Beer Review: Candy Cane Cthulhu

Reviewing the Candy Cane Cthulhu from the Goose Island Beer Company out of Chicago, Illinois.

Score: 97

Tap pour served in a snifter glass and enjoyed on 12/23/13. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Dark soda color, with a tiny ring around the glass of head. Nice oily lacing, but no head. The oily lacing tints the side of the glass a slight brownish hue, but less so than Bourbon County Brand Stout does. 4.25/5

Smell: Smells a lot like regular Cthulhu, with less vanilla plus a peppermint aroma that is not "smack you in the face intense" like many other mint-infused stouts are. Particularly as it warms up, this beer smells like thin mint Girl Scout cookies laced with caramel-forward bourbon. The peppermint character grows as the beer warms up, but it never overwhelms. A little oak is present too. Really nice nose here. 4.5/5

Taste: The caramel-forward bourbon flavor hits first, followed by fudgey chocolate, a little bit of vanilla and a hint of oak towards the finish. The peppermint acts a nice backbone, adding a light coolness to the flavor profile. The mint character of the Candy Cane Cthulhu is different from past years' releases of a bourbon barrel aged peppermint stout by the Goose Island Clybourn brewpub in that the peppermint presence here is more consistent on the palate. In previous releases it was more "popping" on the tongue like brief pop rock explosions of peppermint flavor with no lasting power. Even though this beer is infused with candy canes (i.e. pure sugar), it comes off less sweet than regular Cthulhu for whatever reason. The minty flavor lingers nicely, along with notes of caramel and a hint of chocolate too. All of the complexities here are masterfully integrated. What a tasty holiday treat! 4.75/5

Mouthfeel: Just shy of full bodied, spot on carbonation. Very sticky mouthfeel with a sweet leaning profile that does not cloy. Has a lovely slightly cooling mouthfeel from the mint. 4.75/5

Overall: Another home run bourbon barrel aged candy cane-infused stout from the Goose Island Clybourn brewpub (they do one annually as part of a Christmas time toy drive), and an interesting twist for the better on a beer I love. The mint character on this brew is not overpowering, a flaw that many "mint stouts" suffer from. This beer was well worth the toy donations it took to help get it tapped, and I wish that this was something the brewpub would do more than once a year. Maybe next year they will finally do Candy Cane Bourbon County Brand Stout?

Cost: $7 for a 5 oz pour.

Beer Review: Isabelle Proximus

Reviewing the infamous Isabelle Proximus. This Lost Abbey release is a collaboration blend of barrel aged beers made by The Lost Abbey, Russian River Brewing Company, Avery Brewing Company, the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Allagash Brewing Company. Thank you Paul for sharing this marvelous treat.

Score: 97

2008 vintage bottle. Served in a Cantillon stemmed balloon glass and enjoyed on 11/16/13. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Pours a nice orange-yellow color with just under a finger of head that settles to a foggy cap atop the brew. Good lacing, great retention. 4.75/5

Smell: Oak/wood, dank lemon, hint of mildew mustiness, and then comes the peach. The nose starts out a little funky and then the fruit comes out to make a nice, balanced medley. 4.75/5

Taste: Wet wood, peach, and a musty funk that is not overpowering. Lemon backbone. The fruit character is not fresh, but it is kind of "dank" and quite interesting. I remember a more robust/fresh peach flavor and less funk when I had this a year or so ago, but it is still drinking marvelously. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, spot on carbonation. Excellent tartness with a light sweetness and pleasant funk to help balance out the sourness. Not as dry or sour as Deviation. Really lovely mouthfeel. 5/5

Overall: It was a nice treat to get to revisit this beer as my appreciation for sours has grown and Izzy has further developed in the bottle. Memory is not the best point of relativity considering that tastes develop and details fade as time passes, but I recall liking this fresher. Nonetheless, this is still one of the finest examples of just how good an American-made wild ale can be, and it completely stacks up against some of the more renown and respected Belgian sours out there.

Cost: $30 for a 750 ml bottle (good luck finding it at that price these days).

Beer Review: Deviation (Bottleworks IX)

Reviewing Deviation (Bottleworks IX) from Russian River Brewing Company out of Santa Rosa, California. Major thanks to Ben for sending me this rare treat!

