Bramble Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout - Goose Island Beer Co.

ngeunit1

California

4.75/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a dark black color with a thin finger of frothy chocolate colored head. The head fades away fairly quickly leaving behind some light lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of vanilla, oak, Bourbon, rye, roasted chocolate malts, berries, dark fruits, molasses, black licorice, booze.

T - Starts off with a mix of blackberries and raspberries, roasted dark chocolate malts, vanilla, some dark fruits, and a bit of black licorice. Through the middle, the oak, Bourbon, and rye come through with some molasses, and some more sweet berries. The finish is a mix of berries, oak, vanilla, rye, Bourbon, chocolate malts, molasses, and some booze.

M - Full bodied with mild carbonation. Feels smooth with a sweet and warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. Big bold barrel character, but it is balanced very nicely by the body and the berries. Fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 04:39:04 | More by ngeunit1

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

3.28/5  rDev -23%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared with my dad, brother, and brother in law, while playing anti-social.

Pours black with a short lived head.

Smells slightly children's cough syrupy with an underlying spicy bourbon.

Very, very sweet and crazy berry forward. Time has not quelled the berryblast here at all. Base beer is summarily swallowed up by plums...fruit that is not added and rarely tasted in the base...odd..and the syrupy sweet and borderline cloying berries. I absolutely love dark chocolate covered fruit, but this doesn't express those wonderful qualities. It is something else entirely.

Well, in the humble know-nothing's opinion, Bramble is a much better beer in theory than in execution. The berry flavors are too expressive, serving to eat up much of the best of what the base has to offer. A nice try, and I'm glad to have had the opportunity, but I would not seek this out. For those who are gooing over how well this beer has aged, I can only imagine what an absolute train wreck it must have been to begin with.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 13:41:17 | More by BarrytheBear

codysjb

Florida

4.63/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beer tasting on 10/14/12
Pours motor oil, no head
The original bourbon county with sutle notes of raspberry and blackberry.
Wow. Bourbon county with raspberry and other berry notes amazing
Mouthful is all berries soooo good.
Def worth it sooo good.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 22:24:21 | More by codysjb

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.7/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

650 mL bottle poured into a CBS snifter. Bottled 12/10/11.

Appearance - Inky black as always from GI. Minimal head, but what it has it holds. Mocha bubbles form a collar and some wisps on the surface.

Smell - Tons of raspberries. Blackberries too, I guess, but I'm not as good at identifying those. There's a whiskey character there too. Distinct from Bourbon. Molasses and chocolate trademark of a GI stout.

Taste - Dominated by fruit again. More blended than the aroma, but it's still a bit too much fruit. Sweet raspberries and chocolate. Molasses and some whiskey notes spike in the finish. Not the barrel character I'd like. More of a rye whiskey flavor integration than barrel notes.

Mouthfeel - Surprisingly tame in the alcohol. The fruit seems to have put out the BCBS fire. It gets hotter as it warms (you know what I mean), but overall easier to drink than regular. The fruit makes it very sweet and sluggish, though.

Overall - I like fruited stouts. Maybe not this much fruit, but the flavors always seem to complement each other nicely. I'd still prefer other variants to this as the barrel doesn't seem to make as much of an impact.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 10:02:32 | More by Alieniloquium

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.48/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Drank this at the July 4th weekend, Sonnen/Silva II, disc golf & pool party extravaganza this summer.

Pours out like most BCS does, black, with a thin head. Aroma, the good blend and balance of heavy roasted malt, bourbon barrels, and a surprisingly present blackberry presence. Good job guys.

Drinks like heaven. The berries really make the beer less bourbony, thins it out just a bit to make it more drinkable. Don't let it fool you that it isn't a massive beer though, there's way more alcohol in this than you can taste. A little sweeter than just blackberries, maybe there was raspberries in this too, or boysenberries, they always have something berry wise going on in Oregon. It can be a rather bipolar beer at times, sometimes the fruityness and high sweetness hits you, other times, your teeth are gritting with burnt malt between it, others, its like you're still sipping fine bourbon. Then you can kind of get the meld of chocolate raspberry cake drizzled in BCS. That's when its best. Carbonation seemed a tad higher, which went well with this variety. A moderate amount of wood still comes through.

