Great Crescent Bourbon's Barrel Stout - Great Crescent Brewery

1Adam12

Indiana

3.45/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pretty stoked to try a BBA stout out of a can. Poured what looked thick, and black. Really no head on this. The smell was a bit weak. Really no bourbon on the nose. Smells of coffee, malt, vanilla, all of which were pretty light. The taste got better as it warmed. Just a slight bit of bourbon right at the beginning of the sip, disappeared instantly and was followed by bitter chocolate and coffee. Slight bit of vanilla and malt with a bitter finish. Not half bad. I'da liked more bourbon, but I will say that the stout characteristics were not overshadowed by bourbon and were there to be tasted. The mouthfeel was where I'd say I was disappointed. Very thin for a stout. However at 7.5 abv I suppose you'll have that. Overall, Not a bad offering. Love the idea of a BBA stout in a can. Looking forward to trying more beers from Great Crescent.

Edit: Upon drinking my 2nd can, I've found that the barrel is most present at room temperature. Thins up a bit, however the bourbon becomes noticeable and is very enjoyable.

Serving type: can

01-19-2012 23:08:22 | More by 1Adam12

ADTaber

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

05-29-2013 00:04:11 | More by ADTaber

bobhits

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Explosive pour, HUGE head, huge body, deep and black.

Slight vanilla notes, marginal oak, dark sugars, coffee, and a hint of sour.

I already want to try this again as I HOPE this can has some issues. A bit sour which can happen from bourbon barrels with certain stouts, but I hope this is a mistake and not their goal. The bourbon barrel isn't strong enough and if these are hops I'm tasting and not an infection it's an interesting beer I guess.

Drinkable and ok for a stout.

I hope to re-review this but it's ok nothing special and not a worthy bourbon barrel.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 11:05:39 | More by bobhits

jakeox

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-19-2013 01:07:07 | More by jakeox

craft_shannie

Indiana

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%

04-28-2013 15:17:45 | More by craft_shannie

Siggy125

California

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

03-05-2013 01:48:38 | More by Siggy125

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%

01-24-2013 20:32:22 | More by RedneckBeerz

chippo33

Vermont

1.5/5  rDev -59.1%

01-13-2013 02:45:31 | More by chippo33

whendeathsleeps

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

01-12-2013 23:57:30 | More by whendeathsleeps

MSandahl23

Indiana

4/5  rDev +9%

12-29-2012 16:24:48 | More by MSandahl23

Lukass

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +22.6%

12-26-2012 21:19:47 | More by Lukass

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.1/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a beautiful, viscous black, with a dark brown finger or so of rich looking head. Didn't stick around too long, but dissipated to a consistent foamy ring. The aroma is pleasant, with notes of light bourbon, oak and vanilla, with chocolate and plenty of roasty malts. Bit more a stronger bournon note on the taste, mingling with some vanilla and charred wood. Chocolate, roasted coffee and an almost smoky, meaty taste. The mouthfeel is pretty good, a bit thin though, with a creamy texture. Smooth.

IT's quite a nice BA stout. IT's not the most bourbon barrel heavy, but that's okay; it really lets a whole lot of other complexities shine through. Must seek out more!

Serving type: can

12-15-2012 20:09:15 | More by EgadBananas

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pour coal black with a sizable mocha head that fades within a minute leaving only slight lacing down the edges.

Aroma is dark chocolate, a little smokiness, vanilla oak and just a hint of bourbon.

More chocolate in the flavor. Smoke component is present, but subdued so I like that. Some vanilla with just a hint of bourbon near the end. Finishes a bit sweet.

Medium bodied. I'd prefer a touch more in a big stout Mild carbonation with a semi-sweet finish.

Nice easier to get (at least in IN) bourbon barrel stout in a can! Can't complain too much about this. Is it one of the best I've ever had? No, but it's something I'd be glad to drink any day and I'll continue to buy it in the future.

Serving type: can

12-07-2012 00:06:43 | More by jmarsh123

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours oil black with about 1/4 inch of roasted toffee colored creamy head and dies down almost as quick leaving nothing but a thin ring and eventually nothing at all.

S - Char, bourbon, oak, dark bitter chocolate, vanilla, and light smoke.

