Brandy Barrel Aged Dark Lord - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

Florida9

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Black and viscous, though this variant actually managed to form something resembling a head: Dark tan bubbles. However, they don't stick around for long and soon there is nothing.

S: An aggressive boozyness is immediately apparent and does not fade. Raisin and roasted malts attempt to come through, but the alcohol wins out.

T: Sweet and malty. Brown sugar, molasses, dark roasted mlat, cocoa, and some light chocolate notes. However, much like the aroma, there is a strong boozy quality that makes it's presence known.

M: Thick and full bodied. Low carbonation level, but this one had the most carbonation out of all of the DL variants. Alcoholic heat actually burns on the tongue and lips.

O: Drinkable, but not overly so. Less complex than the other variants and certainly the booziest of the bunch. The brandy barrel did not do anything for this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 01:56:22 | More by Florida9

CheapBeerBuzz

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

06-16-2013 23:17:54 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Dear Norm, you are awesome for sharing this special bottle with all of us at the first ever Voodoo Barrel Room Collection release. What shabby notes I have scribbed down about this experience I shall post here because your generosity deserves the credit.

The one and only 2011 vintage #304/392 poured into a mini snifter. The brew is black with brown clarity around the edges. Some tan spotty lace sticks to the glass and there is not much of anything along the lines of a head to be found. As the glass is swirled, it paints slow droopy legs of alcohol down the glass.

The aroma is borderline tangy to vinous with fruity alcohol notes blended overtop a vanilla sticky sweetness. Also present is a faint amount of caramel candy and minor roast. Sweet milk chocolate comes along for the ride too.

The flavor has a bit of that tangy alcohol present that is fainty vinous with a sweetness that is more candy-like than malty. Flavors of chocolate blend in and out with fruity booze as it warms up. Faint roast, no bitterness as it is masked by the residual sugar.

This is a medium to fuller bodied brew as expected for darklord. It is sticky sweet at times but displays plenty of character that is enjoyable. If you removed those subtle tangy vinous notes and vanilla id say you would be hard pressed to know this was a barrel aged variation along side a well aged normal vintage DL. I would love to tangle with this again but considering my track record with BA DL variations is bleek, I am quite happy with getting the opportunity to try this. Thanks again Norm!

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 19:39:45 | More by stakem

Shilt

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-31-2013 16:53:40 | More by Shilt

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

3/5  rDev -30.2%

05-22-2013 23:50:19 | More by oldp0rt

Jeffo

Netherlands

2.78/5  rDev -35.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to a few people we were able to put together the entire vertical and almost all the BA variants. Lots of fun gents!

From a 750 into a snifter
2011 vintage
Bottle 116/392

APPEARANCE: Just like all the rest of them. Pours relatively clear for an imperial stout. Produces a small, one finger medium-looking head that quickly fades to a wisp and ring. Black body in the glass with some carbonation evident. Only a ring remains until the end and leaves no real lacing down the glass. A little too light a pour and an average head at best.

SMELL: Less barrel on this one and more Dark Lord. Some molasses, soy aromas, some dark cherries and fruits with some brandy barrel and vanilla touches as well. Okay, but the barrel is quite mild here.

TASTE: Again, like the nose, this one lacks in the barrel compartment and is closer to the regular base stout. Some roasted touches, molasses, soy notes and dark fuits into the finish. Some light brandy and vanilla flavors after the swallow, as well as a touch of bitter chocolate trying to compete with the sweet, molasses and caramel base beer. Alright, but definitely the most mundane of the variants. Uninteresting.

PALATE: Slightly lighter than the base beer, and even a bit lighter than the other BA variants for some reason, but still acceptable for the style. Medium body with medium levels of carbonation. Creamy enough, goes down fine and finishes rather sticky on the palate. A bit of a burn and some heat lingers.

