A funny thing happened on the way to this review. Heard about it, hadn't had it. Saw it at Zipp's. Tyler gave it a solid "meh."
Checked BeerAdvocate, and it gets a disappointing C+, with many dissatisfied comments. And I bought a keg anyway. Tapped it last week, and it's been a hit. Nearly done with this one, already. Personally, I like it a lot, even if it isn't the biggest and thickest (although at 10.2 %, it's definitely big.). The fact that BeerAdvocate or RateBeer geeks don't feel the love for this stout, doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be enjoyed by casual drinkers as well as aficcionadoes.
Here are my notes from Friday night:
"Cast in full-on ebony, sizable tan head drifts down soon enough.
Rich aromatics, cocoa and coffee, with sweet bourbon notes just below, gets bigger and fuller as we go in. Vanilla and oak notes peeping up.
Tasting it: A full blast on the palate, all those flavors promised in the nose board together. There's licorice bumping up against molasses, vanilla hints and oakiness meet chocolate and caramel. There is a nice imperial stout under here, hiding under a cloak of bourbon. Sweet stuff, probably too sweet for some, and potent, for sure. Cloying? Just a little. But for bourbon barrel lovers, like me, there's a lot to like. And maybe love.
It's easy drinking for an imperial stout, never gets near chewy, stays clear of viscous. Goes down smooth and brimming with stout-y and barrel-y flavors.
Here's one that's been unjustly maligned, I think. Maybe it needed a bit more time, or perhaps it's better in the keg?"
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