Score: 99

Bottle is from the spring of 2008. Served in a Cantillon stemmed balloon glass and enjoyed on 11/16/13. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy amber color with yellowish hue highlights towards the edge of the body. Pours two to three fingers of white head that settle to a nice layer coating the top of the beer. Splotchy lacing, below average retention. 4/5

Smell: Oak, Brett, lemon, and then Bretty funky. The Brett qualities act like a book end on the nose. The funkiness is shockingly pleasant for a five year old beer, and not medicinal or crazy weird or present to the degree of being an "acquired pleasure" like a funky cheese would be. 5/5

Taste: Sour lemon, then wood and a light, familiar mustiness. Has a hint of mildew that adds a little something extra, without making the beer taste "off" or overly funky, like the magnum of 2004 Drie Fonteinen Oude Gueuze that we drank on my birthday this year. Light vanilla notes and a dash of vinegar too. Lingering lemon and wood in the finish. Has a nice level of tartness without being bracingly sour a la aged Beatification. Not nearly as complex as Mimosa, Izzy or CCK, but (1) is that really a fair comparison, and (2) Deviation nonetheless delivers big on taste and drinkability. 5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus bodied with more carbonation that expected, though it does not come across as being "over carbonated." Feels quite "full bodied" for an American wild ale. Nice tartness, dry finish. 5/5

Overall: I have heard from numerous people that this beer is "over the hill", but be they wrong or this bottle ideally stored, this brew was magnificent. Even side-by-side with Mimosa, Cable Car Kriek and Izzy, this beer stacked up nicely. I wish I could obtain another that tasted exactly like this with relative ease. Drink 'em if you got 'em.

Cost: $20 for a 750 ml bottle (but good luck finding one at that price nowadays).

Beer Review: Cable Car Kriek (Test Batch Bottle)

Reviewing a bottle of the test batch for Cable Car Kriek from The Lost Abbey out of San Marcos, California. Major thanks to Paul and Jonathan for sharing this rare treat with me!

Score: 100

The only thing I know about the bottling date of this beer is that it predates the 2011 release of Cable Car Kriek. My buddy got a Cable Car Kriek label sticker, which he put on the otherwise unmarked bottle. Served in a Cantillon stemmed balloon glass and enjoyed on 11/16/13. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Pours a finger-plus of white frothy head. Color is a murky red-orange color with a bit of yellow-orange fade towards the edges of the body when held up to light. Excellent lacing and retention. 5/5

Smell: Cherry, then dank cinnamon, funk, wood, dank spice, fig, raisin, wood and lemon. Hint of tobacco and vanilla. Lots of unexpected cinnamon present in the nose, which is ridiculously complex and perfectly balanced between all the elements present. Just enough funk is present to give it an added dimension of complexity without detracting at all from the appeal of the other aromatics. 5/5

Taste: Tart cherry hits first, then cinnamon, spice, vanilla and wood. Musty funk on the midpalate, oddly reminisce of that Cantillon house character with a little bit of age. Vanilla and cherrywood finish, light lemon backbone. Dark cherry notes and a little bit of cocoa-like flavor come through too as the beer warms up. The cherry flavor persists throughout, and lingers nicely in the finish. I love how well the vanilla flavor plays with sour characters without being medicinal or coming across as being out of place. All the flavors here are so perfectly integrated. There is so much going on, and it all works. The cinnamon character is a nice unique twist, though it is less prominent on the palate than it was in the nose. 5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, spot on carbonation (rare for a Lost Abbey beer). Great mix of sweet and sour, with a dry finish. 5/5

Overall: One of the best beers I have ever had the pleasure to consume. It is complex, robust in flavor, tart, balanced and insanely drinkable. There is a reason this is one of the most sought after beers out there. I would not say it is worth the $600-800 it commands on the secondary market, but I enjoyed it more than M, which costs much more to acquire. My only quip here is that someone stole the bottle from Paul later in the evening. Seek this one out with confidence.

Cost: $50 for a 750 ml bottle (good luck finding it that for that price nowadays).

Beer Review: Pappy Van Winkle Black Magick

Reviewing the Pappy Van Winkle Black Magick from Voodoo Brewing Company out of Meadville, Pennsylvania.

Score: 100

Bottle is dated 01/18/13. There were allegedly 522 of these made, but I am clearly drinking out of bottle #527. Served in a Goose Island Black Friday Bourbon County Brand Stout snifter and enjoyed on 12/05/13.

