Bourbon Barrel Stout (Clay Street Series) - Bluegrass Brewing Co. - East St. Matthew's

crossovert

Wisconsin

2.45/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle.

It doesn't look that great for a stout. There are carbonation bubbles that stick to the sides of my snifter. The head is fizzier than it should be. It doesn't look as thick and imposing as it should.

The smell is sweet bourbon, not too much oak or stout scent. It has a ton of butterscotch in it too.

This is one thin bourbon barrel stout. Dang. It tastes like guiness with some bourbon notes. It isn't too sweet.

The mouthfeel is thin, not good for the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2010 04:44:34 | More by crossovert

Naugros

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Rich, thick head...as good as any other stout. The color is a deep brown with a slight redness. Head retention is okay.

The smell is not overwhelmed by bourbon but there's a plastic odor as well as some chocolate. Not bad, but that "fake" smell almost ruins it.

Again, the bourbon flavor is slight. I'm not sure if they use barrels from a bad distillery or if they don't age long enough, but I've had bourbon barrel-aged stouts with much more flavor. It almost seems as if the flavoring was added afterwards. There's also burnt toast bitterness and more chocolate, but there's an overlying sulphuric taste that ruins an otherwise tasty beer. It dominates the mouthfeel which is a shame since this had a delightful, light body that would have made this beer exceptionally drinkable.

I am still looking for a bourbon barrel-aged stout that can even come close to Weyerbacher's Heresy.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2010 21:28:43 | More by Naugros

n00tz

Georgia

3.63/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark thick body, mocha topped mousse-like head, undetectable carbonation and not enough to feed the head.

S - Coffee and Chocolate, hint of dark fruits, and a stronger alcohol than typical, almost undesirable.

T - Creamy cocoa, figs, woodiness and a touch of bourbon. Delicious!

M - Med. Heavy body, frothy in the mouth (but not overly), and finishes dry to the taste.

D - Served at about 50f seemed to bring the most character to the table. Easy to come back to. Good overall but nothing that really sets this apart from the crowd.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2010 20:02:24 | More by n00tz

bamadog

Kentucky

2.08/5  rDev -36.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I picked up a 4 pack of this on a whim, so unfortunately, I'm stuck with 3 more. Review is from notes taken on 9/5/2010 and poured from the bottle to a snifter.

Appearance: Pour just looks thin on the way to the glass; starts dark brown/near coffee black; starts with a one finger dark brown cocoa head that fades quickly to a thin and uneven, yet complete skim; body is entirely opaque; a few swaths and spots of lacing are left holding behind.

Smell: Rather weak - bit of a roasty burnt coffee scent and a slight cocoa sweetness; absolutely no aspects of bourbon or barrel; as it warms there is a slight tart cherry scent that begins to creep out.

Taste: More of a tart cherry fruitiness with a hint of cola-like sweetness and just the bare minimal presence of bourbon and slight cocoa. Very disappointed and I feel the FDA should look into the name of this one... If something claims to be something, then shouldn't it actually be just that?

Mouthfeel: Thin, loose and watery; carbonation is quite foamy and frothy in the mouth at first but then essentially disappears entirely; a thin dry coating is left on the roof of the mouth and the gums and cheeks are left a little tingly from that initial blast of carbonation.

Drinkability: I will certainly not be seeking this one out again and I really think that BBC should be ashamed of themselves for trying to pass this off as bourbon barrel aged.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2010 19:02:22 | More by bamadog

Mosstrooper

California

3.85/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into 16oz Samuel Adams Perfect Pint glass.

Appearance: Pours black coffee in color with a very minimal brown head that dissipates quickly but leaves some floating foam. Many bubbles on the inside sides of the glass.

Smell: Roasted malt dominates, but this definitely has a bourbon-esque aroma to it.

Taste: Begins with a sweetened coffee and molasses flavors that has notes of woodiness, finishing with bittersweet roasted malt and a bourbon hint.

Mouthfeel: Heavier body with balanced carbonation and a dry finish.

