Style: Stout (Barrel-aged, Flavored)

ABV: 9.0 IBU: 38.0

92/100

Aroma:	12
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	19
Mouthfeel:	4

Service Brewing Company The Love Boat

What the brewers say

“Aged in bourbon barrels, then conditioned on brewed sweet cherry puree and liquid cocoa nibs.”

What our panel thought

“Bourbon character dominates the aroma with a touch of vanilla and dark cherry beneath. Flavor is rich with bourbon playing off chocolate and sweet-and-sour cherry notes. The balanced nuance of a fine chocolatier’s cherry cordial.”

What our editors thought

“Chocolate and cherry notes in the nose with a slightly vegetal woody barrel note. Honey-sweet cherry truffle with a vaguely boozy edge, but it feels a bit restrained in its indulgence.”

Review printed in: The Science of Stout (October-November 2022) (View All Issues)

Print Shelf Talker

How We Review

REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Moksa Brewing Co Final Form: Existence

“Notes of caramel, toffee, and leather with hints of almond, dark chocolate, and fig in the nose. The decadent sweetness is turned up to 11 with blackstrap molasses and a sharp spicy note.”

Service Brewing Company Rally Point Pilsner

Nice herbal-spicy hop nose with light, sweet malt; hints of sulfur and citrus zest. Pleasant, balanced flavor—gently sweet but light on the palate, rolling into a brusque but welcome bitterness. Clean, crisp. Finishes dry enough, begging for another sip.

Judaculla Nantahala Brewing Company

**Aroma:** “Cocoa powder and roast, with some whiskey and cherry esters peeking out here and there. Dark chocolate and rich malt, along with vanilla and toasted marshmallow. Heavy roast and French roast coffee.” **Flavor:** “Rich and slightly sweet cocoa powder, with something approaching the perceived tartness of cherries. Lots of chocolate, with a bit of vanilla and oak. The medium dark roast helps to dry things out, but the sweetness carries through and fades at the end of the sip, making way for a bit of bitterness and alcohol on the finish. The velvety body drives this beer, heightening the chocolaty base, and accentuating the vanilla barrel character. Well balanced.” **Overall:** “This is a really nice beer. The roast and tartness play off each other well, but the flavors are kind of overpowering. The alcohol becomes slightly harsh as it warms. The beer and barrel are in great balance—neither outshines the other, and that makes for a pleasant drinking experience.”

FRESH BEERS >

The best new craft beers available in a beer store near you. Sponsored content.

New Belgium Dominga Grapefruit

New Belgium wood cellar blender Lauren Limbach was gifted a new foeder that she aptly named Dominga—a play on the Spanish word for Sunday. She first created a mimosa-inspired golden sour called “Dominga: Goddess of Brunch.” Now we are excited to introduce the cocktail-inspired version, Dominga Grapefruit Paloma. Inspired by the classic cocktail of Mexico, Dominga packs a refreshing combo of bright grapefruit and lime flavors, along with agave and a pinch of salt.

Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest

Oaktoberfest is our oak-inspired homage to the great German tradition of Oktoberfest. We go the extra mile of maturing this beer in French oak barrels to create an amazingly smooth mouthfeel. The result is a classic German festbier with a hint of West Coast hoppiness. Grab your stein, don your lederhosen, and enjoy!

Firestone Walker Parabola ’24

Parabola is always a beast of a beer, with intense flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, vanilla, and roast coffee—yet each annual release also bears its own subtle imprint. For this latest edition, we aged the beer for a year in 12-year Elijah Craig barrels. These coveted bourbon barrels imparted signature notes of charred oak, caramel, and cinnamon, taking the Parabola experience to new heights. Pour some out in your favorite snifter; behold the impossibly opaque color as you allow it to warm up a bit; and then let the dark magic of Parabola stun your palate with its unrivaled flavor and complexity.

Sierra Nevada Cosmic Little Thing Hazy Double IPA

For the latest in the Hazy IPA series, ride Sierra Nevada’s interstellar wave of tropical flavor in this Cosmic Little Thing, a hazy nebula glowing with Comet, Strata, and Helios hops for notes of citrus, berries, and lychee. Head into orbit with this 8 percent ABV hazy double IPA before the next Hazy IPA rotator hits. Look for Cosmic Little Thing in six-packs and 19.2 oz singles.

Firestone Walker Cosmic Crusher Juicy Imperial IPA

Out-of-this-world flavor that packs a punch—take a journey with Cosmic Crusher. “Cosmic Crusher is our crazy adventure into the realm of imperial juicy IPAs,” says brewmaster Matt Brynildson. Cosmic Crusher is built around two ultra-tropical hops—Galaxy and Strata. The result is a level of flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel that can only materialize at high strength, crossing the line into a whole new cosmos of punchy mango and pineapple character. SKUs available: 12 oz six-pack cans, 19.2 oz single serve, and Mind Haze Variety Pack.

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion

Luponic Distortion is the Firestone Walker trailblazer that continues to break the rules, back for the first time since 2021. The classic Luponic Distortion base recipe returns with an all-new hop blend to deliver a fresh blast from the past. Brewed with a secret blend of new-age hops, the 2024 edition of Luponic Distortion turns up the volume with mind-bending flavors of lychee, peach, nectarine, and strawberry. Available exclusively in the Beer Before Glory IPA Mixed Pack.