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

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.98/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This beer was served from the tap at The Blind Tiger in New York, NY. It arrived in a generic tulip, glowing shades of the deepest brown. It held a two finger head of tan foam, showing nice retention until it eventually settled into a cap atop the liquid. Whips of lacing were left around the glass. Carbonation appeared light, and no sediment or haze was noted. The aroma gave deep roasted coffee and caramel malts, big clean vanillas, liquid milk chocolates, and warm buttery bourbon that smelled much richer than straight Wild Turkey itself. With warmth came malt vinegar, more bourbon warmth without the burn, and the smell of chocolate covered rice crispy cakes. Our first impression was that there was nice warmth to the flavoring, as there was in the nose, but it was met by nice sweetness and spice to balance. As we sipped, soured chalky bite, milk chocolate malts, raw figgy sugars, and citric lemon rind bite started things off. This was quickly cut by cooked brown sugars, faint mustiness, big warming bourbon, clean woodiness, and that sweet Wild Turkey flavoring. The finish washed with more of that crisp drying chocolate malt, rice and rye, booze, and a final drop of that rich chocolate sweetness. The aftertaste breathed of warmed chocolates, warmed raw bourbon flavoring, soured oakiness, faint grassy hops, and crisp yeasty bite. The body was medium, with a lightness around the edges, while carbonation felt light. There was an initial syrupy coating around the mouth, giving way to a crisp drying astringency of booze and malty sweetness. There was nice slurp, sip, pop, froth, and cream, and the sip was very warming. The abv was easy for the style, and the beer sipped nicely.

Overall, the best thing about this beer was the nice bourbon flavoring and rich woodiness in both the aroma and the nose. The nice thing about this was that they came with sole flavoring, without any overpowering burn, and excessive depth of musky agedness. Each component was strong, with a certain cleanliness to delineate each from the next. The lower abv also contributes to this guy being a considerably sessionable stout. At times, however, the sweetness does get up there, and make this beer seem a bit “young”, but regardless this is a refreshing offering from Anderson Valley.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2013 16:00:03 | More by TheBrewo

juanbon

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

05-26-2013 00:47:19 | More by juanbon

Boilerfood

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-25-2013 02:14:13 | More by Boilerfood

PStriedl

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-25-2013 00:31:33 | More by PStriedl

andysc83

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-24-2013 20:09:41 | More by andysc83

KeyWestGator

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-24-2013 02:57:07 | More by KeyWestGator

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

Mantooth

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -21.1%

05-22-2013 22:21:14 | More by Mantooth

alex021224

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%

05-22-2013 03:07:20 | More by alex021224

wtkphoto

Texas

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-22-2013 02:48:46 | More by wtkphoto

WizzardOfHops

California

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-21-2013 22:44:30 | More by WizzardOfHops

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

BigBarley

Texas

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-20-2013 09:22:54 | More by BigBarley

bbfc

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-20-2013 04:45:31 | More by bbfc

craftbrew502

Kentucky

2.75/5  rDev -27.6%

05-20-2013 00:35:37 | More by craftbrew502

shehateme

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-19-2013 20:04:33 | More by shehateme

nzerbe

New York

3/5  rDev -21.1%

05-19-2013 16:36:57 | More by nzerbe

hopkrid

Florida

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-19-2013 16:11:35 | More by hopkrid

KiMiRaiK

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%

05-19-2013 03:48:39 | More by KiMiRaiK

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

DangerDawg

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-19-2013 02:35:26 | More by DangerDawg

nyrblue2

New York

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-19-2013 01:30:18 | More by nyrblue2