Schlafly Beer/The Saint Louis Brewery Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
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What the brewers say
“Brewed with a big malt flavor, plenty of hops bitterness, and roasted barley for notes of dark chocolate. Aged in freshly emptied Kentucky bourbon barrels.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Initially reminiscent of a bourbon coke, maybe even cherry coke. A pleasant, singular boozy character mixes with the dark sweetness of the beer. Heavy roasted character with some notes of cocoa powder, vanilla, coconut, and coffee.”
Flavor: “This has a great intense chocolate front with a prominent booziness carrying through. Some nice roast character keeps things from getting off track. Rich bourbon sweetness with the obvious roast and chocolate notes from the malt. Relatively chewy throughout, but it finishes dry and bourbony. Vanilla combines with the chocolate roast to provide a milk chocolate character.”
Overall: “This is a perfect and intense dichotomy of booze and chocolate and all things that that entails. Very well done, but definitely balanced on the bourbon side of things.”
