Ballast Point Sea Monster Stout (Bourbon Barrel Aged)

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
San Diego, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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I really like this. Sea Monster is a bit bland for my taste on it’s own, but when aged in the JD whiskey barrels, this stout really comes around. Great thick, creaminess with a moderate sour taste from the JD. I’m a big fan.

On tap at the Moth. Black with a tan head. The aroma is full of whiskey and chocolate. The flavor is similar. I get some charred oak notes at first, but those are quickly replaced by some big chocolate and whiskey notes. There is also a little bit of anise like I get in the regular version of this beer. Medium to thick mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

On tap at Toronado San Diego during RBSG ’08. Pours with a dark brown to black body topped by a thin head with little lacing. It’s slightly sweet yet tart with a slight malty, coffee note and a little oakiness. Full bodied and slightly dry.

From a Growler Craig from BP Brought to RBSG today. Really nice version of this beer. Pours black with a 1 finger tan head. Nose is full of bourbon and sweet notes. Taste is sweet with lots of bourbon and a viscous mouth feel. Its been too long since I’ve had Sea Monster to do a direct comparison. This is nice.

UPDATED: MAR 14, 2009 Rerate; still thought the barrel aging was a bit too much but liked it better. 3.5 to 3.7. On tap; black in color with a light brown head. Aroma of bourbon, alcohol, wood and roasted malt/cocoa. Flavor was a bit of a miss; not terrible, but just not as quality as it could be. Flavor was dominated by alcohol, bourbon/whiskey and a sourness. Roasted malt present, but the beer seemed to be dominated by the aging.

UPDATED: AUG 7, 2008 ~RBSG ’08~

On tap at Toronado. Pours black as night, creamy small head, and very little lacing. Nose of coffee, chocolate, roasted notes, floral hops and caramel. Lots of roasted malts in the flavor, with coffee and thick chocolate. Some toffee, too. Alcohol is subdued but definitely makes an impact. Full-bodied, tangy mouthfeel, creamy and very good.

Sampled at the brewery for RBSG 08. Pours an inky black, with a small tan head. Sharp malt aroma, a little boozy smelling, with hints of chocolate, coffee, wood, and bourbon. Very sharp taste, not at all mellow for a BA, with notes of coffee, a bit of sweet malt and alcohol. Lingering sharpness. Tasty, but I prefer the normal Sea Monster.

Sampled at O’Briens - RBSG ’08. Cloudy, muddy dark brown with a small, fading head. Caramel, mocha, wood and hint of tart/sourness in the nose. Like the aroma, the flavor starts with notes of mocha, caramel, wood, light tobacco and ends with a bit of saltiness and medium tartness/sour acidity - which works well. Medium to light bodied (perhaps the bugs dried this up a bit) with soft carbonation. Well-done.

Draft at O’Brien’s. Black, small off white head. Bittersweet oatmeal stout with some mild bourbon barrel, subtle coffee, and a bit of a twang- barrel oxidation or unclean lines?Medium/full body, smooth.

Draft. Almost black beer with a big off-white head. Bourbon aroma with rich malt. Bourbon flavor with a slight sourness and a bunch of caramel malt. Medium bodied. Tartness lingers with rich malt and bourbon. Tartness holds the beer back.