Appearance: Pours the same inky black color as the Buffalo Trace and Laird's Apple Brandy versions with a thin layer of cinnamon head that settles to a thick ring around the glass. Excellent lacing, amazing retention. The cling factor on this beer noticeably trumps the Buffalo Trace and Laird's Apple Brandy version. 5/5

Smell: Unlike the Buffalo Trace and Laird's Apple Brandy versions, the vanilla and chocolate aromatics do not "explode" out of the bottle as soon as it is opened. They are still there in good force, but they come across as denser, and richer here. Ample cocoa/dark chocolate gives the nose a nice anchor to the sweeter characters. The vanilla comes across a little more restrained here than it did in the Buffalo Trace version.The mix of chocolate and vanilla in the nose is reminisce of how the vanilla bean Taza chocolate wheel smells, for those that have had the pleasure (those that have not are highly encouraged to buy some). Behind the chocolate and vanilla notes are a lovely mix of fig, raisin and other dried dark fruits, a dash of cinnamon, a hint of spent coffee grounds and nice undertones of caramel, toffee and brown sugar. There is an oakiness to the nose too, but in substantially lesser quantum than it was in the Buffalo Trace version. The nose is rounded out by fudge brownie notes towards the end of the whiff. I like the change of pace through restraint here compared to the Buffalo Trace and Laird's Apple Brandy versions, and the complexities meld wonderfully. 5/5

Taste: Wow! The taste here is surprisingly different from the Buffalo Trace version! My first sip is like biting into a vanilla cake with notes of raisin and marshmallow, with a chocolatey caramel finish. Virtually no oak charactery here. Distinctly bourbon-flavored undertones, as compared to the more deconstructed, but well married, brown sugar, oak and dark fruit characters of the Buffalo Trace version. This beer has a smooth backbone comprised of milk chocolate, bakers chocolate dark chocolate and molasses, but it is much less sweet than you would think given the flavors overlaying. The dried dark fruit character comes across nicely, without imparting a lasting sweetness. There is a little tobacco and a faint hint of coffee towards the finish too. The chocolate notes add a nice counterbalancing bitterness to the sweeter characteristics of this beer. The chocolatey-caramel finish is long-lasting. No real "fudge" on the palate, but who cares? This beer is damn delicious. 5/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, with the perfect amount of (i.e., not that much, but just enough) carbonation. The flavors here coat and cling to the palate, layering nicely with a long finish. Well balanced and creamy, with a sweetness level falling somewhere between the Buffalo Trace and Laird's Apple Brandy versions. Has a nice dryness to it as well. The mouthfeel here is awesome. 5/5

Overall: I thought the Buffalo Trade and Laird's Apple Brandy versions of this beer were excellent, but this one is truly king of the variant trio. Epic notes of creamy, cake and marshmallow-like vanilla, dense chocolate morsels and raisin sweetness marry perfectly to create one of the greatest drinking experiences I have had in a long while. This beer is just as good as Bourbon County Rare was when it was fresher. It is on par with (and less sweet than) Bourbon (and Brandy, while we're at it) Vanilla Barrel Aged Dark Lord. This is one of those can't miss, must seek out bottles.

Cost: $10 for a 12 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Laird's Apple Brandy Black Magick

Reviewing the Laird's Apple Brandy Black Magick from Voodoo Brewing Company out of Meadville, Pennsylvania.

Score: 96

Bottle is dated 01/18/13, #003 out of 174. Served in a Goose Island Black Friday Bourbon County Brand Stout snifter and enjoyed on 12/04/13.

Appearance: Pours a deep, inky black color, similar to the Buffalo Trace version, with a half finger of coffee colored brown head that settles to a thick ring around the glass and wispy island of head floating in the center of that ring. This beer has noticeably less head off the pour than the Buffalo Trace version did. Good lacing, similar to the Buffalo Trace version, but less clingy retention than the Buffalo Trace version. 4.5/5

Smell: Just like the Buffalo Trace version, the minute the cap is removed, huge chocolatey aromatics explode out of the bottle. Big notes of fudgey brownies and vanilla are apparent immediately. Also present in this bold nose are toffee, caramel, sweet dark fruits, cocoa and brown sugar. Light syrupy undertones too, which grow in intensity as the beer warms up. The nose is decadent, enticingly sweet like an epic barrel aged barleywine. There is also a light leather and faint smokey quality present in the background, hiding amongst the sweeter characteristics. The nose of this beer is different from the Buffalo Trace version in its subtler complexities, but overall similar in its more forward/bolder characteristics. 4.5/5

