Aroma: “A nice blend of sweetness on the nose, with some plum and prune, light apple, and chocolate. A touch of vanilla, bourbon, and oak, with some alcohol warmth. Moderate chocolate, dark caramel, blackstrap molasses, and a touch of black licorice.”

Flavor: “Moderate chocolate up front, with light cinnamon spices and big vanilla. Some rich chocolate sweetness in there, caramel, with vanilla, oak, leather, and bourbon—the sweetness provides a scaffold. Fruity notes of dark cherry, plum, prune, and raisin that support the bourbon. This beer has a nice chewy body with a moderate alcohol burn and light acidity.”

Overall: “The chewy body and pronounced flavors worked great. The fruit ester notes are strong, but there’s also a touch of unconverted starchy notes. The barrel definitely comes through. Good complexity—it’s smooth and keeps all the different flavors under control.”