The Lagunitas Brewing Company High Westified 2016
What the brewers say
“Ale brewed with coffee and then aged in High West rye barrels. We brewed a rich, malty imperial stout with some of Metropolitan Coffee’s Spice Island blend, then let it vintag-ize in High West rye and bourbon barrels for up to 17 months.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Huge barrel characters of roasted coconut, vanilla, dark chocolate, and a rich, woody, bourbon, and fruity character that almost comes off vinous. Some raisin and plum emerge as it warms, with some rum-like sweetness.”
Flavor: “Intense barrel flavors, with strong vanilla, coconut, bourbon, and light roasted almond. The beer has heft but doesn’t sit too heavily on the tongue. Really nice creaminess rounds it out. Very complex beer with a lingering malt character of chocolate and rum.”
Overall: “An excellent coupling of beer and barrel. The barrel flavors heighten the beer, and the beer flavors accentuate the barrel. The sweetness is nicely balanced with the roast and charred oak. Great harmony between the fruity esters and the bourbon/rum character sweetness. Fantastic complex beer that really shines as it warms, inviting another sip.”
