Excellent and amazingly smooth strong ale. Sweet, soft bourbon, some leathery spice, and plenty of malt. Woody, caramelly. Nothing really exciting or weird, just done so damn good (as they usually do). Super balanced and rich.

Bourbon barrel aged blend of different barleywines, the eleventh 'episode' in this highly profiled series of 'cellar beers' by Ohio's Jackie O's. Bottle from De Caigny shared with my girlfriend. Medium thick, pale greyish beige, mousy, stable ring of a head with a wafer-thin greyish veil in the middle; hazy dark chocolate brown robe with mahogany hue. Perfumey, rich bouquet of fudge and 'Chocotoff' candy, strong vanilla-scenting oak wood, sweet bourbon, candied figs, hazelnut paste, wooden furniture, freshly baked cookies, cinnamon, cranberry compote, kahlua, tawny port. Very sweet main flavour from the start, syrupy effects of candied dates, fig jam and plum compote, soft carb, touch of gravy somewhere, very full and thickly vinous body. Thick masses of toffeeish and slightly chocolatey malt sweetness fill the middle phase, lingering brown-sugary sweetness, bit cloying even; lots of vanilla-ish oak wood is added in a rich, desserty finish, matching with cinnamon- and dried orange peel-like spicy notes and warming, sweet bourbon-like alcohol which never becomes too obnoxious. Big and sweet dessert beer, a lovely and complex sipper, but a liquid dessert in certain ways, with perhaps a tad too much residual sweetness for me personally even for a dark barleywine.

Sampled @ Billie's Craft Beer Fest 2018, Day 2. A black beer with a small off-white head. Aroma of dark riped fruits, bourbon, strong sweet malt. Taste of sweet chocolate, strong dark malt, liquorice, bourbon.

On tap. Pours a dark brown with moderate head. Aromas of dark toffee, treacle, dark fruit, and bready malts. Flavors of sweet raisins, light orange, sweet bready malts and brown sugar. Sticky. Great stuff