Beer Review: Georgia Gene

Reviewing the Georgia Gene from Revolution Brewing Company out of Chicago, Illinois.

Score: 93

Tap pour on release day served in a taster glass and enjoyed on 10/09/13. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: This beer looks like all of Revolution's barrel aged stouts/porters. Shiny, inky black in color served with a ring around the glass of khaki head. Solid lacing/average retention. 4/5

Smell: Oak, brown sugar, bourbon and cacao/chocolate. No distinct peach but something not traditional in a stout is present here that I cannot put my finger on; it is probably muted peach. 4/5

Taste: Vanilla, oak and bourbon upfront followed by delicious peach, bitter chocolate and a light vanilla flavor in the finish. Nice bittersweet balance here, with the sweet barrel characters hitting upfront and then mellowing out quickly. A little alcohol sting on the sides of the tongue. The base beer characteristics are surprisingly bold and not overwhelmed by the barrel treatment, which is a nice departure from the sweet Woodford-forward barrel projects that Revolution has been churning out lately. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, low carbonation. Creamy and slick mouthfeel. Good balance. 4.25/5

Overall: I wish I had time to stay for a full snifter pour. This is Revolution's best new barrel aged project in recent memory. I love that it has a nice bitterness in the finish for balance, and that it is not as bourbon-forward as their other recent releases. Prost!

Cost: $7 for a 9 oz snifter pour.