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.
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.
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