Taste: Here is where this beer differs most substantially from the Buffalo Trace version. The Laird's Apple Brandy aging has resulted in a sweeter, less dry beer with less oak/vanilla and more of everything else. Up front is a sweeter, almost candied, dark fruit and raisin flavor than the Buffalo Trace version, followed by caramel, toffee, cocoa, vanilla and a light apple/fruity flavor as well. There is no real "oakiness" here as there was with the Buffalo Trace version. My favorite part about the flavor, which most distinguishes it from the Buffalo Trace version other than the subtle fruitiness, is a light leather/tobacco flavor and very subtle smokey character that is present towards the finish that brings to mind Hair of the Dog's Adam (and, by association, Matt). Like the nose, there is a syrupy backbone, but the syrup flavor is more prominent on the palate than it was aromatically in the nose, which was more brown sugar-like. The finish is long, just like the Buffalo Trace version, with  a light apple/fruitness, cocoa, vanilla and toffee. Just like the Buffalo Trace version, despite being a hefty 13.5% ABV, this beer is dangerously devoid of alcohol heat, though, as it warms up, there is a very faint warmth to the finish. Superbly integrated in its complexities, this beer is one to revel as you sip. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, with a low level of carbonation that is good for the style and flavor profile. Sweeter than the Buffalo Trace version, but still balanced and easy-to-drink without any layering sweetness. Oily mouthfeel. 4.5/5

Overall: Rich, bold, complex and dangerously drinkable! I preferred the Buffalo Trace version (I liked the bitterness), but this one was quite excellent as well. Black Magick was a delicious beer to begin with, but these new barrel aged variants have taken this beer to a whole new level. Seek them out with confidence!

Cost: $10 for a 12 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Buffalo Trace Black Magick

Reviewing the Buffalo Trace Black Magick from Voodoo Brewing Company out of Meadville, Pennsylvania.

Score: 98

Bottle is dated 01/18/13, #391 out of 552. Served in a Goose Island Black Friday Bourbon County Brand Stout snifter and enjoyed on 12/03/13.

Appearance: Pours a deep, inky black color with two fingers of dark cinnamon head that settles to a thin coating. Good lacing, good retention. 4.5/5

Smell: From the moment the cap is removed, huge aromas of milk chocolate, pancake batter, vanilla cinnamon roll frosting and dark chocolate explode out of the bottle. The dark chocolate notes are reminisce of a very high percentage cacao bar that has a slight fruity note to it. Behind that is a very light alcohol heat, brownies, bittersweet chocolate morsels, a little raisin and brown sugary bourbon notes too. Oak and a touch of char rounds out the end of the whiff. The aroma here is quite robust. As the beer warms up, a light hop character comes through, in addition to a little tobacco and a dash of anise. This is a complex chocolate bomb on the nose, with a delightful injection of vanilla and brown sugar. 4.75/5

Taste: A nice sweet dark fruit flavor, surprisingly, hits the tongue first -- fig and raisin -- with a little brown sugar flavor too. Then notes of bitter chocolate, milk chocolate and oaky vanilla take over. There is a delicious, slightly fruity, high cacao percentage-like dark chocolate backbone to this beer, and a fudgey finish. Milk chocolate, oaky vanilla, bitter dark chocolate and faint bourbon meld on the tongue seamlessly. This beer has a long finish of fudge, oak and the high cacao, slightly fruity dark chocolate flavor. As it warms up, caramel undertones on the back half come out, in addition to a light, complementary anise character and a hint of tobacco. The rich desserty vanilla notes from the nose are dialed back in the taste, and the oak is more prominent. Almost a year old, there is virtually no alcohol heat or flavor on this 13.5% bad boy. 5/5

Mouthfeel: Just shy of full bodied, with a low level of carbonation that is good for the style and flavor profile. Nice bitter-leaning bittersweet balance on the palate. Has a nice oiliness upfront that dries out nicely on the finish. All of this lends to a good drinkability and desire to quaff more. 4.5/5

Overall: A bold, flavorful beer for a cold winter night, this epic 13.5% stout has superb balance, marvelous flavor integration, and is a chocolate lovers dream. It's dangerously drinkable, so sip with caution.

