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

4thelvofbeer

Virginia

4.73/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Grey-waxed top, 2011 vintage, drank September 2012. This was great...only had one bottle, wish I had more. Poured a nice deep, dark black. Sweet notes of bourbon, choc, coffee...all the big nice flavors of a really powerful big stout! Huge fan of Dark Horse beers! Pours a thick black with a brown thin tan head. Smell and taste are up there...really nice. Mouthfeel...smooth, overall....right on for a really really nice BA brew...

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 13:20:28 | More by 4thelvofbeer

chugalug06

Colorado

4.73/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Vintage 2011 into an Avery Tulip

3/4" head slowly rises from the thick black oil looking brew. Head is made of dense soapy bubbles.

Strong vanilla/bourbon scent, smells great, a bit on the strong side, but still great! Oakey, woody and dense 90% dark chocolate.

Chalky, milky, dark and robust. Tons of well hidden heat. Bourbon flavor is fantastic! Lots of vanilla flavors Light carbonation, no bitterness, and fantastic after tastes.

If you follow my reviews, you'll see I rarely "throw around" "5s"... This brew is Fantastic and is a total ass kicker @ 14%, wow. Great depth and character in this fine, fine brew.. Highly recommended and should be considered a MUST try. Thank you for sharing abanton!!!

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 23:15:30 | More by chugalug06

founder26

Michigan

4.73/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

this review is for a fresh bottled 2012 poured into a snifter at around 45 degrees

Apperance: poured thick black oil. head at first was about 2 inches sort of khaki brown, lots of big bubbles. fadded quickly into small head small bubbles, nice lacing.

Smell: big chocolate and vanilla up front with some of that bourbon oak. also got some coffee, tobacco, and leather at the end.

Taste: bourbon and oak up front, followed by the chocolate and coffee in the finish.

Mouthfeel: thick and creamy, just the way I like my big stouts. coats your mouth. abv is there but pretty well hidden.

Overall: I honestly think I like this better then kbs/bcbs. reason is because the bourbon is not overpowering and blends with the base beer very well.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 20:43:36 | More by founder26

davey101

Connecticut

4.73/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage. 12 oz silver waxed bottle into a brandy snifter. Can't thank Steimie enough, this was a huge want of mine!

A - Pours a thick black body with a finger of dark mocha head. After that fizzles away its quite difficult to recreate a head with a swirl. Just some splotchy lacing with some nice retention. Alcohol legs stain the sides of the glass.

S - Bourbon dipped fudge brownie is the description I would use here. Rich and gooey dark chocolate, dry cocoa powder, light espresso and coconut. Finishes with smooth oak and vanilla and warming alcohol which does comes off as a bit too distracting.

T - Starts with dark chocolate and light roasted malts. Then comes a huge wave of vanilla, oak, and butterscotch. Lighter notes of coffee beans, coconut, and dark fruits. The finish is fudge with a bit of leather. Rich and decadent, just fucking perfect!

M - Thick and coating, just a notch below syrupy. Carbonation is spot on.

O - Truly one of the best BA stouts out there. How anyone can trade this stuff after sampling it is beyond me. Compared to its major 12 oz competition, well I think I like BCBS a bit more since its a brash stout that is all about the bourbon. This beer is much more balanced with the bourbon complimenting the base beers notes. God dammit this is good stuff!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 04:11:51 | More by davey101

oline73

Maryland

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

2011 bottle poured into my colossus snifter. I got this in a BIF today and was so excited I decided to open it up.

Appearance: Pours an opaque black with a half finger layer of cocoa colored head. The head fades to a ring around edge of the glass with just a swirl of carbonation in the middle.

Smell: Sweet roasty malt with some dark fruit and smooth alcohol. I'm picking up some caramel and vanilla from the barrels. There is also cocoa and bourbon in the nose. Very nice.

Taste: This is a really smooth BA Imperial Stout. The slightly burnt roasty malt sweetness hits you first, with some dark fruit just behind. The barrel aging was artfully done. The bourbon and caramel from the barrel are very present in the taste, but not hot at all. The finish is warm and full of bourbon and sweet cocoa notes.

Mouthfeel: On the thick side of medium, but thin compared to what I was expecting. Tingly carbonation with a very slick finish. The beer sticks to you mouth long after you swallow.

Overall: Not disappointed at all. This is a fantastic brew and I plan on having more in the future.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 02:56:54 | More by oline73

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle, Vintage 2011
Hunahpu's snifter

A: Pours completely black. Initially I don't get much head, just a faint ring of dark tan around the edges of the glass. There is some carbonation because I can see it along with the alcohol feet. Some dark lacing sheets on the swirl. Also, this conjures up a little more of that dark mocha head.

S: Smelled it as soon as I opened it. Very pronounced bourbon notes: vanilla and oak aromas. Also pulling some alcohol esters and dark fruits. Rum soaked raisin etc. Some char as well.

