Dark Horse Bourbon Barrel Aged Plead The 5th - Dark Horse Brewing Company

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.97/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Big thanks to Patchmaster for trading me this bottle.

Vintage 2011, poured into my Bruery snifter.

A: Pours a used motor oil looking, completely opaque, pitch black. The only head on this beer is the tiniest ring of a thin mocha coloring along the top of the beer that clings to the glass for dear life.

S: Bourbon, wood, toast, raisin, dark and milk chocolate, vanilla, and just the slightest hint of cherry. Damn, this is exactly how I imagined this beer to smell. It's incredible.

T: Starts off with a nice boozy kick in the face, but all of the flavors of this beer shine through as that first hit begins to mellow. I'm getting dark chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and wood. The raisin and cherry don't come through in the taste, and I'm fine with that. The finish is milk chocolate, some lingering booze, and a bit of burnt toast. Fantastic.

M: Full bodied beer. It's not over or under carbonated. The flavors are a bit sticky, but nothing overwhelming. It's boozy, but ohh so creamy.

O: This beer is phenomenal. The hype is totally justified. I can't wait to see how this beer ages!

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 00:30:53 | More by trxxpaxxs

MbpBugeye

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Obviously the first beer I sampled from Dark Horse's living room at the Brewers Guild Fest in Ann Arbor 2010. I was excited to get to try this one as Plead the 5th is one of my favorite beers.

Quite vinous at times but chocolate and bourbon squash that. There is dark fruits, vanilla, oak, chocolate, bourbon and alcohol.

Taste is fantastic. This beer beat out CBS, KBS, Black Note and lots of other big stouts with major hype that were at the fest. We ended up going back for more of this. Our resounding favorite of the day. Theres nothing too frilly about it. Its just a big ass stout with dark fruits, coffee, chocolate, molasses soaked in oaky and vanillay tasting bourbon barrels.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2010 21:58:51 | More by MbpBugeye

JLDyer

Michigan

4.93/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A very good example of the style. Chocolate and licorice sit fairly thick on the tongue then changes to hints of spices at the finish. Very smooth with no bite or sense of the high alcohol content. Pairs well with beef and sharp cheddar cheese. I have had this from the tap at the brewery every time it is on the tap list, which is not very often. One of my very favorite beers.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2011 21:41:46 | More by JLDyer

travMI13

Michigan

4.93/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2011 vintage. 12 oz. bottle (silver wax) poured into a snifter.

A: This beer pours black as night with slightly reddish edges. Even with an aggressive pour, there is only a very slight tan head to this. The head recedes quickly. Very little lacing.

S: Booze (bourbon), vanilla, and chocolate. All of the things you would expect from a bourbon barrel imperial stout. I must say that the booze definitely dominates, but there is a very sweet quality about it as well.

T: All the flavors from the nose come together beautifully. The chocolate and bourbon dominate the taste, but not in a boozy way. It is very sweet and sticky. A definite liquid dessert. I am very surprised this is not more boozy. The alcohol is well-hidden.

M: Sticky, creamy, and smooth. The lingering flavors are nice on the tongue. I don't get an overly heavy feeling in my mouth, but the sweetness definitely lingers a while. It does not have that full-coating feeling I have gotten from other bourbon barrel imperial stouts.

O: This beer is fantastic. I love sweet imperial stouts, and this is one of the best. Dark Horse takes an already fantastic base beer and hits a grand slam with it. After having it on draft last week at Ashley's in Westland, I decided to crack a bottle to compare. Draft and bottle versions of this are very comparable and equally impressive. I may even stack this alongside KBS and Black Note. One of the true gems of the Michigan craft beer community.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 04:14:40 | More by travMI13

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On Tap at Hulmeville Inn in a fricken pint glass, are you guys trying to kill me!?!???!?

A- Bourbon 5th is a big ol black stout, it looks dark as night. Really thick looking to, not on the thin side at all. The liquid kinda coats the glass. A very minimal dark brown cap on top not leaving any traces on the glass.

