Style: Barrel-Aged Coffee & Breakfast Stout

ABV: 10.5 IBU: 24.0

96/100

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

New Image Brewing Three Halves

What the brewers say

Barrel-aged imperial stout with coffee, cacao, and vanilla.

What our panel thought

Hints of anise and cardamom emerge through the coffee, roast, dark-chocolate, and bourbon aromas. The flavor is equal parts roast, bitter coffee, dark chocolate, and vanilla with subtle notes of caramel and oak. Well-integrated and complementary, with enough body to house it all and plenty of alcoholic warmth.

What our editors thought

The nose offers an almost Thai-style sweet-meets-spicy character, but the sip loses definition as a vague acidity plasters over any roast structure or engaging barrel character.

Review printed in: Stouts for All Seasons (Oct-Nov 2019) (View All Issues)

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REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project Continuum II

“Aroma is an intense blast of dark chocolate, peanuts, caramel, vanilla, and molasses. The sip brings notes of dark chocolate, crème brûlée, vanilla, cherries, blueberries, and plums. Thick, viscous body. Very sweet, but not quite cloying.”

Westbound & Down Brewing Company Beyond Opulence

“Marshmallow nose with deep vanilla and dark chocolate in the background. On the tongue, a hunk of chocolate flavors followed by sweet, creamy vanilla. Dark chocolate and light earthy tobacco play nicely.”

Boulevard Brewing Company Imperial Stout

**Aroma:** “Burnt and roasty with oak and vanilla up front then nice supporting notes of sweet malt, sweet chocolate, and dark roast coffee. Dark fruit esters and a hint of alcohol in the nose.” **Flavor:** “Fruity, almost Belgian yeast profile. Plenty of oak, vanilla, and tannins. Chocolate and notes of vanilla and bourbon from the oak give way to subtle notes of raisin and caramel. Roasted flavors are restrained, yet help to balance. Alcohol is subdued but evident. Hops flavor is low, grassy, and appropriate. Warmth in the finish adds to the experience of this beer and has pleasant smoothness.” **Overall:** “A nice, well rounded barrel aged stout. The sweetness is balanced by the roast character and intermingled well together. Could use a little more body for the style. Oak character is very well balanced, not over-done. Definitely a beer worth seeking out.”

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