If you like your dark chocolate with blackberries and bourbon, you should love this beer. I did.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 17:21:54 | More by Beerandraiderfan

mikeyv35

New York

4.03/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Date: 09/23/12
Type: 22oz. Bomber
Glass: Goose Island Chalice
Bottled: 12/10/2011

Pours a midnight black in color w/ ruby accents, w/ a thin brown head that left minimal lacing. Aromas of roasted chocolate malts, whiskey, and berries. The flavor was of roasted chocolate malts, leading into rye whiskey spiciness, and finishes w/ tart berry. Full bodied and lush. Pretty smooth to drink w/ pretty well hidden ABV.

Overall, a very unique brew with it's combination of roasted malts/rye spiciness/berry tartness. However, I enjoyed my one glass that was more than enough. In the end, the rye and berries start to get to you and made me want to go to something else.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 03:27:42 | More by mikeyv35

Damian

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Drank from a 650 ml - 1 pint 6 fl oz bottle purchased at Cambridge Wine & Spirits, Cambridge, MA
Bottled on: 12/10/11
Served in a snifter

The liquid poured onyx black with dark brown highlights. Shiny and viscous like motor oil. A one-finger head of bubbly, cocoa colored froth topped the liquid. Upon closer examination, there was a slight crimson hue to the head. Within seconds, the fluffy mass faded to a thin ring.

The aroma was simply astounding. Quite similar to the standard Bourbon County Brand Stout, but with added raspberry notes. Super rich, boozy and bourbon-y. Lots of brown sugar and molasses-like sweetness. Strong raisin notes. Big roasted malt presence. French roast coffee came through as well.

The taste was similar to the nose. Strong roasted malt notes on the front end. Tons of bourbon flavor. Compared to the other Bourbon County Brand beers, however, the alcohol was surprisingly subdued. Rich, brown sugar notes. Some raisins and dark fruits. Good amount of raspberry flavor. The berries turned the beer slightly acidic and tart. Espresso notes appeared on the back end. The finish was rich, roasty and slightly bitter. Moderately boozy. The sweet/tart berry notes made a final appearance that lingered on my palate.

The mouthfeel was heavier bodied for the style, yet slightly thinner than other Bourbon County Brand variants. Dense and creamy on the palate. Silky smooth and slick with a fine, mild effervescence.

Overall, this is a fantastic beer. Although not as mind-blowingly delicious as the Rare and the Coffee Bourbon County Brand offerings, it is still an outstanding addition to the Bourbon County Brand lineup. While many reviewers noted that this beer was cloyingly sweet and far too berry forward when fresh, it seemed that the nine months of age I put on my bottle did wonders for it. With its pleasant berry flavor, slight acidity and surprisingly subdued alcohol presence, this is drinking perfectly right now.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 01:17:07 | More by Damian

mdaschaf

Washington

4.1/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from notes. Thanks to Jay for sharing!

A: Pours a deep black color with a small mocha colored head on top. A little bit of head retention with minimal lacing.

S: Tons of fruit in the aroma, lots of blackberrys and raspberries, reminds me of pie. There is some vanilla and a little dark chocolate.

T: Similarly fruity with plenty of berry flavor. More chocolate and some rye. The berries really impress me here, I was surprised at how syrupy/sweet they were.

M: Medium bodied, slightly thinner than other BCS offerings I have had. Alcohol hidden nicely.

O: Enjoyed this quite a bit. The jam-like fruit flavors worked for me mixed with a bit of chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 14:31:43 | More by mdaschaf

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.8/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I drank this at Matt's birthday tasting last night. Thanks for sharing this, Anton!

