Style: Stout (Barrel-aged)

ABV: 12.0 IBU: 29.0

97/100
Aroma: 12
Appearance: 3
Flavor: 19
Mouthfeel: 5

Surly Brewing Company 2021 Barrel-Aged Darkness

What the brewers say

"This special edition of our massive Russian imperial stout matured in Elijah Craig 12-year bourbon barrels and brings waves of chocolate, vanilla, dried fruit, and cherry flavors, enhanced by the oak and bourbon character of the barrel and its previous occupant."

What our panel thought

“Compelling aroma of vanilla, dark fudge, smoke, boysenberry, anise, dried cherry, caramel, coffee. Flavor reveals sweeter hints of sherry, vanilla, caramel, turbinado. Beautifully orchestrated.”

What our editors thought

“Bold dark malt nose with subtle berry and candi sugar highlights. Finely tuned sweetness and body. Artful. Unrelenting.”

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


REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Surly Brewing 2020 Barrel-aged Darkness

Thick molasses nose, rich chocolate cream, savory roast nuts, toasted marshmallow. Luxurious, cottony texture, like drinking taffy.

Toppling Goliath Brewing Co Assassin - 2021

“Rich, sweet aroma, boozy and vinous—chocolate, coffee, vanilla, peanut, coconut, with light port. Fantastically rich malt profile.”

Fremont Brewing Barrel Aged Dark Star Spice Wars

**Aroma:** “Fruity esters of pear or cherry with some dried fruit, creating a lighter, fruitier, surprisingly fresh aroma for a barrel-aged beer. Barrel aromas of bourbon, light vanilla, oak. Spices include cinnamon, holiday spices, clove, orange, juniper, and pine, with a hint of chile. Chocolate is present, along with some tobacco. Kind of hard to identify the base beer underneath.” **Flavor:** “The sweetness from the base beer helps to balance the spice characters of potpourri and cinnamon spice. The cherry and orange esters dominate, with some vanilla to smooth things out. Roasted barley and caramel, with some chocolate and Tootsie Rolls. There’s quite a bit of alcoholic and chile heat that detracts and helps to accentuate the phenolic and floral characters, putting them a bit over the top. The hops bitterness and roasted malt flavors add a drying finish to an otherwise sweet beer.” **Overall:** “For an in-your-face holiday beer, this is pretty good. The blend of spices and esters works but is subdued, and I really wanted more from the imperial and oak. It is subtle and tasty, even if it is light on the spicy notes. Nice chocolate and vanilla add fullness to the beer.”

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