S- While not the most explosive nose on this, 5th remains a big ol roasted malt masterpiece with malts(duh), getting a nice chocolate base with cocco and some underlining vanilla. Dark fruits play a big part in this and bourbon is there but muted. Smells delicious:)

T- Regular 5th is smooth as silk and this bourbon aged one is just as smoooth, if not smoother. The bourbon does not overpower and sort of takes a backseat to the base beer. Chocolate, deep roasted malts, dark fruits, vanilla and some bourbon. This is not hot at all.

M- For the supposed 14% this is not hot at all, no heat whatsoever. Creamy, thick, coating, inviting. Thick bodied, almost barely carbed up. This just glides down. An excellent feel on this bad boy.

D- Ok, 14% is very high and all, nowhere near a session beer. I drank my pint with ease. I would drink more but I have to stay alive, if I was at home drinking this, bourbon 5th would be a all dayer. Im not a big stout guy lately but this one is worth the damage that the alcohol will do over time. This one is a winner and possibly the best bourbon aged stout that I ever had. I drank this along with older vis and bourbon black and this one took the cake.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2010 22:47:10 | More by onix1agr

Alpar

Minnesota

4.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Had on tap at Sugar Maple, what a fantastic surprise :)

A: Dark with a perfect level of carbonation that sticks around for a while.

S: Bourbon, malt, bread, vanilla, charred oak and a minute amount of anise.

T: Vanilla bourbon BOMB, awesome! Very smooth bourbon flavor. It tastes like marshmallows :) Reminds me of Vanilla Bean Dark Lord! I gwt some of the oak, malt and bread on the aftertaste, this is beautiful.

M: Surprisingly thin, but works to the beers advantage. I think it is perfect.

O: This is stellar. I hope I can get to the release of this beer if there is one in the future. Simply outstanding!

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2011 02:02:42 | More by Alpar

MBrausen

Minnesota

4.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Big thanks to Dougofthefuture for holding this great tasting!

Poured from a bomber into a snifter

A. Pours a dark charcoal color with a caramel head about 1mm thick. Settles as a nice foamy ring around the glass

S. Sweet chocolate dominating the smell, noticeable bourbon, caramel and light fruit

T. Sweet and sugary, but not overbearing at all. Very very malty, with dark chocolate and a slight toffee finish.

M. Medium body, coarse and dry finish

O. This is true a top shelf beer. It's sweet but not over done, very malty but not dominating the whole beer, the chocolate is at a good level, and a nice light coffee finish. This is a beer I will be looking to get more and more of. I suggest everyone try this!

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 21:46:13 | More by MBrausen

doughanson78

Washington

4.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Huge thanks to rfraga77 for this want. 400th BA review.

A: Super black. One of the blackest I've seen. Half finger super dark mocha head that actually had decent retention and lacing for an ABV this high. Awesome looking RIS.

S: Big bourbon, but not boozy at all. Very nice oak notes. Lots of vanilla and butterscotch. Dark chocolate, a touch of dark cherries.

T: Wow. Bourbon is amazing. Vanilla and butterscotch is awesome mixed with dark chocolate, oak, and a hint of cherries. Alcohol is nowhere to be found. One of the smoothest RIS's I've had.

M: Super thick. Chewy to the fullest. Medium low carbonation. Creamy and smooth.

O: One of the, if not the best beer I've had. How is no alcohol detected in a 14% beer?

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 03:09:15 | More by doughanson78

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2011 Vintage on tap at The Happy Gnome in St. Paul, Minnesota. 10 oz. pour served in a New Belgium Globe glass.

Appearance: Color is an oily pitch black with a moderate amount of bubbles. About one finger of deep tan head which fades into a thin patchy layer. Leaves a good amount of lacing around the glass.