Cost: $8 for a 12 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Prairie Noir (2012 vintage)

Reviewing the Prairie Noir from Prairie Artisan Ales out of Krebs, Oklahoma.

Score: 95

2012 vintage caged and corked bottle served in a Bourbon County Brand Stout Black Friday snifter and enjoyed on 12/10/13.

Appearance: Pours a black coffee color, with highlights of brown at the edges of the body, with a half finger of khaki head that settles to a thin layer that coats the top of the glass. Very good lacing, excellent retention with a slow cascading quality. 5/5

Smell: Roasted oats, caramel malt, coffee grounds, a little brown sugar. Nice light roast backbone. Milk chocolate too. Just a kiss of vanilla, and a very faint bourbon character. A little oak as well. As the beer warms up, a light cereal grain aroma comes out of the woodwork. 4.5/5

Taste: Oats, vanilla extract, oak woodiness upfront, and bitter coffee throughout. Dark and bitter milk chocolate. A lot more wood character than in the nose, but it marries nicely with the dry finish and bitter character. Hint of brown sugar, dried dark fruit and whiskey towards the finish too, with a light burnt quality. Very bitter leaning, with a few mellow sweet notes overlaying. Quite excellent, and not a hint of booziness. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, minimal carbonation. Thinner than expected for an oatmeal stout. Bitter, lightly roast and dry. Love the bitterness and dryness here. 4.25/5

Overall: An excellent, bitter-forward barrel aged stout with subtle barrel characters than compliment, rather than overpower, the base beer. This was a nice change of pace from the usually sweet barrel aged stout. I will be seeking out another bottle or two when the 2013 vintage releases.

Cost: $15 for a 750 ml bottle.

Beer Review: Proprietor’s Bourbon County Brand Stout (Coconut, 2013 Vintage)

Reviewing the Proprietor’s Bourbon County Brand Stout (Coconut, 2013 Vintage) from the Goose Island Beer Co. out of Chicago, Illinois. This Chicagoland-only Bourbon County Brand Stout variant is aged Templeton Rye whiskey barrels with massive amounts of toasted coconut toasted added to the barrels. The 2013 release of Proprietor’s Bourbon County Brand Stout is the first release of an annual series of Chicago-only Bourbon County Brand Stout variants according to Goose Island:

Proprietor’s Bourbon County Brand Stout is meant to show our immense gratitude to our neighbors here in Chicago – the loyal and adventurous fans whose support helped bring Bourbon County Brand Stout to towering new heights. Each year this release will differ from the previous year; a special variant created for Chicago and unique to the year it was released. 

Score: 100

2013 vintage bottle served in a Bourbon County Brand Stout snifter and enjoyed on 11/29/13.

Appearance: Pours the traditional inky black Bourbon Count Brand Stout color with minimal khaki head, but this variant also comes with splotches of coconut oil and tiny coconut flakes floating on top. While the lacing and retention of the head are minimal, the beer leaves nice oily legs behind and the coconut oil and coconut residuals stick to the sides of the glass. 5/5

Smell: Huge, bold notes of coconut and milk chocolate. Vanilla too. Light brown sugar and whiskey character. Rich and dessert-y nose; these qualities are perfectly integrated. 5/5

Taste: Like the nose, the taste is big, bold, dessert-y and marvelously integrated! Toasted coconut, vanilla, macaroons, brown sugar/molasses, and a nice whiskey finish with a very faint spice note on the midpalate. While not the most complex beer in the Bourbon County portfolio, this one delivers big on the taste and possesses a nice, rich sweetness without being as sweet as regular Bourbon County Brand Stout. Fans of coconut flavors will absolutely adore this creamy coconut-vanilla bomb! There is a hint of alcohol heat, but nothing like you would normally expect from a 14+% ABV beer. 5/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with spot on low carbonation, unlike the 2013 vintage of regular Bourbon County Brand Stout, which I found to be uncharacteristically "thin" by Bourbon County standards (particular when compared side-by-side with the 2011 vintage). Viscous, creamy mouthfeel. Sweet, but without a layering sweetness that cloys or overwhelms the palate. 5/5

Overall: Not just another home run Bourbon County Brand Stout variant for Goose Island; the 2013 release of Proprietor’s Bourbon County Brand Stout might be their best Bourbon County variant yet! Huge notes of toasted coconut and creamy vanilla, with whiskey undertones, this one drinks akin to how Vanilla Bourbon County Brand Stout is currently drinking plus a huge dose of fresh, toasted coconut. While this beer is not the most complex in Goose Island's lineup of Bourbon County Brand Stout variants, it is surely one of the tastiest. Seek out with confidence!

