OFallon Whiskey Barrel Smoked Porter

Rate beer rating # 4,200. 22oz, red waxed, bottle acquired in trade with xmarcnolanx (thanks!). Poured a dark brown with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of chocolate, charred wood, vanilla, whiskey (but not overpowering), and smoke. Some earthiness came out as I poured more. Tastes of whiskey (more than the aromas), chocolate, some wood, and some roastiness. The whiskey was there but not too strong or overbearing. Thinner body.

22oz bottle, previous batch, courtesy of Gregis. Thanks, Greg! Pours a dark, oily brown color; khaki head with fine-bubbled, solid lacing. Lots of sour-mash whiskey in the aroma; whiskey, mostly, followed by a bit of dark chocolate and charred oak. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: loads of peaty, oaky whiskey notes and dark chocolate; lots of chewiness and intense whiskey; not overdone, but borders on the edge of being overdone with whiskey; treads a line, certainly; toasty, vanilla-touched oak and roasted / charred malts; relaxed carbonation; definitely a sipper. Lengthy finish: toasty whiskey, chocolate, and a bit of breadiness at the far end.

It poured with a deep dark brown and rather dark head. I had some warmer aromas, more whiskey came through than the smoke. The muted smoke flavor made this very approachable. Each sip provided a nice warm whiskey finish. I enjoyed the several layers of flavor here with very nice balance between the smokiness, sweetness and warmth from the bourbon. June 2009 - Finally opend one of the Van Winkle barrel aged versions after sitting on it for over a year. Many similar notes from the original but the bourbon/vanilla aroma and flavor was much more pronounced. My wife could even smell it at the front door from the kitchen. The VanWinkle bottle edges the original.

20060630 Bomber. I was pretty stoked to try this but... Dark beer with a big beige head. Nice smoke on nose but complicated. Complex aroma is not carrying to flavor where this beer falls flat. Very thin bodied. Maybe too long in the wood. Little whiskey character. Too sweet.

22 oz bottle pours black with reddish brown around the edges. Thin beige head. Aroma of whiskey, oak , smoke and roasted malt. Flavor is oak, vanilla, and smoke. Very little whiskey flavor. Not nearly as thick as I thought it would be. All in all a pretty decent beer, but not worth the $10.

Damn, this shit smells like some good whiskey. Buttery and smooth, with roasted overtones of more whiskey. Taste is more whiskey, some smoke, a little alcoholic harshness, but just the barest trace as to remind you that the barrel had whiskey in it. Oaky, smoky, whiskey-y and some dark chocolate and flat soda as it warms. Not much of a backbone to this one. Not bad, but not much to this charred whiskey barrel-infused porter.

Pour was dark with a thick tan head that was quite voluminous. Decent lacing. The initial aroma was chocolate and smoke with a bit of tart fruit and slight booziness. The flavor was chocolate, roasted malt and smoke. Sugar and thin alcohol heat come in to play as it opens up. The mouthfeel isn’t thick and chewy and that isn’t surprising with the low abv this one has. Seemed to have great promise as I made the initial pour, but just ended up coming off a bit thin and boozy.

22oz wax dipped bomber. Served in a chalice. Poured a deep brown with very little carbonation. Rich aroma with lots of whiskey and smoke. Chocolate and vanilla in the aroma as it warms. Smooth bodied with more whiskey flavor, chocolate sweetness. Not much hop bitterness. Smoke and bourbon are a good combo. Long whiskey finish. I liked this batch better than the last one. It is still a little thin. If they boosted the gravity a little, I think they would really have something special.