Smell: Smells very big, rich, and fairly sweet. Nice scent of bourbon with good hints of vanilla, wood, and oak chips. Big dark malts with big hints of chocolate, coffee, molasses, maple syrup, burnt caramel, toffee, and dark bread. A little bit of smokey roast. A scent of alcohol is present but it blends in well with the dark sweetness. The vanilla and chocolate really stands out. Very rich and good aroma.

Taste: As good as the aroma leads, Big taste of bourbon upfront with some good notes of vanilla, oak, and wood cask. Rich and sweet dark roasted malts with big notes of dark chocolate, bitter coffee, maple syrup, molasses, burnt toast, caramel, toffee, butterscotch, and a little bit of smoke. Some alcohol heat is tasted but not as overwhelming as one might expect. Good balance of sweetness from the vanilla and chocolate, with the bitter roast. Really great taste here.

Mouthfeel: A rich and heavy body with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy and fairly syrupy and creamy. Sweet but far from cloying. Smoother than expected at 14%.

Overall: A really great Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. Big, rich, and dark while keeping the sweetness and booze taste under control.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2012 22:57:13 | More by MattyG85

cnbrown313

Illinois

4.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I've been looking for this beer for the last couple years now and BA mia4ipa was kind enough to share one with me. Poured from a 12oz wax sealed bottle into mini pint glasses. Served at just below room temperature.

A - Pours out like thick, black motor oil with little to no head. Super-viscous. This has the classic look for a big, barrel aged imperial stout. Looking good...

S - I was expecting a huge bourbon smell, but it's not over powering. Hints of bourbon, oak, dark chocolate and fudge.

T - Upon taking a sip, the initial notes are chocolate, toffee, and bourbon. There's just the right level of sweetness without being cloying, which is balanced by that nice bourbon barrel flavor, and a little bitterness at the end. This is one of the tastiest stouts I've ever had. It was surprisingly drinkable at 14% ABV too.

M - The mouthfeel was perfect for the style. It was slightly thick and chewy, but really enjoyable to sip on.

O - Probably one of my favorite barrel aged stouts. The bourbon wasn't as pronounced as it is in something like BCS, but this seemed much more balanced and enjoyable to drink. I wish I had more...

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 13:35:51 | More by cnbrown313

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A pint on tap at the hulmeville inn. Oh boy this is going to be a trip.

A- comes to me with a small cap of dark brown head that settles almost instantly leaving just the faintest of rings. Black in color with a small hint of dark brown at the edges.

S- dark chocolate and bourbon vanilla with some smokey wood and char. Lots of brown sugar and molasses. Touches of dark fuits.

T- molten chocolate fudge cake and blackstrap molasses. Bourbon soaked vanilla beans with dark roasted malts. Light stone fruit and coffee hit way in the back.

M- sooo smooth and creamy with a full body and a bit of chew to it. Very lite carb but its perfect for the brew. Just the lightest touch of boozy heat.

D- for a 14 abv pile driver of a brew Im blasting through this pint. This is one amazing brew. Up there with the best barrel aged stouts in the world no doubt.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2010 23:09:10 | More by oglmcdgl

TriGuy20

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had at Twisted Spoke, Chicago, IL on tap. In tulip glass.

A: Oil black with nice dark tan head.

S: mmmm this smells great! Vanilla/ Dark Chocolate/ Bourbon/ Molasses/ Dark Roasted Coffee

T: The bourbon comes through nicely with the vanilla showing upfront with a nice bitter chocolate finish.

MF: Creamy and rich, this beer coats the palate like velvet. The finish goes on for a while.

D: For 14% abv this beer is amazingly easy to drink. Per this style 8-12 oz is plenty as it is quite rich.

Overall:
This is one of the finest stouts I have ever had. The use of bourbon barrels is done to perfection. Bravo Dark Horse for making such an incredible drinking experience.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2011 04:11:04 | More by TriGuy20

sarro

Michigan

4.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Reviewed from tap at Detroit Fall beer fest.

