Black Gold Imperial Stout - Bourbon Barrel Aged (Brewmaster Reserve) - Full Sail Brewery & Tasting Room & Pub

mattmaples

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Now this is one BIG brew. It pouts thick and inky black. The aroma is big vanilla and substantial bourbon. The flavor is roasty, coffee and licorice with bourbon, vanilla and oak. This is a stupendous stout with a big wood component. It is a massive heady brew now and should mellow and age well over the next 3 to 5 years.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2006 00:30:16 | More by mattmaples

Screper

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%

05-22-2013 01:10:19 | More by Screper

valkyre65

Texas

4/5  rDev +0.5%

05-21-2013 10:29:08 | More by valkyre65

Pjev11

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -18.3%

05-20-2013 15:51:04 | More by Pjev11

smccann

New Hampshire

4.75/5  rDev +19.3%

05-20-2013 12:39:36 | More by smccann

baybassboy

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%

05-14-2013 04:47:16 | More by baybassboy

ShemRahBoo

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +0.5%

05-09-2013 21:47:33 | More by ShemRahBoo

Greywulfken

New York

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2013 bottling

A: into a large snifter, ink black body with slim milk chocolate-colored head; sparse motes of lace left behind

S: bourbon whiskey, chocolatey malts and vanilla

T: bourbon soaked bittersweet cocoa, airs of vanilla and oak; cold, semi-sweet espresso coffee and hints of anise. Big on the bourbon.

M: slippery and relatively thin for an Imperial stout, reasonably dry, not too sticky; smooth - no astringence or alcohol burn of any sort.

O: a well-delivered bourbon barrel-aged stout - nothing ground-breaking, but completely enjoyable, even if not in the big leagues. Warms nicely, and makes for a very relaxing drinking experience. Definitely worth a buy for all BAs and fans of the style and barrel-aging in general.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 21:42:11 | More by Greywulfken

jondeelee

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Full Sail Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout (2013 release, 9.6% ABV) opens to a rich, smoky, complex, chocolaty, bourbon-laced aroma that is instantly appealing. Bourbon-soaked chocolate bon-bons are perhaps the closest confection in aroma, with their rich, thick milk chocolate and smoky vanilla bourbon notes, but add to that layers of coffee and ash, tobacco and heavy cream, as well as caramel and touches of molasses, and that served with a thick, heavily-toasted slice of rich yeasty brown bread, and you’re getting close. The beer is very nicely balanced, despite the enormity and variation in the aromas, each note playing well off the others. The sugars are especially nice, with fig, date raisin, and lychee fruit esters, lending a port-like quality to the aromas that meshes nicely with the bourbon. In fact, in a blind smelling test, this beer might easily be mistaken for port, especially after it has sat open for a few minutes and the initial heavy bourbon and ash shock has wafted away. As a whole, this smells fantastic.

On the tongue, the beer is very alcoholic, bourbon and port trouncing the tastebuds almost immediately, followed by chocolate liqueur candies, the stout tasting very much like a cognac-filled chocolate treat. Late in the mouthful a few measures of ash and tobacco come through, as well as dollops of brown bread, but it’s mainly the chocolate liqueur candy that dominates, being fairly sweet and containing heavy alcohol vapors. The mouthfeel is, however, strangely light, a watery medium-light at best, making the beer seem like the bourbon barrel aging is responsible for much of the taste in here, and that without it, the stout would only be semi-decent. Aftertaste is ash and tobacco, with lingering sugars and bourbon.

