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

ThickNStout

Georgia

2.6/5  rDev -31.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25

22oz bottle from Sprayberry Bottle Shop (Marietta, GA). 7.99. No apparent bottling date. Served in a Founders snifter.

Pours dark brown with one and a half fingers khaki head that leaves a little lace.

Smells of sweet bourbon, coconut, cocoa and brown sugar.

Taste is sweet vanilla, cocoa, faint bourbon, caramel, coconut, brown sugar and a lottle caramel. Just hints of the flavors without much oomph.

Light body. Light carbonation. Mild sweet bourbony finish.

Interesting but lacking depth. Thin and lackluster. Seems like they barreled a beer that wasn't quite up to the task. There are plenty of other far better barrel aged stouts available for the money.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 06:56:27 | More by ThickNStout

Onenote81

North Carolina

2.94/5  rDev -22.8%
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

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.1/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured black with a nice tan cap, which reseds quickly leaving some brown bubbles and a light brown ring stickingto the glass

S: An initial aroma of bourbon and some roastiness but thats about it.

T: Soft burbon notes with a weak underlying body of what was once a stout. I get some oats, roast and light chocolate. The finish is a bit boring with a lingering, light bourbon note

M: Medium bodied, a bit thin for my liking, the stout base there leaving noites of chocolate and roast on the palate. Perhaps a tad overcarbed or bubbly for this style

O: Not exactly why Anderson Valley would take a medium bodied base stout which cant hold up to a barrel and throw it in a barrel? Not enough body on this and really not all that great

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2013 17:51:58 | More by barleywinefiend

scottfrie

California

3.11/5  rDev -18.4%
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

argock

Virginia

3.11/5  rDev -18.4%
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

ranger60

New Jersey

3.14/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Had it on tap at Buckeye Beer Engine.

A- very dark brown, not quite black...nice head with nice lacing.

S- picking up roast notes as would be expected from a stout, but nothing overly complex.

T- very light for a stout...picking up the bourbon, but it's not overwhelming.

M- to me, it seems very thin and without body for a stout.

O- I'd drink more of it, but it would not be a top choice.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2013 18:57:34 | More by ranger60

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.15/5  rDev -17.3%
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

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.28/5  rDev -13.9%
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

FosterJM

California

3.41/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

1724th Review on BA
Draft to Cervoise
16oz

@Yardhouse, Chino Hills, CA

App- When this came to the table. I was actually really impressed with the pour. Even in the late hours of 1AM, the darkness of the lighting of the restaurant, this beer shined. It was a dark black with a solid 2 fingers of a creme looking head that fall semi fast with a great amount of thick gobby cling down the sides.

Smell- I am a fan of Anderson Valley and generally like the Oatmeal Stout. I am curious WTF happened to this beer. The original beer is layered with malty, flaky oats and a bit of chocolate. This has none of that. It was grainy, boozy, unbalanced and pure Wild Turkey.

Taste- I can handle my beers that are barrel aged. I enjoy the burn, I like the vanilla and oak and bigger flavors. I couldnt do this beer. I only drank 1/2 the glass and couldnt handle the lack of unbalance behind it. This lacked refinement with the oatmeal, the malts and the booze being tied into one unit. Just needed more behind it to balance it all out.

Mouth- A solid medium body with a medium creamy carbonation. A huge amount of roast and malts behind this without balance. The barrel just adds way too much booze instead of complimenting the base beer, it takes over.

Drink- I wanted to love this, sadly I didnt Nothing but mess and lack of balance behind it. No vanilla, no oak and no balance. Sadly, I wont come back to this one.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2013 01:36:29 | More by FosterJM

Halcyondays

California

3.46/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. bomber, my bottle says 6.9%,

A: Pours black with a creamy tan head, spotty lace, solid head retention.

S: Definite notes bourbon with chocolate and coffee notes. Some roasted malt.

T: Dark malt though it's not particularly striking. The barrel character works well, but the base beer is too light to really make this idea work.

M: Light-bodied, a thin feel. Soft carbonation, easy drinking, a solid feel.

O: It's hard to make a bourbon barrel beer work in a smaller beer, and while this beer has it's moments, it's just OK in the end. The bomber price at $9.79 is crazy.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 06:52:37 | More by Halcyondays

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

3.48/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: dark and nearly opaque as a stout should be. Some cola highlights around the edges. Pretty frothy tan head, but then again it's not an imp.
Smell: more chocolate than bourbon with the bourbon a bit in the background. Pleasant enough, not particularly rich or complex.
Taste: much like the nose. Pleasant enough, nothing special.
Overall: tasty, but not sure this succeeded. Thea bourbon barrel treatment didn't yield much beyond a non- ba stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 23:25:05 | More by cindyjeffsmith

mactrail

California

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Very black in the small tulip. Not much head in the glass and nothing special to look at. Fairly thin body.

On the plus side, this has a really good bourbon flavor. The aroma is good hooch with some vanilla. The stout itself is nothing to brag about, but it makes a good combination and lets the barrel flavors through. It's not really sweet, and it's a fairly thin beer. Lots of charred flavors which are nicely toned down by the boozy taste.

Altogether an interesting drink, and a good example of how to improve an average stout. On tap at Pizza Port in Ocean Beach.