T: This is an incredible beer. Up front I get some deep, dark chocolate bitterness on the tip of the tongue. It's like high quality chocolate that you let dissolve in your mouth. In the mid-mouth you get more of the bourbon hints. Vanilla, toffee, and caramel for sure. The flavors really develop as the sip goes on and on. I am amazed that it's as smooth as it is. There is definitely booze there but it's hidden pretty well aside from the normal warming in the back of the throat. The sweetness helps with this I assume too.

M: Full bodied brew. Syrupy mouth coating in a good way.

O: I have to go super high with this one. Solid A moving towards A+ for sure.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 19:29:51 | More by inlimbo77

kscaldef

Oregon

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Motor oil pour, raises a partial topping of thin brown bubbles, leaving nothing more than a ring within a minute of rest.

S: Bourbon and roasted wood fill the room from the pour. Closer sniffs yield caramel, vanilla, dates; lesser notes of chocolate. Swirling uncovers dessert bread aromas and an unexpected lighter fruit note... strawberry? red currant? Really beautiful layers of aromas here.

T: Like drinking a flourless chocolate cake. Rich and decadent, chocolate dancing with some fruity and herbal accents, slightly sweet but not overly. Strong alcohol bite on the finish.

M: Strikes an perfect balance. It's full and rich; but it's not sticky or cloying. Not much of any carbonation, but at this ABV, what can you expect; it doesn't detract at all in my opinion.

O: Damn good beer. My only regrets are not realizing this was 14% (or how good it would be) and not sharing it with a friend.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 05:37:59 | More by kscaldef

Auracom

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Ramiro - thanks mate. Ticking a top-three want of mine since I got into the hobby. Also a big thanks to Dark Horse for brewing so much more this past year and actually making it obtanium.

2011 vintage. 3-4 oz. poured into a CBS snifter on May 18th, 2012.

A - Looks almost identical to the regular Pt5, though maybe a tad thinner with a little less residual film across the sides of the glass.

S - Great Heaven Hill barrel notes. Charred oak. Vanilla beans throughout. Balanced bourbon. Milk chocolate. Roasted malts. Roasted peanuts and almonds. It leads you on but doesn't press too much, if that makes sense.

T - Is this my stairway to heaven? Awesome vanilla, more milk chocolate bar, additional deeper cocoa, almonds, and rich espresso beans. I find it pretty cool that the barrel elements are so pronounced yet don't overtake the great dark chocolate bitterness I love in the regular version. Really nice oak/wood flavoring, with subtle tannins before and after the finish.

M - Moderate body, appropriate carbonation, and a fair amount of finishing dryness.

D - Infinitely drinkable for the ABV, as much so as KBS. Absolutely one of best barrel-aged stouts I've had, and more importantly one of the best barrel implementations I've had regardless of style.

Edit - Split a 2012 vintage on 1/20/2013, thanks Dan. Though the ABV seems to have dropped roughly 3%, this is still rocking. I'm not sure 2012 is quite as mammoth as 2011 was, but it's close enough to give DH the nod for consistency.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 21:27:25 | More by Auracom

chalsk

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle in celebration of Radiohead. A great gift from Damico. Pours a black color with a soapy caramel colored head. Heavy alcohol, vanilla, and oak. Some chocolate and caramel notes. Sweet vanilla taste with that oak bite and creamy chocolate finish. Wow. What a beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 01:58:33 | More by chalsk

CruisaC

Ohio

4.76/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Finally able to track this one down, thanks dblab33! Split two ways with my brother. 2012 vintage

Pours pretty standard but solid for the style, slight bump for nice head given the ABV

Smell is very inviting, nice blend of chocolate, bourbon, oak, some coffee and dark fruit in there as well.

Wow. I've had Pt5 many times and don't remember having anywhere near this reaction. Clearly a base beer that takes to a barrel very well. Nice warm milk chocolate, bourbon oak, toasted coconut, and some subtle smoke or charred oak. Incredibly balanced and nuanced. Not at all one dimensional.

Almost no alcohol burn. Really nice chewy mouthfeel. Like drinking cold hot chocolate if that makes sense.

One of the better beers I've ever had; really, really good stuff. Would love to snag several more bottles. And not that it matters, but stouts tend to be by 3rd or 4th favorite style, so I'm even more impressed.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 15:26:03 | More by CruisaC

rudylaw

Illinois

4.78/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On tap @ Local Option

Pours quarter to midnight black with a small deep tan head.

Vanilla, chocolate, molasses, candy and bourbon in the sniffer.

Exact same in the taste and it is a sweet concoction of epic proportions! As it warms, it gets that much smoother. Everything is balanced.

Medium to low carbonation with a chewy, slick mouthfeel. A true sipper for an early fall afternoon. It hides the 14% rather well... but it's still 14%!

