Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout - Anderson Valley Brewing Company

shand

Florida

4.23/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Reviews for this beer are kinda silly. Just because it's not super thick and strong doesn't mean this isn't a great bourbon barrel stout. The taste has an extremely well integrated bourbon flavor which wonderfully mingles with the base stout. Strong vanilla and oak tones, extremely tasty, very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 02:19:37 | More by shand

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 4

LOOK: Pours a deep brown with amber hues. Off white head forms and leaves a sheet of lace.

SMELL: Whiskey and oak, possessing a chocolatey malt background. You can really pull in alot of the Wild Turkey.

TASTE: Reminds me of eating s'mores by the campfire, taking sips of turkey periodically. Vanilla and roast, touch of coffee. Whiskey shows up mid palate with a smooth sweet grain alcohol flavor, but really no heat. Hops are leafy and alittle citrusy. Really Good. Not as strong or boozy as some, this is just flavorful.

FEEL: Medium to full bodied, smooth feel, soft carbonation. A bit thin which hurts the score. Very light sticky dryness.

OVERALL: Tasty brew, really like what the barrel did to this one. Subtlety works in this genre, let the barrel shine. I must admit, I really enjoy Wild Turkey, so this beer delivered a great 2 in 1.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2013 23:32:27 | More by Stinkypuss

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.56/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 ounce bottle. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch frothy tan head that stayed around for a while. There's also a decent amount of lacing. The brew smells like roasted malt, coffee, chocolate, bourbon, vanilla and a bit of dark fruit. It tastes like roasted/charred malt, bittersweet and milk chocolate, coffee, vanilla and bourbon. The bourbon character in both the aroma and taste is light, but still noticeable. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's thin for a stout. It has moderate carbonation, and goes down easy enough. I'm a little disappointed that the bourbon in this brew isn't stronger, but it's still a decent beer overall. With that being said, I wouldn't pay $11.99 a bottle for this again.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 21:30:13 | More by bluejacket74

neophilus

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Dark pour with ruby highlights. In the light the brew takes a rich brown hue, not quite black. Decent head at first with some lacing.

Rustic, earthy aroma like freshly turned soil. Wood notes flow in, baker's chocolate and tobacco leaf on the nose. Rich chocolate flavor up front with vanilla highlights. Tastes like bittersweet chocolate. The finish is semi sweet with lingering vanilla and cocoa nibs. No bourbon to be found in here.

Mouthfeel has a thick and velvety body like an well made cream soda.

When the label says "Bourbon Barrel Stout" I am looking for some serious flavors but this did not deliver in that regard. Closer to a brown ale than a stout IMO and had no bourbon to be found anywhere. Still this could make an excellent desert beer or a beer for a lighter palate who doesn't like a lot of roast or bourbon in their beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 21:36:37 | More by neophilus

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle split with my brother - my portion into a Deschutes tulip...

A: Dark brown/black body with a thin head and some lacing.

S: Mild spirit aromas, whiskey, vanilla, chocolate and malt/bourbon sweetness. Stout character seems subdued - overall the nose is a bit muted in general.

T: Follows the nose, thin-tasting whiskey and spirit flavors, vanilla sweetness, mild char and roasted malt. Flash of milk chocolate.

MF: Medium bodied with a thinner mouthfeel than I would hope form though with the lower ABV maybe I'm expecting too much? Carbonation is decent.

O: Even for a >7% abv bourbon barrel stout, I expected this one to be more pronounced and 'full' in smell, taste and feel. A bit disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 13:44:18 | More by Scotchboy

Gmann

New York

3.61/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a near black color with a dense creamy tan head that settles into a solid cap.

The aroma is subtle but has a nice aroma of chocolate and sweet whiskey. Mild vanilla notes as well.

The flavor is of a powdery chocolate, smooth caramel and a hint of vanilla. Not much from the whiskey. There is a light booze flavor nothing really specific

The feel is moderate with soft carbonation. Sweet on the palate but not syrupy.

A rather boring barrel aged brew but it drinks nice and has a nice flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 02:45:15 | More by Gmann

argock

Virginia

3.11/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a 22 oz brown bomber into a clear glass snifter. No freshness date evident. Purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA).

A: Not quite opaque dark brown with 1 finger of light-beige head with below-average retention and minimal lacing.

S: The aroma is not strong with only some hints of whiskey and nothing that really resembles Wild Turkey. The stout base is not very characterful with some caramel malt notes.

