3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20 joeneugs (2147) - Livermore, California, USA - MAY 22, 2013
12 oz. bottle. It pours a nice dark brown color with a beige colored head that disappears quickly. The aroma is so good… balanced maltiness with some chocolate, mocha coffee, vanilla and caramel. The bourbon is in perfect balance. The flavor is a tad on the astringent side with strong black coffee notes, dark chocolate and mild hints of bourbon near the finish. The astringency borders on tartness, but overall this was a really fun beer. I liked how the bourbon barrel played a intregal, yet supporting role here with a good body and mouthfeel. I just wish the astringency was replaced with a more rich malt character.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20 swoopjones (4229) - Buffalo, New York, USA - MAY 20, 2013
Bottle at Delilah’s in Chicago. Big oily black pour. Big coffee and bourbon notes very roasty. Fuller mouthfeel. Abv is very apparent. Big beer in many ways; flavor, abv, aroma, mouthfeel. Sipper no doubt. Nice
4.6 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20 Bestbrew1 (46) - Minnesota, USA - MAY 17, 2013
This is a lot like Brewers Reserve. It is hard for me to pick out the coffee in this one. CW still does a great job of trying to not use too much of a good thing in their beers. I like this one at lot at any rate
3.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20 kramer (3880) - Sunbury, Pennsylvania, USA - MAY 6, 2013
Bottle. Pours a clear dark brown body with a small fizzy light brown body that fell to a thin wispy covering. The nose is pretty heavy on the coffee with a heavily roasted burnt malt note that underlies the coffee. Fairly noticeable alcohol vapors. The barrel character is fairly subdued, save for a bit of vanilla and light oakines. The flavor is a little over roasted and a bit acrid from the coffee. Rather bitter from both the malt and the coffee. The alcohol is pretty forward, enhanced by the light bourbon that comes out on the finish. Medium bodied and fairly thick and chewy with soft carbonation. An ok beer, but not one that I’d seek out for a second try.
3.2 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 13/20 umich03jm (915) - Allen Park, Michigan, USA - MAY 4, 2013
2012 12 oz bottle from trade with crajun. Pours dark brown with very little head that fades quickly. Aroma is bourbon, caramel, toffee, fresh coffee, vanilla, and oak. Taste is solid but it seems more like BB barley wine or strong ale. Not getting any roast or chocolate. Bourbon balances well with the caramel, toffee, vanilla, and some dark fruit. Finish is dry and a little tart. Mouthfeel is pretty thin and even a little watery. Overall, good flavors and nice subtle bourbon taste but the mouthfeel and finish are terrible. I also expected more coffee taste.
4.7 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 17/20 Tortman18 (82) - Batavia, Illinois, USA - MAY 3, 2013
12oz. Bottle. Pours a very dark brown with a finger of creamy, mocha head that dissipates quickly to a thin ring. Nose is incredible. Bourbon hits you right up front. it is strong, but blended perfectly with the other aromas. oak, vanilla, chocolate, caramel, once again, perfectly blended. Mouth.....is also amazing. The bourbon once again comes out in front. Its followed by vanilla, chocolate and a perfect alcohol bite. The bourbon burn is definitely present. This beer was an absolute pleasure to drink.
3.7 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20 jandd1983 (1578) - Florissant, Missouri, USA - MAY 2, 2013
Sampled at DLD 2013. It poured a deep brown color with a light beige head. The aroma was of coffee and malts. The taste was similar with roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, alcohol and a moderate hop finish. Good stuff.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20 DrSilverworm (2733) - Cincinnati, Ohio, USA - APR 30, 2013
Sample from a 12oz bottle at DLD 2013. Dark brown color. Good thin light brown head. Decent lace. Bigger boduy. Smooth, more dry very light carbonation. Lightly tart, moderate bitter taste. Some chocolate cocoa nibs. Lots of wood barrel, little fruit. Solid.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20 ineedbeer (186) - San Leandro, California, USA - APR 28, 2013
Aroma is full of coffee notes along with a background chocolate and roast character. Pervasive bourbon aroma with some nice balanced oak notes. Faint fruitiness is also present but becomes more apparent as it warms.
Pours a dark brown but not black with lighter brown highlights in the edges. Medium thick dark tan head that persists nicely.
Flavor starts with some nice roast and coffee notes. Mid palate you get a lot of dark chocolate and milk chocolate flavors. Late mid palate you get dark fruit - prune, plum and fig. You also get a lot of bourbon character and light oak notes mid to late palate. Late palate you get a lot more chocolate, light roast, medium light bitterness and medium low alcohol spice.
Mouthfeel is medium full to full bodied. Very low astringency and medium alcohol warmth. Very sweet beer but balanced well with the alcohol heat an coffee.
Overall the beer is very enjoyable and full of chocolate and coffee with a balanced bourbon barrel note. The word that I keep returning to is "balanced." Very complex and it continues to change as it warms.
---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
3.9 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 10/20 reggaedog (2) - stevens point, Wisconsin, USA - APR 27, 2013 does not count
fantastic great tasting beer - has many rich flavors - far superior to anything else I’ve tried recently
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