28th September 2019
Borefts XI. Day 2. Keg. Opaque dark brown beer, small pale tan head. Smooth palate, slightly viscous. Semi dry with decent fine carbonation. Soft dark malts, a little dark malt cream. Big fruity bourbon, slightly woody and slightly bitter. Dark malt cream and dry dark chocolate coming through on the semi dry finish. Spicy linger. Tasty!

Bourbon barrel aged imperial stout by Eindhoven's acclaimed Van Moll brewery, thanks Craftmember for sharing at Mout in Groningen. Very thick and foamy, membrane-lacing, pillowy, greyish beige head, black robe with very thin burgundy edge. Boozy and sweet aroma of brown rum and of course sweet bourbon, Worcestershire sauce, bitter chocolate, roasted beech nuts, Maggi, coffee filters, tea, bayleaf, melting brown sugar. Densely sweet onset (candied dates) with thick umami edge (Maggi), softish carb, full and oily body, bit viscous even; thick layers of caramel, toffee, toast and beef stock fill the finish, gently bittered by a tea-ish hoppiness but quickly heated by sweet bourbon booze, while woodiness remains secondary and caramel and toasted nut effects prevail. Intense, boozy and powerful but a bit crude as well, with too much umami to my personal taste; needs a more thorough tannic wood effect too. Interesting and solid enough in itself, but Van Moll has done better.

0,33l bottle at home. BB 06/2024. black color, small coffee colored head. smells spices, peppery, bit oxidized, marzipan, bitter chocolate, spices. nice smell. full body, soft carbonation. tastes of bourbon, whisky, bit harsh, spices, earthy, some vanilla, coffee, coffee grounds, bit leathery, some marzipan, herbal. finishes medium roasty bitter with notes of whisky, spices and leathery notes. good stuff overall, bit harsh too drink, also rather on the bitter side, not the best balance, but very nice one none the less.