Drinkability: This beer is pretty good, and very drinkable for its ABV, but it lacks depth to make it very good. Not quite worth its price tag, but still solid and worth a try, if only once.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2010 20:31:36 | More by Mosstrooper

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

And on rolls the Leaving Falls Church uber-bender. This entry pours a straight obsidian with only an imitation of Tim Tebow's hazing-induced haircut done in brown bubbles serving as a head. The nose is fairly weak, comprising chocolate, a hint of whiskey, a woodchip of oak, and some dry coffee beans. The taste holds notes of coffee, dark chocolate, Coca-Cola, molasses, and cinnamon. The bourbon, if actually there, is too weak to come through for me. But, at least what did show up performed nicely. The body is a surprising medium, with a moderate carbonation and a rather watery feel. Overall, this was a highly disappointing stout, especially after the enjoyment associated with the Jefferson's Reserve offering. It's quite a bit too light, the nose is weak, and the bourbon doesn't shine through very well. It doesn't taste bad, thankfully, but it's nowhere near great.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2010 20:53:05 | More by TMoney2591

Brent

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

BBC fell a bit short of the mark on this one. Poured tarry black wiht light mocha head. Aroma was toffee and coffee. Sweet, roasted malt flavor with coffee, unsweetened cocoa powder and a bit of charcoal. Not much bourbon came through - overall this struck me as a middle-of-the-road American stout, with no real barrel aspects, othter than perhaps the contribution of the charcoal note.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2010 13:39:33 | More by Brent

Redrover

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I was happy to see this on as a tap offering at the Tip Top in Columbus.

Served in a standard shaker, the beer is jet black with a smallish tan head.

It has a nose of molasses, bourbon, charred malts,

The taste is similar to the smell; it is sweet with charred malts, very subdued bourbon. It also has percolated coffee and brown sugar.

Mouth is thinner than expected. But it does make for a pretty drinkable beer

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2010 00:57:21 | More by Redrover

argock

Virginia

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

Served on-tap in a clear pint glass at Beer Run (Charlottesville, VA).

A: Nearly black with 1-finger tan, big-bubbled head with good retention and nice lacing down the glass.

S: Strong cardboard bourbon aroma with fairly weak roasted maltiness and earthy hoppiness

T: Bourbon occupies most of the flavor as the maltload falls way short of adequate. The flavor is by no means bad but just isn't up to snuff for the style. Unfortunately, BBC undermalts most of their brews.

M: Medium body at most which is below the bar.

D: Just doesn't have the girth to even approach the 2nd tier for this style. Middle of the road.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2010 02:07:17 | More by argock

womencantsail

California

1.95/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

"Thanks" to Bobby for sharing this one.

A: The pour is a somewhat thin dark brown color with a minimal off-white head.

S: I could smell the butter in this as soon as I opened the bottle. Diacetyl pretty much dominates the nose and prevents any bourbon or stout aromas from coming through.

T: For a bourbon barrel aged stout, this beer is incredibly favorless. Watery and bland with maybe a bit of roast and chocolate.

M: The body is just as disappointing as the rest of the beer: thin and lowly carbonated.

D: Another piece of evidence that -bals do not always make a beer better/good.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 23:01:52 | More by womencantsail

Wisconsinality

Wisconsin

3.35/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into Chimay goblet.

A- Pours a very dark brown that lets a little light in around the edges. Almost no head to speak of.

S- Big roasted malts and dark chocolate. A touch of bourbon and cinnamon to go along with a little bit of booze as it warms.

T- Bitter chocolate and coffee on the forefront. Less bourbon than I was anticipating and a small amount of vanilla. The alcohol rears it's head on the tail end.

M- A little lighter for the style but good carbonation and pretty smooth. Medium bodied.

D- I didn't really know what to think but this was a little bit of a letdown. I was hoping for more of a bourbon flavor and just a tad bit thicker.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2010 00:54:44 | More by Wisconsinality

rwf08

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Very dark murky opaque brown. Faint tan head and no lacing.

S: Faint bourbon and some char. Some light vanilla and malt sweetness. Some faint oak in the back ground.

T: Watered down bourbon and soggy oak. Light smokiness and roasted grain.

M: Thin with medium carbonation.

