Arcadia Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout

12 oz bottle (with an annoying red wax seal) which pours dark and black, with a small amount of head surfacing but quickly retreating to the edges of the glass. rich and bold, with caramel and roasted aromas and with a deep sniff, green woody hops. subdued bourbon effects, with some oak and light vanilla apparent but it clearly didn’t spend ages in barrel. i think i prefer it this way, rather than the all-too-common method of over-barreling as it preserves more of the beer’s original character. a little heavy alcohol heat, but overall a very nice beer. at a pricey $8.99 however, this one should be shared.