Black with a dark brown head with poor retention but nice legs, this looks decent. The nose is great! It is a fantastic blend of fruit (blackberries and deseeded raspberries) pairing exceptionally well with the chocolate, bourbon and vanilla from base stout. I really can't tell that rye whiskey barrels were used. The palate isn't quite as nice. Chewy and mildly flabby, there's a nice fruitiness that lends an acidity that pairs well with the fruit sweetness and the vanilla. Dark chocolate is present, but is tempered by the fruit. Mild chocolate character on the finish with roast, bourbon, vanilla and fruit. The fruit character is a little "frothy". Lightly carbonated, this medium-full bodied beer is quite enjoyable, but ultimately, not my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 15:25:37 | More by DefenCorps

illidurit

California

4.65/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared at Woodshop 7 at Beachwood BBQ in Long Beach. I went into this without knowing that there were berries in this beer. Sweet creamy vanilla aroma with strawberry notes. Confectionary chocolate-covered blueberries and blackberries, strawberry ice cream, just freaking ludicrous.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 07:22:46 | More by illidurit

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

4.1/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared at a tasting hosted by starrdogg, not sure who brought it.

The beer looks like the other bourbon counties, though mostly still with no head or lacing to speak of. Jet black.

Smell has a sticky sweetness and almost musty smell to it, mixed with mashed raspberries and of course some nice hefty bourbon and oak. Some alcohol esters and molasses is big in the nose as well.

The taste really seems to highlight the berries to me, as opposed to the other bourbon counties, and the other big stout and barrel flavors take a back seat, it's by interesting how much raspberry seed and blackberry is in there, it almost feels like tasting the actual berry. The berry seems in contrast to the bourbon and vanilla oak though for me, a little mottled and sweet.

The feel is good, a little hot though and not as thick as desired, seems like the berries add a bit of astringency.

A very good beer, but not at the level of the other bourbon counties.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 00:51:26 | More by Dreadnaught33

russwbeck

Virginia

4.6/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Traded for a CBS. Also got a Coffee '11 and BCBS '11

A: Nice active pour with less than a finger of brown head atop a black pour. Pretty viscous overall, the beer looks like on you don't want to mess with. The retention of the head is only ok, with not much more than a thin ring remaining after a few minutes.

S: The aroma is much more assertive than I expected. Blackberries and raspberries are huge, big enough to be noticed over the chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon of BCBS. Still getting a good amount of bourbon here.

T: The taste is a real mixup from what I'm used to with this beer. The fruit, again, is huge. Blackberries mostly, but some raspberries come into play as well. It reminds me a lot of Black and Red by Dogfish Head, but much more delicious. The fruit comes first, followed by the chocolate and bourbon. I will say that the chocolate and roast is really toned down from typical BCBS, but the characteristics are still noted on this beer. The bourbon comes at the end, tied with vanilla, and provides a very nice balance to the fruit. The complexity of this beer is really a force to be reckoned with. Each sip provides a nuance that is difficult to capture.

MF: Thick and heavy body, but the carbonation is right there. The booze I expect from this beer is curbed nicely by heavy fruit and the balance makes it very drinkable. However, if I had to drink the whole bottle, the sweetness would absolutely get to me. I split the bottle three ways and it walked the line with being too sweet already.

O: This is a great beer, but I can see how people would think this tastes like fruit juice. The rye isn't really assertive, but the overall barrel treatments are. Really a complex beer that hints towards too fruits at points, but at the least is ridiculously delicious. Glad I got the chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 05:31:59 | More by russwbeck

bsp77

Minnesota

4.23/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Snifter.

Appearance: Almost pure black with nice tan head at first but quickly settles back to a thin lace.

Smell: Chocolate, molasses, berries, whiskey and rye. A little more subtle than expected.

Taste: Wow, sweet berries galore! What was just a hint in the aroma is an onslaught on the taste buds. The raspberries and blackberries are really front and center, with some backbone of chocolate, molasses and anise. The rye whiskey barrel aging is present, but minimally so; much less apparent than the bourbon barrel aging of the other variants.