T: The flavor is a big letdown with some caramel malt sweetness. There are some dark malt qualities, but they are weak. The body is so light that it seems like the flavors are diluted. The bourbon whiskey flavor is there but very muted. A big disappointment.

M: The mouthfeel is all wrong for a bourbon barrel aged stout -- too thin.

O: This was one of the more boring beers I have had in the last couple of years. One of AV's poorer beers -- I think this is an attempt to lighten up a beer that I don't think really can be light -- it needs the big imperial stout dark maltiness to work with the whiskey character. Without it, they both feel off. I would definitely skip this one, especially at the unbelievable price point.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 03:21:41 | More by argock

Greywulfken

New York

3.68/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Not real sure about the details of this brewer or this beer - I just saw "bourbon barrel" and "stout" and figured it'd be my cup o' tea. Apparently, the base stout is an oatmeal stout, and the bourbon barrel is of the Wild Turkey sort. So let's give it a go.

A: not quite pitch black, finger of beige head that slimmed into some wispiness, faint mote traces inside my snifter

S: got some bourbon, dry style, and some dark maltiness reminiscent of cocoa powder and iced coffee

T: dry-tasting chocolate and dark malts, tones of Wild Turkey - not particularly complex or rich; slight smokiness

M: thin on the palate - not what I expected, smooth, though, with a mellow bitterness

O: guess I expected more than what I got - a little too thin feeling and not a very strongly flavored beer - felt closer to a porter than a stout - and the bourbon barrel aging dried it out a bit too much for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 23:46:27 | More by Greywulfken

MacQ32

South Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours an incredibly dark brown, near black. Nearly 2 fingers of dark khaki colored head, nice retention, 1/4" remains after about 5 minutes, lacing is great.

S - Smells fantastic. Very sweet, lots of chocolate malts, caramel, vanilla, and sweet bourbon. Raisin or dark cherry is also very present.

T - Initially I'm getting mostly sweetish dark fruits and some light bourbon flavors. The bourbon lingers a bit as the vanilla, and a bit of chocolate/coffee like malts come into play. The finish is slightly dry, chocolaty sweet, and mild bourbon. Definitely not going to make many people flinch, mild but very good.

M - Incredibly drinkable. A little light but very smooth - I could down this pretty quickly in great comfort. Definitely a rarity for the style, a huge plus

O - Definitely the lowest ABV if seen on a Bourbon Barrel Aged brew. Is it the most flavorful smack in the face? No, not at all. But its still got great, balanced flavor, an incredibly smooth drinkability and a hint of that bourbony deliciousness we all know and love.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 23:17:48 | More by MacQ32

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

22oz bottle poured into a shaped pint glass.

Appearance
Black with 3 fingers of tan head. Nice retention with no light penetration.

Nose
Dark fruits, chocolate and espresso with a light bourbon character.

Taste
Rum raisin, cherry and black grapes. Semi-sweet chocolate with splashes of milk. Caramel and oatmeal. A hint of espresso. Very light essence of Wild Turkey bourbon with no real barrel character.

Mouthfeel
Medium-full bodied, silky and smooth.

Overall
Much lighter than most Bourbon Barrel Stouts, this makes an easy drinker. However, at $13 a bottle the quality is surely questionable.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 22:36:39 | More by justintcoons

SHODriver

California

3.68/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: pours black with a finger and a half of tan head that fades to a collar around the edge of the snifter
S: smells of chocolate, coffee, roast malt a bit of vanilla and some bourbon aromas
T: oaky up front with a bit of caramel and vanilla with some bourbon flavors, chocolate and coffee as well as some roast malt on the back end but very chocolatey. swallow brings a good amount of bourbon flavor, some roasted malt and a bit more coffee and chocolate
M: fuller side of medium on the palate with soft and slightly prickly carbonation.
O: good flavors and a decent balance, not a lot of barrel character but it allows the other flavors to shine a bit more. it's more of a supporting role than dominant flavor. inoffensive and quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 03:29:42 | More by SHODriver

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A-nearly pitch black with a thin tan head that dissipates quickly. No lacing or cascading.

