What Our Panel Thought
Aroma: “Rich chocolate and vanilla dominate the aroma. Touch of corn sweetness from the bourbon and some fusel alcoholic heat.”
Flavor: “Bourbon, oak, and vanilla. The malt blends with the barrel to make a kind of maple character. As it warms up, a bit of roast comes out. Moderately high sweetness up front fades into a fairly dry finish.”
Overall: “The barrel character is really well done—the underlying beer is a bit sweet, but the spicy bourbon and wood character are well balanced, with great lingering complexity. The chocolate, dark fruit, and boozy finish are well balanced throughout.”
What the Brewers Say
“This starts with a rich, dark ale brewed with cherry wood–smoked malt that has been aged in bourbon barrels for eight months. Then we blended it with a young, dark ale and added vanilla.”