This is the 6th time I've had this beer (4 on tap, two from bottle (and no infections like the mislabeled Aigre bottle review below))

Looks jet black with a dark brown head. Smell's of bourbon, roast, light coffee & malt. Taste is an incredible wave of bourbon soaked dark chocolate rounded out by a thick malty backbone. Not too sweet & finishes dry & a bit boozy (think 2009 BCS). Full mouth feel, perfectly carbonated and not syrupy like most other stouts/beers of this ABV. One of my top 3 favorite stouts.
An incredible bourbon barrel aged stout to say the least.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2011 14:41:48 | More by sarro

ms11781

Massachusetts

4.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2011 vintage. 12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

Pours as thick and as black as can be. Somehow this beer seems a darker shade of black than black, as absurd as that sounds. An aggressive pour yields a decent sized dark brown head that doesn't stick around for long at all. A thick ring of lighter brown foam settles at the edges of the glass and stays for the duration. Once the initial pour settles in the beer looks completely still, like 12oz of spent motor oil sitting in the glass.

Bourbon was detected as soon as the beer was poured from the bottle to the glass. Despite being picked up from a foot or two away the bourbon really isn't overwhelming. The nose is sweet with nice chocolate and roasty aromas. There is a subtle vanilla note and, to even a lesser extent, some wood/oak notes. Kind of surprising that the bourbon is integrated so well with the other characteristics when it was so prominent from a distance. Either way, the nose is exceptional.

As good as the nose was, the flavor is actually a step up. The bourbon is prominent and is present throughout each sip but, like the nose, it's not overwhelming or overpowering. There are excellent chocolate and and vanilla notes that go along with a complimentary roasted character. The oak presents itself as a slightly woody charred character that is tough to pick up, but definitely comes on before a nice, pleasant warming from some alcohol at the finish.

This is a nice big, full bodied stout. Huge, thick mouthfeel with low carbonation. The beer is slick, extremely rich and velvety smooth.

This beer is amazing. The base beer was already an excellent stout and the nicely integrated barrel treatment take it over the top. I'm not sure when this beer was bottled but it was released just weeks before I sampled it and it is already drinking phenomenal.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 03:56:10 | More by ms11781

GregSVT

Texas

4.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12oz waxed bottle into a snifter - 2011 Vintage

A: Pours black as night with a decent dark brown head that quickly fades to a ring and leaves the tiniest lacing on the glass.

S: The nose is really amazing. Big aromas of whiskey, chocolate, vanilla, and a slight licorice smell. The whiskey is really apparent and I like it.

T: The taste is wonderful as well. Huge flavors of dark chocolate, vanilla, whiskey, roasted malt, and licorice all assault the tounge with each sip.

M: The feel is damn thick and creamy...about as good as you can get. Alcohol is nowhere to be seen which is incredible for a 14% beer!

O: This is one of the best barrel aged stouts I've had so far. It's huge in all areas. The taste is just a tad bit weak on the barrel notes or else this would be close to perfect. I will say as it warms it vastly improves the taste. Highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 03:44:45 | More by GregSVT

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Huge Thanks to Thorpe429 for providing this great beer. He’s quickly become a regular trading partner.

When you pour this beer, you know it’s serious. Looks as thick as Bourbon County Stout. You can see the body even before the head billows up from within. The head builds and is a milk chocolate color while the beer is motor oil, including the shine with about 50,000 miles on it. Head does settle to nothing and a scant amount of lace remains.

Aroma is also fantastic. bourbon, CHECK, vanilla, CHECK, dark chocolate, CHECK, a well rounded sweetness pulling all of these together. Double CHECK. Great.

A mellow chocolate bourbon flavor is immediate and then some vanilla. Chocolate returns and there is a nice balance of ABV and some sweetness. You can tell there is a kicked up ABV, but it’s so rounded and smooth it’s crazy. Is this vintage really 14%? That’s amazing. Dangerous beer.