S-bourbon, coconut, leather, and a hint of smoke

T-Much like the nose with bourbon and coconut standing out with some roasted malt, coffee, dark chocolate, and a hint of leather

M-thin and slightly syrupy

D-the bourbon, coconut, and leather kind of cut into the drinkability for me, but overall it is a flavorful American Stout

Overall, this is a good stout, not my personal favorite, but complex. Fans of bourbon barrel aged stouts should give this a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 03:06:26 | More by thegodfather2701

lordofstarside

Nevada

3.59/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bomber to snifter, no bottle date

Pours midnight black with a generous finger of foam. Retention could be better, good lacing though. No visibility or carbonation. Smells of bourbon, oak, coffee, chocolate, cherry, some vanilla, rigid malts, and some alcohol. Not the most complex, but some definite activity going on here. Taste comes up pretty short, though. The bourbon is a bit perpendicular to the rest of the taste which comes and goes pretty quick, a flash of flavor- coffee, chocolate, oak, bourbon is quickly ended by the after taste of malt, bourbon, and oak. Feel is the lowest part, it's strange how this washes over the palate, flavor changes quickly but isn't enjoyable. Not the most drinkable. Overall this would be a lot better executed with a Russian imperial stout. The stout simply isn't strong enough to stand up to the bourbon, and the beer is for naught

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 06:45:51 | More by lordofstarside

Onenote81

North Carolina

2.94/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Another one shared by a friend last night. Poured into a snifter. Pours a deep black with a thick tan head. The nose is pretty weak, as I'm not getting much bourbon at all. Slightly sweet aroma of vanilla, but this is really underwhelming. Decent feel. Creamy and smooth. Velvety texture. The flavor is a bit of a disappointment as well. I'm getting little bourbon and vanilla notes. Mild oak dryness, some chocolate malt present. This beer is just sort of blah. Not much going on. Glad I didn't pay for a bottle. Thanks anyways for the pour, Jacob.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 19:41:26 | More by Onenote81

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.81/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: black in color, 3/4 inch head, low carbonation, opaque

Smell: light chocolate and roasted malt

Taste: oak, chocolate, toffee, cocoa--a bit of Tootsie Roll taste

Mouthfeel: moderate carbonation, heavy body, sweet with oakiness

Overall: I was impressed with the oakiness of this beer at first, but unfortunately the taste did not carry all the way through this beer. It was still strong enough, but I wish the flavor was a bit stronger. Still I would get this one again if I saw it on tap. Not quite what I would call good, but certainly one of the better brews from Anderdon Valley.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2013 14:27:05 | More by tigg924

scottfrie

California

3.11/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

22oz bottle into snifter.

A: Pours a near black cola color with a finger of soft dense head light brown head that faded into a thin fluffy film that left tons of soapy spotty lace down the glass.
S: Sweet and mild nose with notes of raisin, caramel, brown sugar, a hint of roast, a hint of bourbon, and sticky maple.
T: Mild like the nose. Medium roast, faint chocolate, raisin, caramel, maple, brown sugar, and a hint of toast. Bourbon is low and smooth with no warmth. Falls off in finish, needs something more - more complexity. Hint of vanilla in aftertaste.
M: Falls short. Needs more body and maybe more carb. Watery slick mouthfeel, medium body, low frothy carbonation.
O: Would be much better if thicker, but still definitely enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 01:47:26 | More by scottfrie

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.28/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Any beer with "Bourbon Barrel Stout" on the label is going to pique my interest. Then, I was surprised to see that this is a relatively low-ABV version, and I was interested to see where this went: in the past my experience with bourbon stouts has almost certainly been limited to Imperial version. 22oz bomber purchased from BevMo in Sunnyvale, CA.

Pours a dark, murky black, browning at the edges. Head forms a very fine, silky ring after settling out quickly. Some very fine but quite minimal lacing around the edges of the glass. Carbonation is fine enough, but it moves through the body quickly. Overall, it looks decent enough.

Nose certainly picks up some bourbon: and oddly, more bourbon than oak, with a definite corn character coming through, and a spicy booze note, without a lot of smooth oaky characters. Certainly there's no oaky vanilla, coconut or rounded wood notes. What's there is that sweet corn character, laced with some darkness that comes through as a compacted vegemite character above some slightly overdone toast. Together, it's almost reminiscent of an acidity. It's weird, and I can't say I love it all that much.

Taste is also not all that great, but for quite different reasons. Here the lack of body is sorely evident, and it's what's missing the most from the beer. Thin entry, backed with lashings of sickly bourbon characters that drop out quickly. What's left is a bready, grainy character that lingers long efter everyone else has disappeared trying to avoid it. Finish has a slight kick of sweetness, again possibly the bourbon: but this has an almost butterscotch cloy to it. Feel is very light, but with enough stickiness to keep some of those flavours around for too long.

