Beer Review: Bourbon Barrel Aged 2009 Double Bastard Ale

Reviewing the Bourbon Barrel Aged 2009 Double Bastard Ale from the Quingenti Millitre Series from Stone Brewing Company out of Escondido, California.

Score: 82

Bottle is from the June 2012 release. Served in a snifter glass and enjoyed on 01/31/13.

Appearance: Chestnut brown in color with a finger of fizzy beige head that gradually settles to a thin layer atop the glass. Has a very traditional old ale look, but with a lot more head than expected off the pour. Good lacing and retention. Some serious floaties settle onto the bottom half of the glass. 3/5

Smell: Caramel, molasses, fig, sweet raisin, and sweet, faintly desserty, oaky vanilla. Lots of malt with a dark fruit twist. Bourbon complexities are very noticeable on the nose. Faint milk chocolate in the background. Some “leather belt” smell towards the end of a whiff too. Light alcohol esters present. There is a little brown sugar and a “fizziness” in the nose as the beer warms up. 4.25/5

Taste: Lots of caramel, then lesser quantums of brown sugar and fizzy vanilla. Finish is oddly bitter. There is some dark fruit too. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Too thin and over-carbonated. Dry, and slightly bitter on finish. 1.5/5

Overall: Although the nose was promising, the favors are too light, less complex and the mouthfeel kills the beer. Skip this one.

Cost: $20 for a 500 ml bottle.