Full Sail Black Gold Imperial Stout Bourbon Barrel Aged

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.

Thanks to Degarth for providing this one. Poured black with no head and a tan lacing around the rim of the glass. Aroma was chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, roasted notes, and some more bourbon. Flavor was unbelievable! Exquisite smooth chocolate, coconut, bourbon, and some roasted notes. The chocolate bourbon combination was done to perfection. Ungodly mouthfeel, like silk was massaging my tongue. Milky creamy feel as well. The flavors and the texture were just dominating.

My absolute favorite beer at GABF this year, the perfect balance of Imperial Stout with Bourbon, not too sweet, not too bourbony. By far the best balanced Bourbon-barrel aged offering at the show. I was validated when it took 2nd place.

Bottle @ PIB.. Pours rich, opaque deep brown/black, with a thick dark tan head. Aroma is of dark chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, coffee, bourbon. Flavor is rich and upfront, with a delicious mix of the oak/vanilla of the bourbon barrel mixing with the chocolate and coffee flavors, creating a distinct coconut flavor- a true Mounds bar in a glass.. a great, long finish highlights the bourbon character.. Exceptional!!

Bottle... This beer rocks!... Just when I thought I was completely "bourbon-barrel-imperial-stouted-out," this stuff comes along and blows me away! Pours pitch black with a small, creamy, beige head. Excellent retention. The aroma is a whirlpool of chocolate, sour mash, vanilla and oak which creates a wonderful coconut-like fragrance. Each sip offers deep, complex flavors of vanilla, caramel, bourbon and milk chocolate with an undercurrent of all things burnt, bitter and tangy. Alcohol is evident, but not overpowering. Full-bodied and chewy with lively carbonation. Another world class effort from the folks at Full Sail! Thanks go out to CaptainCougar for the bottle.