T - Starts with some vanilla and oak bourbon with some light smokiness, followed halfway through with bitter chocolate which rides it through for a slight bourbon sweet finish and lingering dark chocolate bitterness.

M - Thin body, semi-sticky on the lips, mild carbonation pricklies gives way to a smooth and dry finish.

O - Solid and I dig the fact it's in a can which is a huge plus. If I have any downsides to this beer, it would be a thicker texture, it's to wimpy and watery on the finish. However, did I mention it's a bourbon stout in a can?? Pretty cool.

Serving type: can

12-05-2012 01:52:21 | More by jzeilinger

ortie

Kentucky

2.75/5  rDev -25.1%

12-05-2012 01:17:51 | More by ortie

baybum

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

11-06-2012 22:53:49 | More by baybum

sendbeer

Georgia

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%

11-01-2012 15:45:46 | More by sendbeer

dlello2

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -25.1%

10-06-2012 03:20:05 | More by dlello2

plumcrazyfx

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

08-10-2012 21:39:36 | More by plumcrazyfx

brewmee

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

08-06-2012 04:05:20 | More by brewmee

dpasotti

Indiana

2.63/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Deep black color with head like Coca-Cola foam, but much larger. Nutty, biscuity nose with bitter cocoa and roast underneath. Very little bourbon.

Flavor is peanut butter, toasted malt, and delicate bourbon. Not much roasty stout character. Balance is toward the bitter side. None of the smoke that is found in the un-bourboned stout (may be another base beer).

Mouthfeel is too heavy. I expect a hefty creamy body in a stout, but this comes off as slick/sticky. The carbonation is prickly and should probably be lower, although I doubt that would help the overly-thick body. Given this review, the beer's not as bad as it sounds. It is definitely different. The bourbon character is very subdued, which is a nice change from the majority of these beers that taste like watered-down whiskey. At least I can taste the beer here. It's an OK shot at the style, but I won't be buying it again.

Serving type: can

07-18-2012 23:49:23 | More by dpasotti

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

reviewed from notes 5/20/12.

tallboy can poured into snifter glass.

Appearance: black bodied beer with 2 fingers of mocha head. Thick lacing.

Smell: milk chocolates and vanilla. Not much for barrel notes from this beer.

Taste: Bitter cocoa, molasses, and vanilla. No bourbon notes on other barrel notes. If they are in there they are faint.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation. This beer is really carbonated for a barrel aged stout. It an easy drinking stout.

Overall: An okay beer. Glad I only bought one can that was enough for me. Expensive 4pk at around 16 dollars. Needs more bourbon notes and big flavors and complexity.

Serving type: can

05-24-2012 22:49:23 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

egrace84

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-21-2012 17:44:22 | More by egrace84

sjc483

Indiana

4/5  rDev +9%

05-21-2012 17:06:52 | More by sjc483

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.58/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a can into a Dogfish Head snifter at cellar temperature. When I opened the can, I was surprised that it gushed a bit. Once poured, there was an enormous brown head on this thing. Too big, in fact. I had to pour it into two separate glasses. Other than that, the appearance was nearly black. The nose had faint notes of roasted malt, leather, and vanilla. It smells nice, but I wish it was a bit more assertive.

Medium to full-bodied beer with a rather thin mouthfeel and predominantly sweet malty flavor. I don't think the high level of carbonation does this beer any favors. A hefty bloom looks nice, but the subtle flavors imparted from the barrel are completely lost. I had to let the beer sit and de-gas a bit so that I could get all of its flavor. After about 10-15 minutes, I got faint toffee and chocolate up front. At mid-palate, I get a bit of vanilla and a slight bitter roastiness on the finish. Even the mouthfeel improved and got a little creamier. Unfortunately, I never got much bourbon presence. The beer had no bite to it whatsoever.

I've had this beer on tap before and I thought it had more bourbon flavor to it. The canned version doesn't seem to have it. Also, the carbonation is an issue. In my opinion this is a good beer, but it's far from great. Try it if you can find it, but it's probably not something you want to trade for (yet).

Serving type: can

05-13-2012 01:29:42 | More by deadonhisfeet