Overall, while the aromas in here were fantastic, the beer didn’t quite live up to its initial promises, and the heavy reliance on bourbon barrel notes ends up making the underlying stout seem weak and watery.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 17:36:57 | More by jondeelee

JayAre46

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%

04-27-2013 05:28:53 | More by JayAre46

slim2043

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%

04-27-2013 01:36:00 | More by slim2043

KiMiRaiK

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%

04-21-2013 21:51:46 | More by KiMiRaiK

kjkinsey

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -5.8%

04-16-2013 23:43:06 | More by kjkinsey

wtkphoto

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%

04-14-2013 03:49:28 | More by wtkphoto

IrishGermanAmerican

Texas

4/5  rDev +0.5%

04-14-2013 02:26:46 | More by IrishGermanAmerican

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.5%

04-13-2013 23:48:59 | More by justintcoons

ksimons

New York

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

2013 Release 9.6%ABV

A-silky black with about a fingers worth of tan head that leaves a layer of lace

S-you can really smell the bourbon in this beer! Roasted malt, dark chocolate, and vanilla round things out

T-the taste is also full of bourbon which kind of masks the rest of the flavors, which include slightly roasted malt, mocha, light molasses, vanilla, and light spicy alcohol. Alcohol is nicely blended in.

M-actually kind of thin body and carbonation, bourbon sweetness left on the tongue

Overall sort of disappointed. Was really excited to try this, but after the smell the beer kind of went downhill. Not enough body or flavor beyond bourbon to give it much depth.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 20:44:42 | More by ksimons

JohnBender

Texas

3/5  rDev -24.6%

04-11-2013 02:23:24 | More by JohnBender

Cvescalante

Texas

4/5  rDev +0.5%

04-09-2013 21:25:09 | More by Cvescalante

Dburke

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +0.5%

04-08-2013 02:55:14 | More by Dburke

spoony

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -5.8%

04-07-2013 04:36:32 | More by spoony

sneaks2210

New York

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%

04-07-2013 01:07:44 | More by sneaks2210

Danobold

Texas

4/5  rDev +0.5%

04-06-2013 22:39:10 | More by Danobold

gtermi

Texas

4/5  rDev +0.5%

04-06-2013 20:48:32 | More by gtermi

kojevergas

California

3.03/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

I had to do some googling to make sure I was reviewing the correct beer. My bottle does NOT say "Black Gold"; it simply says "Imperial Stout Bourbon Barrel Aged" on a black and gold label. I've confirmed that this beer is indeed Black Gold - albeit an alias thereof. Brewmaster Reserve 2013. Price was $10.99 at a local SoCal beer store. 9.6% ABV. 1 pint 6 fl oz brown glass bottle with branded black pressure cap served into a flared tulip in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are low; I'm not a fan of Full Sail - but then I've only had their Trader Joe's beers for the most part.

Served straight from the fridge and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a half finger khaki colour head of decent cream, decent thickness, and poor (<1 minute) retention. No lacing on the sides of the glass. Body colour is a solid dark black. Nontransparent; opaque. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Typical of the style, but nothing stands out. There's nothing unique or special here, but there are no overt or obvious flaws. Generally appealing.

Sm: Light vanilla and buried light oak - but they come off somewhat artificial; this is not good bourbon barrel aging. Cream. Dark malts. It's shockingly bland for a bourbon barrel aged imperial stout. An average strength aroma. No yeast character or alcohol comes through.

T: I like the simple vanilla notes. Unobtrusive dark malt foundation. The bourbon aspect is nice, but it's rather one-dimensional and simple for a bourbon barrel stout. Where's the complexity and subtlety? Some cream. No real oak. It's balanced, but it's unbelievably simple. I like it, but it's wanting. No yeast or alcohol comes through, though my stomach does get a bit warm after consumption. Any hopping is minimal.

Mf: Smooth and wet. A bit of cream. Decent body. Decent carbonation. Good thickness.

Dr: Very drinkable for a barrel aged imperial stout, admittedly. But it has none of the complexity or subtlety I want from the style. It's as neutral, muted, and simple as an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels can be. This would make a great introduction to the style, but it's not for those of us who have had the greats. Overpriced for what it is. Comparatively, it may be Full Sail's best beer - but that isn't saying much. I might try it on-draught if there's no better option, but it's rather forgettable stuff. Still, it's better than I expected. ABV isn't well hidden. Overall, this is about as mundane a bourbon barrel imperial stout as you'll ever find.

Low C+

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 05:06:20 | More by kojevergas