In a blind tasting by BJCP trained experts, this beer rated

99

Side Project Derivation 6

Aroma: “Spiced fudge for days. Lots of dark chocolate, cinnamon. Underlying toasty and roasty malt. There’s a deep sweetness of dark maple, and the barrel brings all the character of vanilla along for the ride.”

Flavor: “Rich chocolate malts, cinnamon, and vanilla finish. There’s some booze and barrel to balance, but there’s a lot of sweetness. Sweet chocolate, almost chocolate syrup–like, with candied almonds and cinnamon. Caramel malt sweetness comes through, with bourbon and even a hint of coconut. Very low carbonation is just a notch or two above still.”

Overall: “This is a big-beer lovers dream—fudge chocolate brownie batter that your kid accidentally spilled some cinnamon in. Incredibly sweet, almost syrupy, yet not as cloying as expected and works surprisingly well with the adjuncts and barrel character. Subtle spice character works great with the bourbon.”

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