Snakes In A Barrel - West Sixth Brewing Company

KYGunner

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

This is the barrel-aged version of West Sixth's Snake Eyes Stout; aged in 20 year Pappy barrels.

Thick and viscous in appearance and feel, this poured an opaque black. Thin fleeting head could have been thicker but I think the beer tender wanted to top it off.

The scent is mild with fleeting hints of bourbon and chocolate with a bit of malt. I struggled to find the typical vanilla found in this style but it was there, just in small doses.

I quickly caught chocolate covered oranges on the tongue, though the guy I was with did not. Citrus at the middle overplayed in a chocolatey finish it was slightly surprising. Lost to me was the vanilla or coconut that is typical in this style there was hints of bourbon at the back. The taste was nice but not as varied as some; it was still enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2013 13:46:19 | More by KYGunner

Shagator

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

05-22-2013 04:10:29 | More by Shagator

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

5/5  rDev +14.2%

03-29-2013 21:58:32 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

nachos

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

02-17-2013 02:30:29 | More by nachos

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.06/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

What's a new brewery to do? You got this hyper-strength imperial stout and you live in bourbon country. Like peanut butter and chocolate, stout and Pappy Van Winkle simply belong together. The intangibles of that world-class bourbon transfers to the beer with ease!

Similar to the original "Snake Eyes", the beer pours with a jet-black depth of color but with creamier and more subtle carbonation that gives the beer massive visual weight. A patient release of foam leaves the beer looking like espresso, equipped with a dainty latte-like creme. As the carbonation recedes back into the beer, a steady swirl of the snifter regenerates the froth. The beer obviously prefers brandy-like legging over lace and retention.

Strong aromatics of espresso roast, cocoa powder, and bourbon reside just ahead of burnt toffee, light citrus and cherry scented alcohols. The nose is chocked full of roasted grain, walnut and oak that's further decorated with mild coconut and vanilla. Slight barrel tangy scents hint toward red wine and even brandy as the beer warms.

Heavy roast and charred sweetness pronounces up the early palate. Espresso coffee, cocoa-heavy chocolates and burnt embers allow for a slim smoky taste to emit. Cherry wood, weathered oak, and light sherry provide the barrel contributions with tannins and spice. As the taste of alcohol grows, it brings about bourbon alcohols of vinous grape and tart cherry. Further complexities of citrus, vanilla, coconut, plumb and blackcurrant all gives the beer a highly complex Russian imperial taste that's not overly simplified. If not for the heavy char, the otherwise smoother beer would really meld into the mouth.

Though robust, the beer has a certain dryness even on the early palate. The heavy-handed powdery texture of Pappy is alive in this beer and gives the mouth a cotton-like feel- beautiful in its dryness but it exposes a touch of aggression as well. As the beer extends into finish, it gets drier, roastier, and rougher, hotter, and more powdery- pleasant and interesting if not a little unsettled.

Although the Pappy texture is felt, I get the sense that the bourbon flavor is somewhat generic. But boy has this barrel really dried the beer out. This gives the beer an overall ruggedness that's up to individualized taste on whether its preferred or not.

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2013 18:28:15 | More by BEERchitect

ortie

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev -3%

02-11-2013 03:11:12 | More by ortie