Bullfrog Bourbon Barrel Lights Out Imperial Stout (Wild)

Brewed by Bullfrog Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Williamsport, Pennsylvania USA

Serve in Snifter

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UPDATED: AUG 6, 2010 On handpump @ Bullfrog. Pours a pitch black body with a frothy light brown head that took a good while to settle. The nose is pretty bourbon dominated with a good bit of vanilla, deeply roasted malt, some light woodiness and a touch of brett. Smells a touch boozy and earthy. The flavor is pretty well balanced between the barrel and the Stout, lots of vanilla, a mild sourness, some bitter burnt malts and dark chocolate balance out the sweetness up front. The wild qualities emerge on the finish with the light sourness and a bretty, slightly funky finish. Mouthfeel is pretty thinned out from the age and the long conditioning with the wild critters. That’s not so bad though, cause this seems like it could have been pretty sweet and cloying. It makes the alcohol a bit more apparent though. Overall it was pretty nice, a fitting beer for a special event like Craft Beer Week.

On second taste a couple weeks later it seemed a bit more sour up front masking some of the bourbon that seemed a little strong the first time. Overall score was exactly the same with the second go around.

This stout is pretty exceptional. The wild yeast is a really fine match to the bourbon barrel flavor. Aroma is coffee with some chocolate. Flavor is coffee with a balanced dose of sour that makes fir a great combo. Excellent beer.