Full Sail Black Gold Imperial Stout Bourbon Barrel Aged

bottle received perhaps a year ago, from Larry Pitonka (i think?) this is the second of 2 bottles sent my way and it pours out an ever-so-barely un-opaque black, with plenty of oak and vanilla bourbon tones. low carbonation and a small ring of brown foam on top of the liquid - as a result, it has a very viscous mouthfeel despite some apparent alcohol. lots of malt and sweetness, with less roast and bitterness than i would expect. enjoyable as another occasional treat, but too much bourbon and not enough beer.

22oz bottle purchased in Spokane, WA. Pours a dark black with some red tinged highlights around the edges, and a one finger head. The foam fades very slowly to a thin cap that leaves behind a very nice webbing of lace. Smell; the bourbon is very evident at first, but when this starts to warm a bit the oak and vanilla aromas emerge. There’s some dark roasted malt aromas, as well as some chocolate floating around underneath the bourbon and oak. Taste; as with the smell the bourbon is the first noticeable flavor followed by the oak barrel and vanilla, but there’s also some faint hints of coconut in there. The roasted malts are present, but they take a backseat to the bourbon and oak, with a bit of chocolate and a touch of sourness in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, and quite a bit thinner than I would have expected for a big Imperial Stout, but the drinkability is really damn good, especialy since the alcohol is barely detectable at all.

22oz bottle, thanks to indiana red for this bottle! pours pitch black with small off-white head. the bourbon in the nose is very lovely but the stout flavors seem overwhelmed and mainly a nice chocolate comes through, but that bourbon and choclate is really nice. flavor has nice bourbon, vanilla, toffee, chocolate, coffee, and coconut. really great flavors. the mouthfeel is a tad thin and alcohol is pretty warming with slight burn on the way down. the barrel aging is over done and this is clearly an average impy stout that’s relies on the barrel for depth and complexity, but dag yo, this is tasty.

Not sure when I had this; I think I got the bottle 2/2006, sampled 2/2007. Mostly dark pour, creamy lasting tan head. Bourbony roast stout aroma. The stout part seems a little uncomplex and uninteresting. But its okay nonetheless. Some light fruit in the nose. Stoutish bourbon, charred chocolate, nice sweet component that keeps the aggressive bourbon at bay. Quite similar to the GI BCS but not as hot or thick. Keeps it real. This is a really good sipping bourbon IS. Its not overly interesting, but it keeps it real.

A jet black color with a great bourbon nose. Taste is similarly bourbon intense with some typical stout flavors like coffee and chocolate

The aroma is powerful bourbon. This is a thick and black, low carbonation. Flavor has bourbon and medium sweet malt. But especially bourbon, and by especially bourbon, I mean almost nothing but bourbon. This is a well made and thought-out beer, but just too much bourbon for my taste. Thanks to Joebrew for sharing.

Pure black color with a decent head. Aroma of, oh, I don’t know... bourbon?! Good lord, it smells like a tumbler of whiskey. The taste certainly backs up the bourbon barrel statement, but the stout definitely shines and doesn’t just fade into the night. Certainly some roastiness and chocolate. The bourbon sweetens it up a bit. Not the greatest, but certainly very nice.

Pours a jet black with a small brown head. Nice sweet bourbon nose with hints of tofee, whiskey, chocolate, and a hint of smokiness. Very flat carbonation with hints of coffee, chocolate, caramel, toffee, and port like raisens sweetness. A great light hop finish with a great complex flavor. You definately have to like bourbon to like this booer, but I loved it.