D: One and done. Easy to drink but the mouth feel is off. Way too thin and watery. Flavor is weak and needs more behind it. Not that great at all.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2010 01:12:52 | More by rwf08

zachary80

Indiana

3.18/5  rDev -3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Claims to be a Bourbon Barrel Stout, there are no details on the 4 pack or the bottles

Dark brown body, light tan head that half fizzled out like a soda. Lots of visible carbonation

Smells more like a light chocolate stout, maybe just a hint of bourbon...

Which doesn't follow in the taste. Honestly hard to believe this was barreled aged. Flavor is more like a subtle coffee and chocolate stout. Very tastey, maybe a little weak, but no bourbon. Pretty thin on the mouthfeel. Leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste. Highly drinkable, probably not for the right reasons.

This is a very confusing beer because the little information we have from the label was misleading. No clue on the ABV but I would guess it to be on the lower-side

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2010 22:32:27 | More by zachary80

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to wisconsinality for yet another Kentucky beer. Poured into my pint glass the beer is pitch black with no head. A small beige lace ring forms on top of the beer.

The aroma is quite nice and complex. Lots of dark roast coffee and sweet chocolate. Plenty of bourbon as well. Pretty much what I expect from barrel aged stout.

The flavor is pretty much a mirror of the nose. Coffee and chocolate stout with a solid dose of bourbon and barrel. No flavors were out there but solid all around.

Medium body maybe a touch thin. Low if any carbonation.

Overall a very decent barrel aged stout. I might seek this out again.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2010 03:00:35 | More by beerwolf77

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.3/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle split and poured into a Duvel tulip. Bottled on May '10 notched on the label.

Thanks again to Wisconsinality for another beer from Kentucky!

A - Dark black with a clear ring around the outside of the glass. A thin foam of light-tan head has a nice ring around the outside.

S - Light wood with a solid bourbon barrel nose that accompanies coffee and chocolate. An off scent of metallic refrigerator in the background is a bit off-putting but the roasted malts even it out.

T - Dark chocolate and molasses with light coffee. It's blended well with a bit of woody bourbon. Something seems off a bit though.

M - Medium-bodied and smooth but rather thin for a bourbon barrel stout. Dry and lightly bitter.

D - Meh. Too thin and something seems a little bit off otherwise it's a fair bourbon barrel stout.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2010 15:28:30 | More by BeerFMAndy

mgbickel

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Duck Rabbit snifter. A thin layer of khaki film settled on top of a brown/black body. Poor lacing...the foam cannot be forced to cling to the glass.

Hmmm...nice aromas from this one! Cocoa, cream, espresso and roasted malts all sit on top of an oaky, bourbon backbone.

The taste has a ton of chocolate up front which turns into a sweet, almost milky cream center. The end finds some coffee/malt characters which give it a nice, roasted finish. You can pick up some of the bourbon flavors in the finis...and they last through the aftertaste.

Medium mouth feel, creamy yet slick with moderate carbonation.

This is drinkable for sure...not as complex or strongly flavored as other BA stouts, but worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 20:52:17 | More by mgbickel

pastradul

California

4.05/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

thanks for wchesak for throwing this in the box!

pured into Stone irs tulip. poured somewhat rough and produced a finger of head that doesn't stick around much.

The smell is yummy smooth vanilla and oak. with a milc alcohol smell.

The taste is similar. Lots of vanilla upfront followed by some smooth roasted malt. But not harsh or burnt. With just a hint of alcohol on the back of the mouth.

The mouthfeel is somewhat thinner than I think it should be IMO.

Over all a great beer. Nice to try a ba brew that you can drink nice and easy.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2010 22:24:51 | More by pastradul

cilldalua

New York

2.55/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

I was glad I finished my review in writing before I read the others, makes me feel better about saying the same things.

The beer pours from the bottle but with a lack of head and the dark coffee lacing you would expect. This follows through on the smell which has little in common with Bourbon other than place of birth, the mouthfeel is thin as reported above but the taste has enough malt to hang in there as a drinkable dark beer, its just a disappointment as a Bourbon Stout.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2010 00:18:58 | More by cilldalua

AleWatcher

Illinois

1.5/5  rDev -54.3%
look: 1 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

I picked this up while in Indiana. Reviewed from dictated notes during my "Clean out my cellar weekend."

