Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

ABV: 10.7 IBU: 25.0

95/100
Aroma: 11
Appearance: 3
Flavor: 18
Mouthfeel: 5

El Segundo Brewing 2018 Barrel Aged Standard Crude

What the brewers say

Dark, sexy, velvety winter nectar.

What our panel thought

Chocolate, vanilla, and caramel aroma. A nice bitterness helps balance the sweetness. The dark chocolate aspects linger on the tongue well after the last sip. The barrel aspects are slight and muted.

What our editors thought

Anise and fennel on the nose feel subtle but sophisticated. The sip deftly rides the line between sweet and savory, with a soft but significant roast buffering the restrained residual sugar. Body lands on the lighter side, with the varying intensities of flavors all serving the drinkable goal.

Review printed in: Stouts for All Seasons (Oct-Nov 2019) (View All Issues)


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Squatters Outer Daarrgness

Rich goodness on the nose: rum, but plenty of raisin, maple, dates, and plum. The taste hits those notes but adds vanilla and roast malt, plus a touch of black malt. The alcohol is warming and a little boozy without too much retronasal burn.

Hoppin’ Frog Brewery Double Barrel B.O.R.I.S.

Rich aroma: nuts, whiskey, dark fruit, woody-vanilla, coconut. Big caramel sweetness in flavor dovetails with roast and hop bitterness. Thick, fluffy, syrupy body.

The Rare Barrel Avec des Amis

The nose suggests dried peaches. Subtle funk-forward acidity. A bit of potpourri-like woodiness carries forward into the flavor where the peachiness is a more pronounced but is more like peach fruit leather. Light funky tannic bitterness from Brett. The bitter, astringent wood character is a detractor, dominating the finish.

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