Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Barrel-Aged Frost Monster
What the brewers say
“Frost Monster Imperial Stout aged in oak barrels.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Subdued nose, but there are notes of dark roast coffee, chocolate, and very subtle dark stone fruit esters when you hunt for them. Strong bold roasty notes.”
Flavor: “Roasty with hints of dry chocolate, sweet chocolate, and cherry. Vanilla. Some oak and bourbon notes are present. Nice warmth in the end. Some dark toffee and even black licorice notes. Some prominent fruitiness and tannin character emerges as it warms. The barrel character isn’t overly pronounced.”
Overall: “The malt and dark fruit sweetness are really nice in the beer with some nice vanilla notes. A bold beer, that veers a little off course for the style, but still provides some unique flavors that are worth exploring.”