Feel: Thick, chewy, but oh-so-smooth body with low carbonation. Not nearly as boozy and warming as the other Bourbon Counties. The only downside is that the berries really coat the mouth a little too much.

Overall: While not as good as the Original or the almighty Coffee, I do enjoy this quite a bit - more so than Vanilla, which just seemed too boozy.

Seriously, why didn't I buy Rare when I had the chance? Stupid, cheap ass.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 21:00:40 | More by bsp77

claaark13

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks for the hookup Joel. Poured at cellar temp into a Hill Farmstead tulip.

A - Dark brown body with a fizzy and fading head. Minimal lacing remains. The 2011 BCBS batch and variants really seem to all look like this. Sticks well to the glass though, I guess.

S - Lots of berries, little bit of fudge. Slightest amount of oak. Smells great, but not much like a RIS. More like a raspberry smoothie.

T - Spiced raspberry upfront, berries really stay throughout. They seem to try to fend off some heat that comes and goes. It is weird that it is kinda hot but kinda smooth. The whiskey and oak seem more pronounced in the finish. Roast, barrel and berries in the end. Some dark chocolate is evident mid-taste, but it never really sticks too long. Somewhat noticeable towards the finish as well.

M - Oh, Goose Island. This almost seems lighter than the others.

O - Really an interesting beer. I enjoyed it though. Get it and expect a very berry-forward RIS. If you expect something different, you'll be very upset.

Edit - As of 3/27/13, 4/4/4.5/3.5/4.25

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 00:10:32 | More by claaark13

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 22 oz. bomber bottle poured into my Kate the Great tulip glass. Served chilled and allowed to warm for quite a while.

Appearance: Pours almost exactly like regular Bourbon County. Pitch black with some dark brown hues around the edge. Almost no head and zero retention.

Aroma: A huge hit of berries upfront. Raspberries and blackberries are complimented with a strong alcohol hit. Caramel and bourbon, with a touch of vanilla, really amplify the sweetness of the berries.

Taste: The berry punch is not quite as strong as the aroma would suggest. Really smooth caramel, brown sugar and rye whisky notes upfront. The sweetness of the berries are there too. The rye whiskey adds an interesting dimensional and helps keep the sweetness level lower than it could be. The berries add some acidity towards the end that finishes. An interesting combinatio of berries, sweetness and acidity.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied and lower than average carbonation. Feels a bit lighter than the other variants though.

Overall, an interesting idea, but not an improvement over the base beer. The berries add a really nice dimension. This is definitely sweet, but I didn't find it overwhelmingly cloying. Surprisingly drinkable considering the sweetness and ABV. I would definitely try this again although I might not seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 02:01:17 | More by Gosox8787

FosterJM

California

3.53/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1418th Review on BA
Bottle to small snifter
22oz

2011 Vintage
Chicago Bottleshare

App- Pours out like most of the BCS variants. Rich and creamy brown, almost black. This had s smaller head and didnt leave any cling or lace.

Smell- Too sweet on the nose. The barrel treatment doesnt really do a whole lot for this one. The rye whiskey only adds a bit of a prickly nose with the bakers filling pie nose.

Taste- The beer is pretty good. A bit sweet and borders on being too sweet. A good amount of berrys and jam flavors with a bit of rye.

Mouth- Medium body with a medium carbonation. A creamy residual with a lot of berry on the finish.

Drink- This is the least compelling of the variants but had to try it. Glad I have a bottle to sit on.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 22:55:27 | More by FosterJM

womencantsail

California

3.15/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours black in color with a small tan head. Intense berry aroma, smells like jam with how sweet it is. Not much whiskey to it and not much in the way of typical stout aromas like roast or chocolate. The flavor is absolutely cloying. Like eating a spoonful of jam. Maybe a bit of vanilla and whiskey. Some dark chocolate in the background and a bit of booze. Why ruin perfectly good Bourbon County?