Cost: $24.99 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle, though I have seen prices range from $19.99 to $39.99 around town.

Proprietor’s Bourbon County Brand Stout is meant to show our immense gratitude to our neighbors here in Chicago – the loyal and adventurous fans whose support helped bring Bourbon County Brand Stout to towering new heights. Each year this release will differ from the previous year; a special variant created for Chicago and unique to the year it was released. Whether your first sip is today or was from that first batch in 1992, thank you for lifting us up on your big shoulders and joining us every year to celebrate the original bourbon barrel aged stout.

Recipe Information:

Style: Stout Aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels with Toasted Coconut
Alcohol by Volume: 13.9%
International Bitterness Units: 60
Color: Midnight
Hops: Willamette
Malt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley,
Debittered Black

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Snifter
Cellaring Notes: Develops in the bottle up to 5 years - See more at: http://www.gooseisland.com/pages/proprietor_s_bcs/367.php#sthash.QpMfylzT.dpuf

Beer Review: Bourbon Barrel Aged Kona Coffee Macadamia Coconut Porter

BEER REVIEW #500!

Reviewing the Bourbon Barrel Aged Kona Coffee Macadamia Coconut Porter, a collaboration between San Diego area homebrewer Ken Schmidt, Stone Brewing Company and Maui Brewing Company. The name of the beer is pretty evocative of what it is.

Score: 91

Summer 2011 vintage caged and corked bottle, one of 672 produced. Served in a stemmed taster glass and enjoyed on 11/07/13 at the Chicago Craft Beer Lover's event hosted at The Beer Temple. Huge shout out and thanks to beeradvocate user Chi81 for bringing this surprise treat, one that I have long wanted to try and since given up on ever ticking. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Pours a soda color with minimal head off the pour that totally settles. Oily legs, but poor lacing/retention. 3.5/5

Smell: Roast, coconut, cocoa, light oak and light molasses. A dash of fruity oxidation, which melds nicely with the other complexities of the nose. No single character, not even the coconut, takes the center stage here; all are well balanced in proportion to each other. 4.25/5

Taste: The toasted coconut flavor is not nearly as prominent as I expected it to be, but still there to a nice degree. Also present is a mix of chocolate, brown sugar and light oak. Really nice integration of the components, but the flavor is not very bold. Traditional bourbon flavor featured in bourbon barrel aged stouts/porters is virtually non-existent. Coconut flavor grows a little bit when I let the beer sit and warm in the glass. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied. Slick mouthfeel. Good balance, with a light sweetness. 4.25/5

Overall: A lot more subtle in flavor and delicate than anticipated. I enjoyed this, but imagine it has faded over the past two-plus years.

Cost: $25 for a 500 ml bottle.

Beer Review: Cherry Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout (aged one year)

Reviewing Cherry Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout from Goose Island Beer Company out of Chicago, Illinois. This variation on Bourbon County Brandy Stout is aged in rye whiskey barrels with cherries added.

Score: 90

Bottle 11/11/12. Served in a stemmed Cantillon taster flute and enjoyed on 11/10/13. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Pours a dark soda syrup color with a thin coating of brownish head that quickly dissipates to a ring around the glass. Poor lacing and retention, but good oily legs. Par for the course. 4/5

Smell: Mostly molasses-like sweetness and a dash of cinnamon, with minimal barrel character other than light notes of oak. There's a little bit of chocolate and cherry too, but the cherry is quite muted. Fresh, the cherry was not very prominent either. The nose has a light booziness to it, more so than the regular 2012 vintage Bourbon County Brand Stout release did, but its not "fusel." 4/5

Taste: More cherry flavor is present on the palate than it was in the nose, gradually growing towards the finish, but there is never a lot of cherry flavor present. Rather, the amount of cherry present from the time this beer first hits the tongue to the finish increases from "a hint" to merely "some." Molasses and chocolate notes here too. Surprisingly not complex for having Bourbon County Brand Stout as its base. A little rye spice kick on the finish. Molasses lingers in the finish. Warming heat, but not boozy. Average integration of flavor here, but hardly seamless. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, low carbonation. Syrupy mouthfeel. Sweet, but less sweet than regular Bourbon County Brand Stout is. 4/5

Overall: While certainly not a bad beer, this is easily one of the most overrated high profile stouts out there, and the weakest beer in the Bourbon County Brand Stout variant portfolio. Unlike Bramble, which started out medicinal and overly sweet, this beer did not mellow out and morph into a seemlessly integrated and jammy cornucopia of contrasting characteristics with age. Additionally, for a beer called "Cherry Rye", the cherry character was lacking.