Dark Horse has it's lynch pin here. While I quite enjoy Plead the 5th, the barrel wasn't just kind to this beer and to me, it gave it up on the first date, cooked me breakfast and paid for my cab home!

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2010 20:35:47 | More by rudylaw

BeRanger

Michigan

4.78/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Jet black with a light coffee rim

S - Heavy bourbon with chocolate and malt notes.

T - Exceptional taste with the Bourbon coming through very smooth and balanced with the of chocolate, vanilla and malts.

M - Very light feel for how powerful the taste is. Finishes very clean

O - Wonderful Imperial stout. Given the high ABV, it's fantastic that it has such a smooth taste with no harsh after-taste.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 02:40:10 | More by BeRanger

Fux

France

4.78/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Opaque dark, deep black with no light getting through this. Very small brown head which fades quickly into a thin collar and some wandering, appealing laces.

S: Smell is of dark chocolate, bourbon, oak, vanilla. Huge! A smooth smoky and nutty scent along with some dark fruits and a bit of alcohol follow.

T: Massive dark chocolate, sweet and roasted malts. Bourbon, vanilla very well blended to this malty profile. The upcoming booze brings dark fruits aroma. Finishes on nutty and resinous hops notes.

M: Full bodied, sweet, creamy, a bit chewy but not sticky. Not as warming as one could expect given the ABV. Easily drinkable. Just perfect!

O: A beautiful barrel aged stout. Smell and taste profiles are huge, massive. But this is so easy to drink, so good, one can be delighted for many many bottles!

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 21:35:39 | More by Fux

rtaps

California

4.78/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours pitch black with a nice mocha brown head decent retention.

Smell is great choclate brownie like with some heat, coffee like notes.

Very rich chocolate, like a chocolate brownie with some heat to it witch I like

Mouth smooth full bodied and creamy low carb

Overall it's just all around great 

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 20:19:07 | More by rtaps

deebo

Minnesota

4.78/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2011 version on tap at The Happy Gnome

A-Black as night with a skimming of dark tan head which leaves some lacing as you drink.

S-Dominant aromas of bourbon, earthy oak, and heavily toasted malt. Also plenty of whiffs remniscent of sweet aromas vanilla and burnt sugar. The aromas really come out nicely as the beer warms.

T-Similar to the aroma but more layers and really nice complexity. Bourbon upfront, the oak and earthy aromas are quite present and really pleasing. I don't think I've noticed this quality as strong in any other BB RIS. Plenty of sweet, dark malt. Hints of bitterness but really mild for some of the chocolate and coffee like tastes detected. The sweet tastes of burnt sugar and vanilla really balance out the heavy characteristics.

M-The mouthfeel is wonderful. My biggest complaint of most BB RIS is the syrupy, cloying and or alcoholic burn qualities. This one has none of the above and at a reported ABV of 14% it is absolutely world class. I've had 5%+ beers have more alcoholic sting than this baby. Body is heavy yet clean and almost crisp, a bitterness that is there but not at all lingering, this baby is smooth.

O-I was hesitant to get this on a hot day but had not had the pleasure before so had to brave the heat to try this, very glad that I did. This is a winner, now I have another beer that I have to add to the hit list to try to get every year.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2012 04:56:40 | More by deebo

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

cadaugherty

Illinois

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

Had this on tap at Local Option a couple times and at Stub&Herbs on Darkness Eve. This is a beer that I will always seek out whenever it is available.

Appearance- Dark black with a thick and creamy head of foam that sticks around long past most BA stouts.

Smell- The bourbon jumps out immediately and dominates the nose. With some patience the chocolate and roasty malt come out.

Taste- Bourbon, bourbon, and then more bourbon. It is amazing and worth every bit of effort to get. Drinking this beer on draft just makes me want to get a bottle and let it sit for 2 years and see what happens. Chocolate and vanilla are very present along with some oak definitely comes through.

Mouth- Thick and lustrous. Rich with a full coating that makes your mouth want more and more.

Drink- Yea it is heavy and thick, but it is also just so delicious that none of that matters. You can drink all you can handle and it won't be drinkability (more likely alcohol and coordination) that stops you.

I wake up craving this beer, even if I had this in bottles I could never age it because it would be impossible to resist.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2010 08:28:03 | More by cadaugherty

smokeypeat

Maryland

4.8/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Finally got to try this at Capone's for the end of PBW. Poured into a snifter the chocolate brown head dissipated quickly leaving no head to speak of, but major alcohol legs were present with each swirl of the glass. Smell on this was great. I must have looked like a junkie with the deep inhales I kept finding myself taking. Lots of deep roast espresso, dark chocolate, bourbon, and vanilla. Taste was even better. The integration of the bourbon into the base beer was exceptionally well done. This beer was exceptionally well balanced with great bourbon flavors present, but at no point did it overwhelm the stout. Nice coffee, roasted malt, and smooth bourbon on the tongue, with a great charred oak character right there. Vanilla became ever more present as the glass warmed up. I also got a hint of campfire type marshmallow. All of this had a great coating effect on the palate. I could drink this all the time. Definitely worthy of seeking out, and making efforts to go to tasting events to get a chance to try. Highly Recommended!