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 20:24:03 | More by womencantsail

Grohnke

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

(BA / BJCP)

Pours black in an oil-like consistency. Impenetrable to light. Dark caramel color head hangs around just enough to show its beauty.
(5 / 3)

Heavy berry aroma is up front, with supporting moderate caramel, bittersweet bakers chocolate, and roast, all of which are in near perfect harmony. Light oakiness. Light estery fruit. Traces of alcohol. No hop.
(5 / 12)

Sweet berry flavor is in balance with the heavy bakers chocolate and roast flavors. Moderate high molasses sweetness. Bourbon and barrel characteristics are present, but are in much less supporting roles. Spicy alcohol makes its only appearance on the sweet finish. Moderate hop bitterness prevents the beer from becoming cloyingly sweet. Aftertaste is dominated by berries and bakers chocolate.
(4.5 / 19)

Full, thick, chewy body. Medium light carbonation breaks it up well and prevents it from feeling syrupy. Light alcohol warmth. No astringency. High residual sticky malt on my lips.
(5 / 5)

Love the berry showcase, and perfect marriage of other key flavors. The bourbon and barrel characteristics of the base beer are somewhat muted by the berry addition, but it takes on such a new personality that it really doesnt even matter. This beer is phenomenal, and easily my favorite bcbs variation.
(4.5 / 9)

( 4.68 / 48)

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 00:34:00 | More by Grohnke

steve8robin

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Have been sitting on this one for a while. I love BCBS so I cannot even wait to get this one going. 22oz bottle, bottled on 12/10/11...

A: A super, motor oil dark brew with a small mocha colored head that fades quickly to a lace atop the brew. Goose Island knows how to do their Imperial Stouts. Very good.

S: I get a lot of the traditional BCBS notes. A creamy bourbon barrel scent with minor dark fruit and some subtle alcohol scents blend to for this wonderful concoction. I get subtle hints of the raspberry / blackberry scents. Good.

T: Ok, here is where it differs from traditional bourbon county. Immediately upfront you get a creamy subtle bourbon that very immediately transforms into a berry flavor. A good mix of blackberry and raspberry. The berry flavor follows your palate through to the end and leaves a sweet fruit flavor on the palate. Good.

M: Full body with a hard carbonation. A sweet burning finish. Good.

O: All in all, this may be one of my least favorites in the Bourbon County variations that I have tried. Still have a bottle of Rare to get to eventually which I also have not had the chance to try. Looking forward to that one. Definitely try this if you are a fan of the Bourbon County series. Delicious brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 01:02:10 | More by steve8robin

BlastBeats

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. bomber of Bramble Rye split three ways and poured into my Sierra Nevada Luettich Balloon glass.

Appearance: like the rest of the Bourbon County variants, this one barely has any head. It pours an oily jet black color with crimson/purple hues around the edges of my glass.

Smell: plenty of fresh fruit on the nose.

Taste: heaps of Michigan raspberries up front, fading into blackberries and that always incredible Bourbon County Stout base.. although this one finishes with a nice rye whiskey barrel spiciness as opposed to the Heaven Hill bourbon we're more accustomed to.

Mouthfeel: full-bodied and smooth, yet I feel like this one is a tad thinner than all the other Bourbon County varieties.

Overall: Bramble Rye seems to be a lot of people's least favorite in the Bourbon County lineup, and it might be mine as well, but that's only because it's in such great company - still a great beer and suitable for warm weather. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 22:04:13 | More by BlastBeats

SpeedwayJim

New York

4.18/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Jon for this one. Poured from a 22oz. bomber into a Cigar City snifter.

Pours black like every other Bourbon County variation. No head. Oily legs. Very sparse, spotty lace. Average.

Nose is aromatic. Booze, bitter chocolate, fudge, some roasted malt. There's also a mellow sweetness that lingers in the back. Real nice.

This one is good but strange. Opens sweet red fruit, some mellow, nice tartness. Chocolate, fudge, and cocoa. Roasted malt graininess on the back end. Boozy and sweet on the finish. Lingering chocolate and fudge aftertaste with a hot zing. I actually really enjoy this.