Cost: $19.99 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.

Beer Review: Double Dose IPA

Reviewing the Double Dose IPA, a collaboration between Vermont breweries Lawson's Finest Liquids and Otter Creek Brewing.

Score: 93

Bottle 09/20/13. Served in a Doom faux-teku and enjoyed on 10/08/13.

Appearance: Pours a lovely orange color with a finger-plus of seafoamy cream-colored head that slowly settles to a thick ring around the glass and wispy coating. Awesome lacing, unreal retention. The residual head sticks to the side of the glass like white on rice. 5/5

Smell: Fresh and juicy citrus! Grapefruit, orange, pineapple and a hint of lemon zest too. Mild, but noticeably present, earthy green, slightly dank hops aroma. A little maltiness towards the end of the whiff. The nose is big on the juiciness. 4.5/5

Taste: Although a juicy tropical citrus flavors hit the tongue first, a strong, bitter pine flavor quickly creeps up and takes over, lingering in the finish. Bitter orange rind is the primary citrus character, but there's some pineapple juice juiciness present too. Tastes a lot hoppier/pine-ier and less juicy than the nose led on. Big, juicy malt backbone, overlaid with a bigger hops and citrus character. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Medium light bodied, good carbonation for the style and profile. Has a slightly biting bitterness that lingers and layers on the front half of the tongue. Very dry on the finish. High level of bitterness impedes the drinkability some. 4.25/5

Overall: Reminds me a lot of an Alpine IPA. Fans of bitter, west coast style IPA's will love this one. I enjoyed this one thoroughly, but would be hesitant to purchase more at a cost of $5 per bottle.

Cost: $20 for a four pack.

Beer Review: Doubly Down 'N Even Dirtier (2013 vintage release, fresh)

Reviewing the Doubly Down 'N Even Dirtier from Tyranena Brewing Company out of Lake Mills, Wisconsin. This beer is a double stout brewed with cocoa nibs and aged in bourbon barrels with cocoa nibs and vanilla beans. I have only previously had this beer aged (the 2010 release, I believe), never fresh. Time to give this a review!

Score: 93

October 2013 vintage screw cap bottle. Served in a Perennial taster tulip and enjoyed on 10/05/13.

Appearance: Pours an inky black color with a finger of khaki head that settles to a thick ring around the glass. Awesome lacing and excellent retention. 4.75/5

Smell: Chocolate brownies, molasses and vanilla with subtle, but present notes of bourbon and oak. Dark chocolate too. Really excellent, complex chocolate notes present here. Smells like an excellent chocolate cake dessert. 4.75/5

Taste: Bourbon flavor is much more prominent on the palate, but it's not "in your face bourbon" like many other barrel aged stouts. Right behind the bourbon come the stout qualities. Milk chocolate, oak and a much more subtler vanilla character than the nose led on. Finishes with just a little bourbon warmth on the tongue, but this beer is not boozy. Finishes with a little roast and bittersweet cacao flavor. Has a slight sweetness upfront, but a nice bitter-leaning bittersweet flavor profile overall. Has a light yeast-spice character too that comes out a little more as it layers. More oak comes through at room temperature too. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: Thin bodied, low carbonation. The base beer was not the most viscous brew, but the barrel aging process noticeably thinned this one out. 3/5

Overall: Looks great, smells wonderful, tastes very good, but the mouthfeel and layering oakiness knocks this beer down a peg. I love how the barrel character does not overwhelm the base, and this is very easy drinking beer at 7.5% ABV. I also love the 12 oz serving size. Give this beer more body and Tyranena would have another true home run on their hands on par with or in excess of Who's Your Daddy. Seek this out if you have the chance, though I would not recommend aging it based on my less-than-impressed experience with the 2010 vintage and the fact that this is a screw cap bottle.

Cost: $8.99 for a four pack.