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2011 23:58:12 | More by smokeypeat

mulder1010

Australia

4.8/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

BIG, BIG want. Thanks to Urbancaver for the bottle. Much appreciated.

12oz bottle poured into a Lost Abbey tulip 2011 vintage

A-- Poured black, settled black. Just hints of ruby in the pour and at the top of the beer. At best a dark reddish brown film. Good collar though. Very little if any head. A few carbonation bubbles but not a lot to this. A dark oily residue left with this and just a bit of spotty lacing. No ABV legs for this ABV of a beer.

S-- Wow, big aggressive nose. Big, dark chocolate. Not powder but chocolate. Roasted fig or date, roasted prune, almond or walnut (the wood from the barrel) smell underneath the fruit and chocolate. Rich and thick nose full of bourbon and barrel. Heck yeah.

T-- Thick liquid chocolate, followed by prune, walnut, carmel, and some small amounts of roasted almond. Bourbon is really present in this. Just a thick and rich taste. Flipping scary beer.

M-- Heavy feel but lighter in the mouth than one would suspect. Carbonation?? Try again on that. Little to no carbonation. Silky smooth feel though. Alcohol is very obvious on this going down. Very oily, rich feel in the mouth. Dark, bitter chocolate is also made known in the mouth. Literally gets richer and gets more depth as work through this. Bourbon that hides as a port. Long lasting flavor that kicks ass. Wicked stuff.

O-- Slow sipper is a good starting point. Big, bold balsy beer. Not for the faint one bit. Beats the heck out of most BA RIS. Worth finding. Worth savoring

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 13:17:53 | More by mulder1010

tectactoe

Michigan

4.8/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Thanks to Jeff for cracking open one of the last of his stash. BBPt5 pours out even darker than the regular version (which was already darker than a black hole), although it doesn't seem to be quite as syrupy and thick, as this one actually creates some noise and light turbulence as it hits the glass. A dark-ish tan head slowly bubbles up into a thin foam and perches still on top of this black abyss of a beer.

Bringing this one to my nose and taking a big whiff reveals its huge bourbon barrel characteristics - there's no denying that this bad boy spent some considerable time encased in boozy wood. The bourbon in the aroma is very smooth, however, not harsh, pungent, or stinging like many of these BBA beers can tend to be. Other notable aromas include vanilla, light coconut, mild wood, roasted malts. There's also some sweet brown sugar and a huge, creamy coffee undertone that can be found on the back end. This is really a complex beer, just from the aroma alone. Sometimes BBA beers can kind of blend together and get repetitive, but this one smells wonderful and distinct.

BBPt5 slides across my palate as I take the first sip - it's super creamy and smooth, maybe even more so than the original (not surprisingly so). The first tastes to emerge are light syrup and sweet molasses. Before long, the bourbon inches its way into the flavor profile, but just like the aroma, it remains very smooth and easy to handle. Warming, but not "hot", and it's wonderful. Some heavy oak and vanilla tones charge in about halfway through.

As it warms up, I pick up more generous notes of dark, thick fudge and even some lightly sweet, dark fruits. Roasted coffee bounces in and out for pretty much the entire duration - a big component in the base beer that certainly isn't lost through the barrel. Overall, a seriously well developed and complex beer. Even in the finish, there are still a ton of things going on; mostly dark fudge, roasted coffee beans, sweet and warming bourbon, and heavy oak. The body stays creamy throughout - heavy and lightly chewy, low-medium carbonation - more carbonated than the base beer, which as surprising.

Considering the high 14% ABV tag, this beer was insanely drinkable. I've never seen bourbon show up so heavily while remaining so smooth and tame at the same time. This is a barrel-aged beer done correctly - the flavors meld together extremely well. One of the best bourbon barrel beers I've had.

EDIT: 4/29/2013

After having this back-to-back(-to-back?) with KBS, Black Note, and BCBS, I think I can finally and honestly say that this is my favorite of the bunch. They are all extraordinary brews, but the thing that really sets BB Plead the Fifth apart is the incredible smoothness of the bourbon. Not ONCE, not even after warming up for nearly an hour, does the bourbon ever seem any bit stronger than "warm". So incredibly smooth and complex. Fantastic integration of the barrel flavors with the base beer as to not mask or hide any of the substantial flavors, either. Probably my favorite Bourbon Barrel beer. I love this stuff.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 12:52:33 | More by tectactoe

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

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