Just a fantastic beer. Loved it from front to back and was sad when it was gone. Have to score another somehow.

I am a little concerned how much this reminds me of Bourbon County. (One of my favorite all time beers) If I ever get the chance, I’d love to do a side by side comparison.
(EDIT - I promise I never looked... I scored this the exact same score as Bourbon County Stout) Too frigging funny

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 01:08:08 | More by Reagan1984

JDizzle

Indiana

4.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured into a goblet at the brewery.

I feel lucky to have come across this!!!

It's black as night with a thin cocoa brown head.

Smells like a huge RIS with a nice bourbon scent. It's actually pretty strong- more comes out as it warms. You can smell that it has the potential to be HOT.

Pure bliss!! Great bourbon flavor hits you right away. Really outstanding compared to Plead the 5th. Really oaky, roasted malt, fairly hot-as expected for a 14% beer. There is a good amount of coffee on the finish as well.

Mouthfeel is dry, slick, with low carbonation.

This is a beer I will try and seek out anywhere on tap again. IMO, it's much better than Bells Black Note and KBS, and that is saying a lot!!

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2012 16:08:12 | More by JDizzle

jegross2

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Reviewing the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Plead The Fifth (2012) from Dark Horse Brewing Company out of Michigan.
Score: 98

2012 vintage bottle served in a snifter glass and enjoyed on 03/13/12. A big thank you to Nick for sharing this bottle with me; I had been wanting to try it forever.

Appearance: Pours a jet black color with a super thin, creamy layer of mocha head that settles to a pencil thin ring around the glass. Good lacing too. 4.5/5

Smell: Lots of vanilla and raisin. Smooth bourbon, vanilla cupcakes, molasses, rich chocolate, fudge, tobacco and a hint of cherry. 4.5/5

Taste: Luscious dark chocolate and a little caramel flavor. Incredibly creamy and absolutely no alcohol presence whatsoever. Mellow vanilla too. Fig and prunes. As it layers and warms, molasses and a little bit of toffee and smooth bourbon-without-the-boozy-bite flavor comes out. Fudge, milk chocolate and melted dark chocolate on the midpalate. Super chocolatey backbone here. Finish is cocoa and dark chocolate with a hint of bourbon flavor. 5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied, minimal carbonation. Incredibly creamy mouthfeel. Slightly sweet finish. 5/5

Overall: This is one of the best barrel-aged stouts out there; it is every bit as good as the FiftyFifty Eclipse White Wax (Elijah Craig 18-aged version). The taste is absolutely incredible. I wish I had a bottle of my own! Thanks again for sharing this one with me Nick!

Recommendation: Go get yourself a bottle of this magnificent elixir. Even casual beer drinkers should be able to revel in its chocolatey glory.

Pairings: French vanilla ice cream.

Cost: $8 for a 12 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 18:33:38 | More by jegross2

Holmgrown

4.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Friend of mine saved a bottle for me. Poured it in a pint glass.

A: dark...almost looks like oil with a perfect amount of carbonation

S: bourbon

T: fantastic. Really enjoyed the strong bourbon flavor.

O: I'm going out on a limb to say this may be the best beers I have ever tasted. Maybe it's because I'm a fan of bourbon.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 21:01:53 | More by Holmgrown

mfunk9786

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

WOW. Had on tap at Capone's during PBW. The unexpected star of my day.

This beer is perfectly balanced. Pours extremely dark, smells of vanilla bean, bourbon, and rich dark chocolate with a hint of the usual bitter stout trappings (licorice, anise, etc) which just add depth. The taste is more of the same, with a huge vanilla bean and dark fruit flavor that is nothing short of incredible. This beer is worthy of the hype on this site and I'd love to see it become a standard in bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2011 02:51:06 | More by mfunk9786

mattboyer182

Indiana

4.85/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - pours dark black and a vague tan head.

S - bourbon hits you in the face. Rich malts and apparent alcohol.