Medium to full bodied with low carbonation. Oily and slick in the mouth and warm going down. Finishes hot with a sticky, lingering aftertaste. Nice. Could be a touch smoother.

Overall, I think this is a bit better than the regular Bourbon County with a touch more character. Its very different from its brethren because of the fruit, but nonethless quiet enjoyable. Definitely worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 23:44:05 | More by SpeedwayJim

Jeffo

Netherlands

3.75/5  rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Doopie opened this one up for us to try a couple weeks back. Paired it with the coffee variant. Cheers for the share Doops!

From a bomber into a snifter
Bottled on 10 December 2011

APPEARANCE: Pours the same as all the other variants, black but not quite pitch black, yielding a one finger, looser, fizzy, light mocha colored head with lousy retention. Head immediately fades to a thin ring only. Jet black body with no visible carbonation evident except a single stream of carbonation up the middle to the top. Only a ring remains unti the end but leaves no lacing down the glass. Average at best.

SMELL: Some whisky for sure, with oak notes and dark fruits. Raspberries and blackberries are defintely there as well, stealing the show a bit. Pretty cool mix of aromas, and bold enough to make a statement.

TASTE: Whisky and lots of fruit notes for sure, with raspberries and blackberries through the middle. Quite sweet. A bold and lingering aftertaste of whisky, oak, and some sweet dark fruit notes. Tasty, but the fruit has made it somewhat one-dimensional and has certainly tonned the bourbon bite down, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

PALATE: Medium body and medium, somewhat prickly carbonation. Slightly light on the palate, but goes down smoother than others in the series and finishes slightly sticky. No bite or heat on this one. Better than the regular version in that respect.

OVERALL: This variant worked out really well. Though the fruit has made it slightly one-dimensional in the nose and taste, it has also mellowed out the heat and made it easier to drink as well. I must say that I really enjoyed this beer, more than I had expected, and that it might be my favorite of the series so far. A well done brew that comes highly recommended. Thanks again for sharing Doops. Another solid beer night.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 20:11:36 | More by Jeffo

beergod1

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was borderline trashed when I drank this, but here it is. Pitch black pour with a medium tan head. Smells of bourbon, chocolate, and sweet berries. Not getting the ridiculous amount of berry in the nose that I am hearing about. But the Bourbon was Really up front. Flavor of bourbon, chocolate and raspberry jam with a bready rye finish. Pretty tasty stuff. 1 of the best we tried that night.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2012 23:57:02 | More by beergod1

GregSVT

Texas

3.78/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle into a snifter

A: Pours the same as BCS with maybe a touch more red around the edges.

S: The nose has the typical BCS vanilla, chocolate, and molasses along with an odd blackberry fruit aroma. The nose is interesting to say the least.

T: The taste is odd as well. Starts with those great BCS flavors of vanilla, chocolate, and molasses and finishes with a weird grape cough syrup flavor that lingers for a while. Not impressed at all.

M: The feel is about what you'd expect from a BCS variant, thick and chewy.

O: I didn't have high hopes for this one and it was about how I expected. The blackberries really added a dark fruit flavor that almost overpowered the greatness that is BCS instead of complimenting it like the Coffee and Vanilla variants do.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 20:23:58 | More by GregSVT

harrymel

Washington

3.53/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours black and inky, quick fleeting and short lived tan foam. Smells of raspberries, sharp rye whiskey alcohol, bourbon, sweet roasted malts. I'm surprised about the amount of raspberry on the nose, bits of blackberry, but sometimes I feel like I'm convincing myself of this. Tastes like flourless dark chocolate cake/torte with a mixed berry reduction syrup - really, really rich. I shared this with one other person, wish there were two more to share with. Profoundly rich and worthy of complement with a hi end vanilla bean ice cream or a well chilled creme brulee. Full bodied with small carb and a viscous finish. A nicely done beer, but not for me.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 08:20:13 | More by harrymel