Bootleggers Bourbon Barrel Imperial Phoenix

Brewed by Bootleggers Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Fullerton, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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Date: November 30, 2012
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
Appearance: black, scant head with frothy tan edges
Aroma: sweet bourbon aroma, caramel and vanilla, roasted malt, dark chocolate
Flavor: rich bourbon flavor, dark chocolate, sweet vanilla, light caramel
Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 4.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **** /4

22oz bottle courtesy of womencantsail. Thanks! Split 3 ways, consumed on 9-3 and reviewed from notes. A: Black as tar. Pour yields chocolate milk head which quickly fades. Sticks nicely to the glass. N: Extremely tasty blend of vanilla, coconut, and caramel from the bourbon, the light hint of chipotle, and loads of chocolate. Coffee is faint in the background. T: Zesty. The bourbon is perfectly integrated with loads of vanilla and caramel. Hints of fruit and some minor heat from the peppers. Chocolatey fudge. Some soy sauce. Some decent smokiness underneath which adds a bitter note to the balance. Also some honey. M: Coating and thick without that slick oilyness which can detract from the overall enjoyment. O: One of the best BA stouts I’ve tried. Bootlegger’s always impresses. This beer is really well integrated and it’s comparable to CFH ’12 in the way it manages to blend the depth of flavors.

thanks to jenray! this was a treat!! .. pours a black as night brown .. medium foam .. . wonderful meld of flavours, deep tar, burnt pepper skin, charcoal, and medium roast .. . slick silky mouth .. . an awesome beer, i really enjoyed this! .. . . you serious? cannavaro doesn’t speak english, what a bitch!

Bottle thanks to jenray. Black and thick. Nose is huge chocolate and roasty malts with barrel notes. Taste is smooth roastiness, bitter chocolate, alcohol present but well developed. Sweet beer thanks Jen.

Black pour, brown head. Loads of rich bourbon, vanilla, tar, roasted malt and cocoa. Flavor is sweet and rich, full of oak, bourbon, chocolate, vanilla. The owners of bootleggers are amazing people and they were kind enough to open the last of their bottles of this for us. Awesome.

Bottle @ the brewery. Pours a black color with a small tan head. Has a roasted malty woody bourbon and chocolate aroma. Roasted malty woody chocolate and chili flavor with hints of bourbon. Has a roasted malty woody chocolate and chili finish with hints of bourbon.

From the bottle at the brewery during RBSG 2012. Pours blackish brown with a brown head. A pretty typical BA RIS, this just doesn’t distinguish itself from hundreds of others in the style. There’s not too much to say about this one, just plenty of sweet bourbon notes, a chocolate malty base with mild roastiness, and overbearing coconut from the barrel.

651mL shared at the brewery during RBSG. Poured a clear, deep black. Red highlights. Spotty foam. Nose is malted milk balls, rich nougat, andouille sausage. Taste is rich, spicy tomato, black pepper, caramel, smoked sausage, fat, spicy hot links. Lactic back end. Very delicious. Savory and smoky. Yum.

Bottle at the brewery. Lots fo vanilla, brandy, and chocolate in the nose. Very nice peppers coming in on the finish, though not huge, which is better for me. Very well balanced and smooth. Great stuff.

22 fl oz bottle at the brewery. Pours dark brown to black with a small tan head. Aroma is roasted dark malty, chocolate and smooth wooden. Sweet, caramelish and light chocolate. Smooth dark malty and roasted into the far finish.