Carlyle Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout

Brewed by Carlyle Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Rockford, Illinois USA

Serve in Snifter

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Looks beautiful: 100% opaque with a dense, thin, cream and frothy tan head. Bourbon ala Beam is definitely in the nose, along with some whisky spilled on coasters, but this monolith is nearly 100% bourbon for aroma. Full-bodied and creamy. Bourbon is the headliner. In fact, the sweet milk chocolate and a dash of peppermint are hard to decipher under the bourbon. While I’ll gladly support most initiatives to age in bourbon barrels, I’d like some of the beer’s original character to remain amidst the bombardment of bourbon. Mouth watering dryness and lip smacking caramel-bourbon finish. A good beer, nonetheless.

Okay, this is better than the ratings that it has gotten so far. Had on tap at the brewery. Black with a thin dark brown greysish head. short lasting and handsome. Nose is alcoholish with some malts and wow bourbon in the nose. The taste is hoppy with a huge kick of burbon and a sweetness of chocolate. It finishes strong and forcefull, if you dont really like bourbon than this wont be for you. Pretty darn good.

Served in a goblet at the brewpub. Black with a small tan head that is mostly diminishing. Moderate whiskey aroma, slightly smoky with roasty malt rounding it out. Sweet, Hershey chocolate candy flavor, slightly bitter (coffee and bittersweet chocolate), slightly piney. Astringent finish. Moderate-to-high carbonation is a little too much for my tastes.