Nope, this doesn't work for me. In fact, this beer probably explains why my experience with bourbon barrel stouts has to date been only Imperial versions. The bourbon doesn't do anything for this beer, and in fact probably harms it. It takes over the stout, without providing much good characters itself. The flavours are assertive, but they just don't work for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 03:57:29 | More by lacqueredmouse

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

I do love a good bourbon barrel aged almost anything, Wild Turkey should be interesting... but it's really interesting clocking in only at 6.9%abv...

Pours a darker colored slightly creamy but with big fizzy bubbles of a 1 finger head that fades semi slowly with nice high water mark lacing, a just about pitch black beer with no real light getting through.

Nose starts with a bit of roasted malt, smoked malt, and a little black patent, that quickly turns to vanilla bourbon barrel, lots of buttery oak, vanilla, and some bourbon to go with it, a light smoked meat aroma with some light roast, otherwise the roasted malt and black patent disappears quickly and I can't find it again, nice caramel, fluffy nougat, and hint of cocoa.

Taste starts again with darker malts but again almost instantly dissolves to buttery oak, and vanilla bourbon barrel. The malts bring a hint of smoke, very light coffee and roast, as well as a light chalky charred black malt and some barrel char. Light bitterness from the roast and a light earthy hop character. It also seems to have a light creamy flaked oat feel. Mild sweetness brings a hint of booze too. Finish is drier but not really much so, a little creamy oats, light char and black malt lingering, some earthy hop bitterness and faint charred barrel with more buttery oak and vanilla barrel, but bourbon is on the very light side overall.

Mouth is a bit heavier bdied, somewhat creamy, lighter but decent carb.

Overall it's not bad, but nothing great. Good to try once, but not much more, and it won't age at all. The buttery vanilla oak is nice, but lack of bourbon leaves a bit to be desired, and lack of overall malt profile as it disappears to the barrel also leaves something to be desired, oh and also lack of carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 23:59:09 | More by jlindros

gatorbev

Florida

3.63/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a growler into a pint glass
A: Pitch black with a one-finger tan head
S: Some coffee, also a distinct soy sauce aroma. Also a hint of bourbon
T: Dark with coffee, bourbon, vanilla, roasted malts and lightly hopped
M: Thinner than I expected but rich with a light carbonation
O: I always enjoy bourbon barrel-aged beers & this one is certainly solid but not at the front of the pack

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 05:32:12 | More by gatorbev

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.15/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

22 picked up tonight at the COOP for a pricey $8ish... poured into my slim tulip produces a black brew with no light escaping even on the stem end of my glass... the head is dark brown and dies back quickly but still leaves nice sheets of lace.

Light roasty notes... a bit of raisin combines with light vanilla/whiskey notes. Really I was expecting more... more stout qualities... more whiskey qualities... really light across the board.

Flavors are again pretty light.. a deep raisin element moves mid palate to the finish.. whiskey notes are light.... this is a decent porter, but not a stout IMO.

The body is medium with a creamy effervescent carbonation.

Okay at best... I had super high hopes for this one. I will not buy again.

4/3/3/3.5/3.25

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 03:52:34 | More by JohnGalt1

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle - Bullock's Wine & Spirits in Marietta, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours a very dark brown, near black body with a tall crown of tan-hued foam, receding at a steady clip, leaving little flecks of lace on the descent.

Smell: Sweet-scented bourbon notes dovetailed into the Barney Flats scent, with its touches of mild-blend coffee and chocolate-dipped oatmeal cookies.

Taste: Their BFOS presented a steady, sweet maltiness, with semi-sweet chocolate, lightly roasted coffee, and a smooth, creaminess from the oats and light dark fruitiness. Adding in the smooth vanilla, brown sugar, coconut, oak elements from bourbon barrels is just gravy. Smooth, sweet-sided finish with lingering aforementioned bourbony accents.

Mouthfeel: Medium, though nicely textured and wholly drinkable with decent amounts of carbonation.

