Alternate Ending Beer Co. A Beautiful Friendship 2024

“Rye bourbon notes lead in the aroma, followed by coffee roast, light caramel, chocolate, and notes of fig, dark cherry, and raisin. The flavor is where this beer shines: cooked sugar, ribbon candy, and spice from the rye that adds to the richness.”

__Aroma:__ “Cocoa powder, bittersweet chocolate, and coffee notes, supported by a crystal malt sweetness, reminiscent of caramel, with a hint of freshly cut oak chips at the end.” __Flavor:__ “Rich dark chocolate. The vanilla is fairly subtle and brings out the chocolate character rather than sticking out as vanilla. A bit of oak and toasty marshmallow reinforce the campfire feel. Mild roast gives way to some sugar sweetness.” __Overall:__ “Great example of the style that’s absolutely delicious if just a bit too safe to be truly one-of-a-kind. Great balance between malt, barrel, adjuncts, and mouthfeel with a depth of quality in the defining vanilla character that sets it apart. There are some top-tier barrel-aged stouts with vanilla that I enjoy more than this, but you could count the number of them on your fingers alone.”

“A boozy chocolate mess that keeps you coming back for more. Port character on the nose. Big barrel qualities reminiscent of rum. Slightly spicy and complex with some sherry notes that come out as it warms. Chocolate, bourbon, and tobacco in the taste. The complexity balances the alcohol bite. The refined aged character gives it smooth cohesion, and the more you partake, the more you want to keep drinking it.”