Narrow Gauge Brewing Barrel Aged Vanil (Batch #2)
What the brewers say
"Imperial stout aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels with Indian vanilla beans."
What our panel thought
"Roasted malt aroma with vanilla focus, dessert-like chocolate cake, with oak-barrel vanillin and boozy notes. Medium-full body, not overly sweet, roast-coffee finish and complementary dark-fruit esters. Vanilla and barrel blend nicely. Warming, pleasant alcohols."
What our editors thought
"Earthy nose with orange zest, floral spice, vanilla, and light herbs. The sip is clunky, bull in a china shop, as rough caramel and roast malt bump into earthy vanilla, with no manners and minimal panache."