01/22/2013 update: Had this on tap at Rogue in San Francisco. Lots of vanilla, fruity with hints of mango and pineapple. Warm, rich, and seriously drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2012 03:22:02 | More by mactrail

lordofstarside

Nevada

3.59/5  rDev -5.8%
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

TheSixthRing

California

3.6/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on-tap at the Yardhouse in Roseville, CA

Appearance - Served opaque black, with a 2 finger head. Great retention. Solid lacing with good stick around the glass.

Smell - Sweet bourbon aroma. Lesser notes of your typical roasted malt qualities. Not much outside that.

Taste - Sweet whiskey flavor upfront, followed by faint, chalky chocolate character. Finishes much the same.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, though it thins out quickly before finishing rather dry. Moderate carbonation.

Overall - Not bad, but not really my bag. Too much whiskey character, and not enough stout. In the end, it just doesn't strike me as a beer I'd want to try again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2013 00:21:30 | More by TheSixthRing

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Served in a snifter at Firkin.

The way I hear it, this is the only brewery allowed to age in Wild Turkey barrels. I'm not sure if this is entirely true, but it makes for a good story regardless. This stuff pours a straight obsidian topped by a finger of tan foam. The nose comprises whiskey, toasted oak, and dark chocolate. It's pretty simplistic, but pleasant nonetheless. The taste brings in more of the same, though now the oak character is lessened, the whiskey is consequently increased slightly (and it certainly tastes like Turkey at this point), and there is an addition of very light roasted malts and a hint of Guinness-style sourness near the finish. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fairly fluid feel. Overall, though a bit on the thin side and a touch too heavy with the whiskey at times, this is a pretty solid barrel-aged stout. Definitely worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2013 01:32:01 | More by TMoney2591

gatorbev

Florida

3.63/5  rDev -4.7%
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

ONUMello

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | 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: growler

02-03-2013 23:50:40 | More by ONUMello

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev -4.2%
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

UCLABrewN84

California

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Instant Replay in Canoga Park, CA.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, cookie dough, wood, and a mild bourbon aroma. Taste is much the same with a slight tartness to it. There is a mild roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but the barrel aged presence flavor wise is subdued.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2012 03:13:20 | More by UCLABrewN84

SHODriver

California

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
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

Greywulfken

New York

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
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

Bung

North Carolina

3.69/5  rDev -3.1%
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

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -0.8%
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

kojevergas

California

3.79/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I chose this listing because the ABV on my bottle is indeed 6.9%. That said, the title seems to be simply "Bourbon Barrel Stout." The subtitle mentions Wild Turkey as the bourbon, but it doesn't appear to be part of the actual title. Acquired for $9.00 at a local SoCal beer store. 22 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard branded pressure cap served into a Mitchells of Lancaster flared stemtulip in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given the brewery.

Served cold, straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger gorgeous tan colour head. Frothy, creamy, and of good thickness. The 3 minute retention is nice as well. Leaves even light lacing as it recedes. Body colour is a solid nontransparent opaque black. Not quite a jet black, but dark. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. To be nitpicky, the head could be darker and richer and the body could be more vibrant. But there are no overt flaws. At this low an ABV relative to the style and barrel aging, you'd think the head would retain for longer.

Sm: Delighfully subtle vanilla and oak notes. The bourbon is definitely there, and it's well integrated with no boozy or hot alcohol notes. Love the bourbon here, but I don't get any toasty notes. Dark malts, cream, chocolate malt. Coconut is a nice touch, and mixes well with the vanilla. Delightfully executed. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable. Really looking forward to trying this one. A complex, subtle aroma of moderate strength. Damn good for a bourbon barrel aged stout.

T: Hm. The taste is nowhere near as balanced as the aroma. Sweet vanilla up front which bleeds through the finish. Little oak, and even then no toasted oak. Light bourbon character is a highlight. Sweet coconut adds to the sweetness - which is a bit overdone but the coconut flavour itself is nice. Dark malts form the body. Chocolate malt. The beer seems to be overwhelmed by the bourbon flavour - like the foundation/base beer can't handle the additional complexity. The beer suffers under the weight of the bourbon here; this is not seamless integration. No alcohol comes through. No yeast or hop character comes through. Light caramel. In spite of its slightly overcooked sweetness, it's nicely balanced. And the more I'm drinking it, the more I'm acclimating to that sweet vanilla and coconut. I quite like it.

Mf: Smooth and creamy. Perfect carbonation. Good presence on the palate. Good body, if a bit weak. Complements the flavour profile very well. Good execution.

Dr: It's shockingly drinkable for a bourbon barrel aged stout; I'll have little trouble killing this by meself. The subtlety and complexity of superior beers in the style isn't here, but it's nice to have a bourbon barrel stout I can take down comfortably alone. Drinkability is a highlight of this beer considering the style. I'd definitely have it again on-draught, and I'd love to see how it ages. There's a lot of potential in this beer. It'd make a great starter beer for newcomers to heavy barrel aged stouts - and it'd make a great reminder beer for those of who've had too many heavy imperial stouts that drinkability doesn't have to be restrained in a good stout. Solid stuff from Anderson Valley, but it is a biteen pricey for what it is. I'd love to see this in six pack format. I'd happily kill a 6er of this in a night. Great stuff.

Highlights in this beer are the vanilla, the coconut, and the drinkability.

Main flaws are a relative lack of complexity, the price point, and the lackluster malty core.

Low B+

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 03:41:03 | More by kojevergas

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.81/5  rDev 0%
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