Full Sail Black Gold Imperial Stout Bourbon Barrel Aged

Wow, very strong stout. Almost wouldn’t call it a beer, but a light bourbon! Pours dense pitch brown black. Very noticable alchohol in the nose and flavor. What else? Tons of roasted malts, oak notes, chocolate coffee. Just very strong alchohol bite to it. If they toned that down a bit, this would be quite an amazing brew. Not that’s its not already. :)

RBSG 2007: Bottle thanks to Jordan: Poured dark brown to black with a tan head. Aroma, oaky bourbon, some chocolate and a little touch of spice to it. Flavor, bourbon, chocolate, coffee, still some heat to it.

RBSG07. From 75 cL bottle. Pours black with a brown head. Aroma of oak barrels and toffee malts. Flavour is clearly barrel aged bourbon with a note of liqourice. Finish is coffee and liqourice in a dry blend.

[291-20070503] 1ptfloz (2006, c/o jerc, w/ him, blankboy, GregClow, mds). Sweet maple strawberry licorice, overpowering aroma. Dark black brown body with a brown bubbly head. Flavour is vanilla soda bourbon barrel, overly boozy, overly sweet. Rough full body. Disappointingly Not impressive with its overly sweet alcohol.

Draught at FredFest2007: Oh man. This beer just keeps getting better.

Pitch black body with a thin brown head that resembles the crema floating on top of a nicely pulled shot of espresso. The bourbon flavor seems to have settled nicely into the background and has been supplanted by more vanilla notes and a hint of coconut. Silky smooth finish leaves a trail of delectable wood, bourbon, cocoa, and vanilla down the throat.

They’re getting harder and harder to find, but if you can convince someone to part with one of these you’ll be in for one helluva ride.

Bottle: Dark Brown pour with a big, creamy tan head and spotty lacing. Nose is sweet and rich with vanilla, maple, bourbon, and oak. The taste is rich and complex with the chocolate coming through, bourbon, roasted malt, and a hint of almond extract. Creamy mouthful and warming finish. Thanks Indiana Red!

I asked the guy at Bottleworks, "what do you got that will change my life?" Without hesitation he pointed to the Black Gold. "This." he said, with ultimate conviction. If anything, it was an understatement. Simply the finest beer I’ve ever enjoyed. A few months after this was released, asking any serious beer seller if they had any stock would get you laughed at openly. I hear they have brewed it again for this coming winter, but it would be shocking if they manage to replicate this one. I have to give props to Full Sail, which used to be a fairly mediocre brewery but has put out some very solid beers of late.

Black, as one might expect. Aroma is Bourbon and vanilla with notes of chocolate, but also a touch of cinnamon and coconut. The Bride suggested that there is something like Girl Scout Cookies - Samoas, to be precise - and whiskey. Mmmm, Girl Scouts and whiskey... oh, never mind. At any rate, the flavor contiunes to have a few surprises as it warms, with fruity notes like cherry and prune emerging. The finish is oddly dry, and a vaguely herbal character emerges, as well. Tasty stuff.