Pours watery. Reddish hued dark brown. Creamy tan head is minimal, and after 30 seconds it is reduced to a wisp of small bubbles on the surface. Minimal lacing.

Smell is huuuuge roasted chocolate malt. Very little bourbon. Perhaps this is a blend bottle? 25% bourbon aged, 75% stout? A little caramel, coffee, and toffee hiding in there too.

On the first sip, you can't even talk about the taste until the mouthfeel is mentioned. This is the thinnest stout I've ever had. This is about as thick as drinking a cup of coffee. That is the mouthfeel. Extremely poor. The smell was great. It actually had me revved up to try this beer-- hoping that the thin looking body wouldn't mean it tasted watered down... The looks match the mouthfeel with sub-par results.

Taste is below average. Coffee and chocolate at the forefront, with only the very slightest hint of bourbon. Even then, it smells like mediocre bourbon.

As for drinkability--- I guess I could drink 10 of these... because there is nothing to it. Of course, I have no desire to drink anymore, and I am even going to pour out the last few sips of this one. So my ability to drink these is high, but my desire to do so is low. We'll split the difference with a 2.5 here.

I don't know what it is about being the first few reviews on a beer--- but there is a pressure to be more positive than is needed. Clearly the case with descriptions including, "disappointing" and "watery" still allowing for 3.0 for the aspect rating. This beer is sub-par. The only beer drinkers who will ultimately be impressed by this are people new to the bourbon barrel scene. And even then, I imaging the honeymoon period will be short-lived.

Overall--- the body and flavor need to be developed in a big way. A higher gravity and more time in the barrels to impart more flavor would be where I start.
As a consumer, I would avoid this one in the future unless they changed up the recipe a bit.

--01.23.11--
Had to bust out a bottle to prove that not EVERY BA beer is good... This is worse than I remembered... The drinkability and smell scores have dropped as a result.
Wow.
If you have any, don't drink it. Just pour it out.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2010 03:47:09 | More by AleWatcher

mondegreen

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz Bottle into a Bruery Tulip

A: Watery looking pour, next to no head. Black in the center with dark brown highlights in the light. Somewhat disappointing.

S: Light roasted malts with moderate bourbon smell. Not as overpowering as I have gotten used to with bourbon barrel stouts, but nice smelling in its own right.

T: The bourbon flavors are very subdued, maybe a bit too much so. Still, the malts pair with the bourbon very nicely provide good flavor. Would love to see this one taken up a notch, but it's still pretty tasty.

M: Way too thin. This beer really falls down here. It isn't the thinnest stout I have ever had, but it needs more body!

D: In all, it isn't a bad beer. I'll pay more for a more substantial stout any day, though.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2010 00:07:26 | More by mondegreen

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.13/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a chalice.

A: Dark, dark brown, almost black. Completely opaque. No head, no lacing, no carbonation. Intimidating.

S: Complex. Toffee sweetness, coffee, dark chocolate. This portends for an excellent stout.

T: Here the bourbon makes its presence known, lurking in the background as a caramelly alcoholic sweetness. I detect light smokey notes as the slightly bitter coffee flavour takes over and carries me out to the aftertaste.

M: Nothing special here, move along.

D: This is a pretty tasty beer, but I don't foresee me drinking more than one of these at a time. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2010 01:24:38 | More by AgentMunky

CaptinRedBeard

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Poured from a twelve ounce bottle into a Duvel tulip. Very dark brown to black with a thick and tight two finger head that dissipates in about a minute or so. Moderate lacing left on the glass.

S-Roasted barley and Bourbon. Not as much Bourbon in the nose as I had anticipated.

T-The Bourbon flavor comes through nicely but isn't overpowering. It comes more on the back of the pallet. Up front you get a lot of the chocolate malt flavors and a little bit of hop bitterness.

M-Nice and smooth, perfectly carbonated. Enough to coat the pallet but not really overly heavy.

D-Probably one of the easier drinking barrel aged stouts around. I'm not sure of the ABV but there is really very little alcohol presence detected. Overall a well done Bourbon barrel stout from Bluegrass.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2010 13:24:54 | More by CaptinRedBeard