SweetWater Brewing Company Bourbon Barrel–Aged Imperial Stout
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What the brewers say
“Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout is a supremely rich, full-bodied imperial stout laced with subtle notes of chocolate and bourbon, acquired while aging in bourbon barrels. A big beer at 11.2 percent ABV, this is the highest ABV creation SweetWater will release this year.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Mild bourbon, with vanilla, chocolate, light caramel, and malt roast. Dark fruit, raisins, light plum, and a touch of apple. Some light vinegar in there, too.”
Flavor: “The sip starts with a rich flavor that’s a mix of roast, chocolate, vanilla, oak, and cherries. Dark fruits (raisin and prune), followed by the bourbon and mild smokiness. Medium alcoholic warmth, which carries through the finish. The body is thick and chewy and very smooth. It’s a nice blend of supporting players without any one stealing the show.”
Overall: “This beer is very rich, with huge chocolate and bourbon, with strong roast and a moderate astringency that plays with the alcohol warming at the end of the sip. It has a big, thick body, and a single pint is probably as much as I could drink of this—it provided a nice platform to blend the flavors of the beer and the barrel. The flavors supported one another in a smooth and complex blend, and each sip gave more to consider, adding to the overall experience.”
