasty in it's stead. I'm glad that I finally got to try this one but I'll stick with the regular version.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 05:43:11 | More by corby112

codsmith

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Black with a thin light mocha colored head that sticks around the entire top and clings to the sides of the glass

S - Has a very sweet malt characteristic that mixes well to leave a light bourbon nose

T - The bourbon is the forerunner of this full bodied stout. There is also a roasted coffee, bitter chocolate flavor that bites at the end. You can really tell that this is an Imperial stout

M - Full bodied. Very thick in malt characteristic, but thinned out with the addition of bourbon. Very much a meal in a glass. Carbonating is very well done.

O - Good full bodied stout, but a little too much bourbon to finish a big bottle by yourself.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 21:43:27 | More by codsmith