3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
On draft at Kickbacks. This one pours a dark mahogany brown color and topped by a thin head of tan colored foam that recedes quickly leaving scant lines of lace on the glass. The aroma shows notes of dark chocolate, smooth bourbon, and vanilla laden oak to go with a toasted caramel malt backbone. The bourbon comes through nicely without showing overly boozy. The flavor follows suit with the dark chocolate and some roast followed by the smooth bourbon soaked oak and vanilla. The toasted caramel malt ties everything together nicely. Medium bodied, but a touch thinned out from the barrel with subtle carbonation that leads to a smooth bourbon finish. This one is all about the bourbon, but it is smoothly integrated and really enhances the base beer quite well. This is definitely one of Bold City’s better efforts.
3.5 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 14/20
Pours brown with thin white head. Nose is heavy on the bourbon. Taste is smooth bourbon up front, with a little brown sugar and an interesting zing that follows. Palate is thin, but clean. Very good stuff on their anniversary.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Tap at JP Henley’s in St Augustine, FL. Flat, murky, deep ruby pour with no head formation/lace. Nose is nice milk chocolate/malted milk balls. Taste up front is heavier Makers Mark or similar bourbon- sweet red cherries and soft booziness. Very obvious barrel character doesn’t overwhelm but adds a thickness/richness that is absent in the normal Duke’s Brown Ale. Past the bourbon some tart, cherry cola comes through. Tart lemon body. Perhaps some rum filed dark chocolate truffle. It pains me to say it but this is one of Bold City’s better beers even though BA’ing a 7% brown ale sounds like a disaster. Good stuff. I guess they gave up on the "L" and "D" anniversary stouts.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Enjoyed several pints at the brewery during the Third Anniversary Celebration. It was the regular Dukes Brown Ale aged in Woodford Reserve Bourbon barrels. The regular beer is a decent drink and the bourbon barrel aging adds a nice flavor. It was a great party, an all-day affair with $2 pints, and plenty of food catered by Jolly Mon Catering. Hundreds of people filled the parking lot and had a great time. I’m already looking forward to next year’s celebration.
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