Blue Mountain Barrel House Dark Hollow
What the brewers say
“Our dark, low-roast imperial stout has notes of bourbon and vanilla from extended barrel aging in charred American oak bourbon barrels.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “A balance of chocolate, vanilla, oak, cherry, plum, slight coffee. Lots of rich malt flavors. The aroma makes this beer inviting to taste.”
Flavor: “A very smooth, almost creamy feel enhances the chocolaty sweetness of this beer. A restrained roast lets the sweetness dominate, but it doesn’t come off as cloying. Some notes of coconut and vanilla from the barrel also help enhance the experience. The chocolate flavors range from milk sweetness to semisweet to dark bitter chocolate. Some coffee notes. Nice warmth in the end.”
Overall: “Well done. Sweet and chewy, but not cloying at all, making this one of those that is easy-drinking and scary as such. A creamy, chocolaty delight of a beer. The first beer with a 5 for mouthfeel—comes in as a cream ball.”