T - wow. Sweet intense bourbon. Great wood taste lies underneath.

M - heavy, rich body and light carbonation.

O - for sure the best out of these stouts. So sweet and delicious.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 03:23:57 | More by mattboyer182

SuperNova777

Indiana

4.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was great starter @ 11 a.m. for our Michigan brew tour

A:Poured into a snifter with harldy no visability throught it, dark along with hints of ruby with a small heads that quickly resides

S:Lots of complexity going on here, from the vanilla to the chocolate maybe some molases. Very inviting

T:Purly Delicious, Lil vanilla and coffee flavor up front then some bourbon on the backburner. Super smooth going down, hard to believe that this one is 14%, almost no alcohol hitting here. Definitly could drink a few of these but probably shouldn't

M:Very nice, a little thicker but very easy drinkability

D: So So good, I'm glad I opened up with this on it got me ready for the next 10 hours of drinking. Easy to drink, great flavors and complexity, and just delicious. I will be heading back to Dark Horse soon and hopefully i will be able to snag this again before its all gone

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2010 01:25:37 | More by SuperNova777

camil1mj

Michigan

4.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Detroit Fall Beer Fest. My wife got a pour so that I could have a full cup.

A: Deep, dark stout with reddish/brown head.

S: Wonderful bourbon tones with chocolate, roastiness taking a backseat.

T: Bourbon forward. Followed up by chocolate, roasted stouts notes. Perfect.

M: creamy. Smooth. Full-bodied. Appropriately carbonated.

O: Best at the beerfest. I understand the hype. Beats out the Blacknote.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2011 00:06:51 | More by camil1mj

MrVonzipper

California

4.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pitch black, oily and viscous with a 1/2cm light brown head. Low retention and spotty lacing if any.

Nose is very pleasant and bold. Sweet. Full of brown sugar, fresh chocolate brownie and smooth bourbony oak.

Flavor is phenomenal. Characteristics follow and exceed the nose quite a bit. Sweet double chocolate brownie, toasted brown sugar, vanilla and well blended (not hot at all) bourbon with a touch of oak.

Mouthfeel is perfect. Velvety smooth and creamy. Full bodied with medium creamy carbonation.

Overall this is phenomenal. I loved the standard Plead the 5th. This is even that much better and at 14% its balanced so well with no alcohol characteristics you'd never know it was 14%.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 19:35:48 | More by MrVonzipper

glazeman

Illinois

4.8/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the tap at Local Option in Chicago into a snifter. As a precursor, I really enjoyed the standard version of PTF and had high expectations for the BA version.

A: 1.5 finger mocha head with excellent retention and excellent lacing

S: Bourbon, chocolate, and vanilla were than main smells of this beer. I thought all were in excellent harmony and balance. This is truly a remarkable smelling beer.

T: As with the nose, the main tastes I got were bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate. Wonderfully balance, wonderful flavors, nothing in excess or out of place. This is hands down one of the top 3 tasting beers I have had to date. Better than Dark Lord, Parabola, BCBCS, BCVCS, Ivan, Hunahpu etc.

M: Again, spot on as far as the viscosity and carbonation goes. Not supper thick, but it sits on the tongue nicely, is smooth, and has a wonderful aftertaste.

D: Sky high drinkability. The only thing that could hinder this is the ABV at 14%. With that being said the alcohol was pretty much undetectable to me as this beer was not hot at all.

Overall: This is my favorite beer to date. I was close to giving it my first all 5's but refrained. If I could choose one thing to drink all fall, winter, and spring, this would be it. This beer in every way exceeded my already high expectations and is proof to me that barrel aging an already great beer, if done correctly, can make it even better. I really hope they bottle this at some point. An absolute must try if you ever make a trip down I-94 to Marshall, are in Chicago anytime soon and can make it to Local Option, or at pre-darkness day at Stub and Herbs!

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2010 15:38:50 | More by glazeman