River North Brewery Whiskey Barrel Aged Nightmare Fuel

“If box-checking were an Olympic sport, this beer would stand on the podium. Base beer is rich in melanoidins—spirits-forward, with a touch of oak. Alcohol is loud, but there’s enough chocolate, brown sugar, and red fruits to make a stand.”

“Elegant, vinous nose brings pleasant alcohol sweetness with notes of char, black licorice, and marshmallow. Flavor brings a strong roast-malt profile with wisps of vanilla and cocoa. Body is a bit thin. Beautifully balanced. The overall drinkability here is surprising. Excellent marriage of every component.”

__Aroma:__ “Like almond liqueur, with a gentle blend of roast, chocolate, and coffee. The coffee brings an earthiness for complexity. Notes of leather, oak, and vanilla bring a decent blend of barrel and flavor. Very clean overall.” __Flavor:__ “Well-blended roastiness from the malt and coffee, and some light barrel character helps pull the pieces together with notes of tannin, leather, oak, and vanillin. Nutty caramel, sherry, and a fruity yeast profile that includes dry cherries make for a fruitcake effect. Coats the mouth without being cloying. A deeper dominant flavor note than others in the category, heavy on bass notes.” __Overall:__ “Tells you up front to slow down—it’s a little hot from the booze—but a very nice balance of chocolate, coffee, and oak, which all work together to balance the sweetness. The fruitcake notes—dried cherries, almonds, and bread—worked great. I like this a lot.”