OVERALL: This one was kind of boring. The barrel aging wasn't all that impressive so the base Dark Lord was much more present compared to the other variants. Luckily the 2010 is the base here, which is probably the only vintage I would consider drinking myself. All in all, this was the least impressive of the group.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 12:13:27 | More by Jeffo

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-14-2013 18:51:12 | More by cadaugherty

ravot

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-09-2013 23:41:57 | More by ravot

Hopbully

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

05-06-2013 07:31:40 | More by Hopbully

StoutFest

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-05-2013 00:41:07 | More by StoutFest

KevinmusPrime

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

05-04-2013 17:02:35 | More by KevinmusPrime

FullObs

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7%

04-30-2013 15:20:08 | More by FullObs

enelson

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

04-28-2013 01:30:13 | More by enelson

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

04-15-2013 11:38:42 | More by mikereaser

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

03-24-2013 16:36:45 | More by orangesol

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

03-24-2013 14:45:05 | More by Rifugium

Morey

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

03-24-2013 14:30:35 | More by Morey

KGMIbeer

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

03-12-2013 03:20:09 | More by KGMIbeer

jeonseh

Indiana

4.54/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle had at NWI tasting group 2011 BA DL night

A - Dark chocolate brown with a caramel color around the edges. Not much of a head as it only leaves small bubbles on the sides. As the beer swirls in my glass, I can tell it's going to be a thick one as it leaves lots of residue on the sides

S - Boozy nose initially. The booziest of the three. There is vanilla, chocolate and caramel as well as light char and smoke that didn't come through in the other variations

T - Smooth vanilla, chocolate with a light brandy sweetness and boozeiness to it. There is caramel, sweet vanilla and chocolate that continues and lingers on in the finish. I didn't get too much barrel in this one

M - Smooth creamy beer with the same slight, stickiness I have found in all the BA DLs. The stickiness is what remains in the finish as well.

O - This is a nice BA DL and really is one of the sweetest and smoothest of them. It has a good amount of vanilla and caramel to it without any harsh edges.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 21:48:04 | More by jeonseh

t0rin0

California

3/5  rDev -30.2%

03-03-2013 00:30:00 | More by t0rin0

pmoney

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

03-01-2013 18:55:24 | More by pmoney

Gonzoillini

Illinois

5/5  rDev +16.3%

02-24-2013 01:47:44 | More by Gonzoillini

jegross2

Illinois

4.76/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Reviewing the Brandy Barrel Aged Dark Lord from Three Floyds Brewing Company out of Munster, Indiana. This is the 2010 vintage of Dark Lord, aged for one year in brandy barrels.

Score: 97

Served on tap at Dark Lord Day 2012 in a taster glass. Review is from notes that I lost, but recently found.

Appearance: Jet black in color. Served without any head, no lacing to speak of either. This beer is imposing as hell; like crude oil in its appearance. 4.5/5

Smell: Sweet vanilla, fudge, milk chocolate and a hint of alcohol heat. Then brandy and more fudge. Complex, balanced and chocolatey. Sweet on the nose, but not nearly as sweet smelling as the base beer. Mild molasses in the nose too. 4.75/5

Taste: A complex sweetness. Raisin, brandy, milk chocolate and molasses. A red grape-like sweetness is mostly prominent towards the finish, while the raisin/dark fruit is more "upfront." Decadent, but delicious. Not as sweet as fresh, regular Dark Lord, but it's one of the sweeter Barrel Aged Dark Lord variants I have had. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, low carbonation. Viscous, syrupy, a little sugary sweet and "sticky" mouthfeel. 5/5

Overall: While this beer was nothing short of excellent, it was not quite as good as the Bourbon aged versions or the Brandy Vanilla version. Even at its price point, this is a beer worth trying; it's just not a beer worth stockpiling.

Cost: $50 for a 750 ml bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2013 06:40:13 | More by jegross2

GOGRANDE

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

02-17-2013 18:03:33 | More by GOGRANDE

Azrael

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

02-12-2013 05:07:05 | More by Azrael