Overall: It's a good bourbon barrel-aged beer. For the bourbon barrel-aged beer lover in us all.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 22:24:14 | More by ChainGangGuy

ohiobeer29

Ohio

4.64/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout

I had only dreamed about this beer being made and even had the idea to make this beer myself one day.But I just happen to be at the party source checking out what they had on tap and behold the beer of my dreams had came true. Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout .It was so good I bought a growler since they didn't have it in bottles.Amazing beer here.Went through the growler in a day and a half.the big treat is at the nearing of the bottom where the wild turkey is ,the flavor is amazing On tap is slightly better but the bottles are darn near the same might even be better.Here is my review.

serving type: on tap great head and flavor hits quickly

serving type bottle: great head flavor hits fast

appearance: very dark with a great look in a Snifter best way to drink a great stout

smell:wild turkey vanilla,espresso slightly,

taste:wild turkey vanilla,espresso slightly a good mix of all of them great balance not too much not too little

mouthfeel: very smooth easy to drink beer easy to sit back relax and enjoy this beer

overall:This is the beer I dreamed on Anerderson Valley got this one right.I have a ton of this stuff in the frig and will age it and see what happens while enjoying some now as well.almost a perfect beer here if you like stouts and wild turkey you will love this beer!!!!

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2013 04:21:15 | More by ohiobeer29

Bung

North Carolina

3.69/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz. My bottle says 6.9%, not 5.8.
Nearly black very dark brown pour. Half finger of tan head. Maintained quite well. Faint bit of lacing as well.

Aroma, some oatmeal like stout aromas, roast malt and peat. Some caramel and chocolates. Not real strong and not much barrel really.

Taste, Roast malt, some chocolate, heavier vanilla and caramel. Barrel is more apparent here. Woody cocoa finish. Pretty straight forward.

Body is a little thin. Barreling tends to thin stuff out, and this probably wasn't too big to begin with. It borders on watery. Carbonation is at a good level. A nice brew, kind of a session barrel aged stout.
No where near worth the $12 I paid for it here in NC. Not quite as nice as their regular oatmeal stout either.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 03:51:02 | More by Bung

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.99/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A 20oz pint @theunderground in Edmonton. At least the bartender knew that this was actually on tap, plain and clear, unlike buddy there last week. Gah.

This beer appears a very, very dark brown, verging on black colour, with prominent basal cola highlights, and two skinny fingers of tightly foamy, and somewhat creamy beige head, which leaves a barely pockmarked wall of painted lace around the glass as it slowly ebbs away.

It smells of sweet, boozy, woody vanilla, caramel malt, powdered cocoa, mild coffee, a bit of black licorice, and faint earthy, leafy hops. Like a shot of bourbon sitting next to a chocolate stout. The taste is more restrained on the Kentucky brown spirit front, with stronger chocolate and dry coffee, the caramel malt gaining some crystallized toffee character, subtle licorice root, and slowing burgeoning astringent Bourbon-soaked oakiness.

The carbonation is a bit peppy, but settles down soon enough, the body a decent medium weight, and a tad clammy in its smoothness - perhaps a casualty of the barrel perception. It finishes on the sweet side, all that chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and other sundry whisky notes hardly able to be anything else.

If Wild Turkey was indeed the barrel for this particular aging project, that would go a long way in explaining the big up-front Bourbon essence, followed by the drop-off, which here, at least, is picked up by the heady malt of the base stout. Sans beer, that effect is typically unpleasant as a hungry croc, as Wild Turkey is rather unappealing on its own. Nice to see it actually used for good.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2013 22:10:01 | More by biboergosum

popery

California

4.16/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours black with just a touch of dark brown at the edges. Great looking head. It’s big and brown. A thick blanket of fine foam. Excellent retention and lacing, particularly for a barrel-aged stout, if a somewhat small one.

Very nice aroma with more bourbon delicacy and rich stout flavor than expected. Lots of vanilla and chocolate. Rich caramel and toffee. Lots of complex barrel flavors knocking around - cherry, walnut, coconut. Little to no roast. Some light oak but more bourbon than oak is coming through from the barrel. The barrel is strong, but the stout and barrel notes are well balanced and work well together. Very little booziness, much less than expected, anyway.

The taste is similar to the aroma and works quite well with the relatively low abv. Big, rich chocolate with sweet caramel and bourbon. Good balance of barrel and stout. Little roast. Sweet bourbon contributing vanilla, caramel, nuttiness and fruit. Very nice. An oaky tannic note and some mild hoppiness cuts off the sweetness in the finish.

Good mouthfeel. Creamy and smooth. Nice full feel for a 6.9% abv beer. A lot of smaller beers get awfully thin with some time in a barrel, but Anderson Valley has managed to keep this beer feeling rich and full.

AV has done some excellent work with this beer. I previously tried and liked the tap version, and I think this bottle is even better. I’m very impressed that they’ve managed to get such complexity, richness and delicacy into a beer of this strength. I’m looking forward to trying more from their barrel program, and it’s exciting to see AV and Fal Allen put something fun and new in bottles.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 04:56:29 | More by popery