A cherry bourbon malt dream

Bottle courtesy of rlgk. 2009 vintage. Pours very dark reddish brown with a small goldenish beige head that quickly dissipates without leaving much trace on the glass. Smell is a malt dream with caramel, charred wood, tart cherries, toffee, vanilla fudge, alcohol, raisins, dates, bourbon, coconut milk, sweet dark bread, minerals, hay and lemon zest. Taste is sweet, malty and fruity with caramel, sweet cherries, alcohol, charred wood, vanilla fudge, brown sugar, tar, raisins, prunes, dates, toffee, bourbon, moist soil, biscuits, lemon peal and hay. Mouthfeel is round, sticky sweet, boozy, tiny fruity tart and full bodied. Finish is sweet, bitter and malty with caramel, toffee, alcohol, charred wood, vanilla fudge, sweet cherries, hay, smoke, bourbon and dried dark fruits. Extremely good. Very much like how the cherries add to the malt backbone of this beer. And the barrel aging isn’t exactly bad either.

Bottle, 12oz, vintage 2009. Courtesy of womencantsail. It’s a very dark brown beer, unclear, and topped by a minimal sized beige head. The aroma is quite oxidized and alcoholic, in a very pleasant way. Caramel, roasted malts, some booze, dark berries, but I cant pinpoint the cherries, and there’s also dark chocolate and a faint hint of vanilla. Really complex and delightful. The same goes for the flavor, there’s lots of deliciousness in there, with roasted malts, caramel, dark chocolate, oxidation hints, dark berries, some prunes, alcohol and vanilla. A little bitterness kicks in towards the rather warming finish. Full body, very soft carbonation. The finish just keeps on going. A really, really wonderful beer, a sipper that I could enjoy by myself for an hour or more, but it was nice sharing with geokkjer and Meilby too. Thx a lot Andrew. 130819

Bottle 355ml vintage 2009 @ Motel Room, Motel 6, Kingman, AZ
[Courtesy of womencantsail] Pours dark brown with a small tan head. Aroma has notes of malt, caramel, oak, vanilla, dried fruits, chocolate and alcohol. Taste is heavy sweet and light to medium bitter with a long warm, caramel, oak, vanilla, fruity finish with a hint of cherries and cherry stone. Body is full, texture is oily, carbonation is flat.

black cherries, so good! Kinda sour-sweet but really neither. Oak is accentuated as well as subtle but present bourbon. Laid back

Bottle from 2011 - thanks deyholla! Pours opaque black with a small bubbly brown head that disappears almost immediately and leaves no lacing. Aroma is very complex with notes of bourbon, black cherries, roasted malts, dried fruits, prune, molasses. Flavor is the same, medium sweet and lightly tannic with a light woody astringence. A lot going on in this beer. Full bodied and creamy, almost decadent, with a light to medium warming finish from the ABV. No carbonation to speak of, which is a bit of a bummer.

2012 Vintage Aroma is full of rich malts with a pleasing cherry note throughout. Goose Island should take note - this cherry isn't at all medicinal. Lots of chocolate and light oak notes compliment. A light toast character with some pleasing oxidation notes. More oak as it warms. Pours a dark brown that isn't quite black with a thin tan head that quickly recedes to the edges. No lacing with medium sized legs. Flavor is very sweet with lots of chocolate and cherry. It tastes like melted chocolate covered tart cherries. Mid palate there is a nice roast character and some light oak notes. Light bitterness. The same oxidation that helps the aroma adds a slightly off putting finish. Light to moderate astringency. Some alcohol in the finish as it warns. Mouthfeel is full bodied with low but present carbonation. Astringency is moderate as is alcohol warmth. Overall this aroma is great but the finishing note in the flavor leaves a lot to be desired. I think I prefer these beers with a bit of age. The oak mellows as does the finishing note. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone