Style: Stout (Barrel-aged)

ABV: 10.0

87/100

Aroma:	11
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	18
Mouthfeel:	4

Black Laboratory Brewing Willett BA Black is Beautiful

What the brewers say

"For our version of Black is Beautiful we adjusted some of the malts to match our house stouts. We then took a portion of it to age in a single Sour Mash Willett Bourbon barrel and aged it for 9 months. Pours jet black with aroma and flavors of chocolate, vanilla, raisin and bourbon."

What our panel thought

“Notes of dark chocolate, caramel, and vanilla play off blackberries and licorice. Flavor is a bit one-sided, with simple sweetness cut by boozy dryness. A slickness to the mouthfeel accentuates the sweetness. Refined—doesn’t punch you in the nose.”

What our editors thought

“Caramel-latte nose is light and unassuming, as barrel notes fold into general caramel malt tones. In the sip, a boozy chocolate cola note emerges with zippy effervescence and light chocolate and barrel notes.”

Review printed in: The Route to Stout (October-November 2021) (View All Issues)

Print Shelf Talker

How We Review

REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Junkyard Brewing Company Mega Munchies

“Aroma is sweet and chocolaty, giving the impression of Milky Way or Snickers. Flavor is chocolaty and suh-weet! A low alcohol note and a hint of bitterness. Like a liquid candy bar, in a great way.”

Ecliptic Brewing Barrel-aged Oort

“Pleasant aroma of rum-soaked candied dates, raisins, and dark chocolate; hints of roast malt, vanilla, caramel. Body’s on the thin side, lacking some of the more decadent qualities of the style.”

Crooked Stave Private Reserve Bourbon Barrel Imperial Oatmeal Stout #183

Sweet up front as deep molasses and chocolate wrap around a bourbon-filled body. Dries out fairly well at the end. It’s like being thrown into a blender full of dark chocolate, bourbon barrels, vanilla, and cinnamon.

FRESH BEERS >

The best new craft beers available in a beer store near you. Sponsored content.

New Belgium Dominga Grapefruit

New Belgium wood cellar blender Lauren Limbach was gifted a new foeder that she aptly named Dominga—a play on the Spanish word for Sunday. She first created a mimosa-inspired golden sour called “Dominga: Goddess of Brunch.” Now we are excited to introduce the cocktail-inspired version, Dominga Grapefruit Paloma. Inspired by the classic cocktail of Mexico, Dominga packs a refreshing combo of bright grapefruit and lime flavors, along with agave and a pinch of salt.

Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest

Oaktoberfest is our oak-inspired homage to the great German tradition of Oktoberfest. We go the extra mile of maturing this beer in French oak barrels to create an amazingly smooth mouthfeel. The result is a classic German festbier with a hint of West Coast hoppiness. Grab your stein, don your lederhosen, and enjoy!

Firestone Walker Parabola ’24

Parabola is always a beast of a beer, with intense flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, vanilla, and roast coffee—yet each annual release also bears its own subtle imprint. For this latest edition, we aged the beer for a year in 12-year Elijah Craig barrels. These coveted bourbon barrels imparted signature notes of charred oak, caramel, and cinnamon, taking the Parabola experience to new heights. Pour some out in your favorite snifter; behold the impossibly opaque color as you allow it to warm up a bit; and then let the dark magic of Parabola stun your palate with its unrivaled flavor and complexity.

Sierra Nevada Cosmic Little Thing Hazy Double IPA

For the latest in the Hazy IPA series, ride Sierra Nevada’s interstellar wave of tropical flavor in this Cosmic Little Thing, a hazy nebula glowing with Comet, Strata, and Helios hops for notes of citrus, berries, and lychee. Head into orbit with this 8 percent ABV hazy double IPA before the next Hazy IPA rotator hits. Look for Cosmic Little Thing in six-packs and 19.2 oz singles.

Firestone Walker Cosmic Crusher Juicy Imperial IPA

Out-of-this-world flavor that packs a punch—take a journey with Cosmic Crusher. “Cosmic Crusher is our crazy adventure into the realm of imperial juicy IPAs,” says brewmaster Matt Brynildson. Cosmic Crusher is built around two ultra-tropical hops—Galaxy and Strata. The result is a level of flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel that can only materialize at high strength, crossing the line into a whole new cosmos of punchy mango and pineapple character. SKUs available: 12 oz six-pack cans, 19.2 oz single serve, and Mind Haze Variety Pack.

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion

Luponic Distortion is the Firestone Walker trailblazer that continues to break the rules, back for the first time since 2021. The classic Luponic Distortion base recipe returns with an all-new hop blend to deliver a fresh blast from the past. Brewed with a secret blend of new-age hops, the 2024 edition of Luponic Distortion turns up the volume with mind-bending flavors of lychee, peach, nectarine, and strawberry. Available exclusively in the Beer Before Glory IPA Mixed Pack.