Bourbon Barrel-Aged Plead the 5th
(has 6 batches)
Dark Horse Brewing Co. in Marshall, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸
Stout - Imperial Rotating|
Score
8.16
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Bourbon Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout
Pitch black in color with a faint tan head that immediately identifies this beer as BIG. Aromas of dark fruits, chocolate, caramel and roast also make it even bigger. Roasted coffee and fruity chocolate notes are just the beginning of this stout's complex flavor. If this is wrong we don't want to be right.
Pitch black in color with a faint tan head that immediately identifies this beer as BIG. Aromas of dark fruits, chocolate, caramel and roast also make it even bigger. Roasted coffee and fruity chocolate notes are just the beginning of this stout's complex flavor. If this is wrong we don't want to be right.
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7.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
2011 vintage on draught at Deep Ellum, 2/22/14
Wow, glad I just happened to stop in to Deep Ellum in the 14 hour window this stuff was on tap, haha.
Pretty cool that they just threw this aged keg on with no fanfare or announcement and even cooler that I was there to try it.
Pours an inky black, seemingly opaque, with a fleeting beige head that recedes quickly and completely.
Molasses, light milk chocolate and dry, leafy, mildly citric hops up front while the bourbon character rounds out the finish with very light butter-rum and coconut notes. Nice and reserved, just the way it should be. Aroma strength is medium, much due to the very low carbonation, and probably in part to the barrel tannin as well. No flaws and very little of the alcohol noted (this can’t possibly be 14%, by the way).
Soft, silky and rich in the mouth, it certainly has all the characteristics of Dark Horse. Comforting, almost chewy texture, well-extracted, rich malts, no obnoxious/overdone flavors. Milk chocolate and light roast are most prominent, while some vanilla-like dryness and a bit of rum soaked raisin notes help balance. Very very low carbonation and again, no sign of the alcohol. Yes, it’s Plead the 5th, which in my mind, is a well-done but fairly simplistic Imperial Stout, with an added layer of bourbon. So in this case, the barrel-aging actually helps add depth, but ultimately, I’m not wowed by the rather lacking vinous/roast/prune notes that I really love in a great imperial. Still, nothing to scoff at and I’d happily drink this over many (most?) other imperial stouts. Though it loses some points in complexity, it makes up alot of that in balance and mouthfeel.
Wow, glad I just happened to stop in to Deep Ellum in the 14 hour window this stuff was on tap, haha.
Pretty cool that they just threw this aged keg on with no fanfare or announcement and even cooler that I was there to try it.
Pours an inky black, seemingly opaque, with a fleeting beige head that recedes quickly and completely.
Molasses, light milk chocolate and dry, leafy, mildly citric hops up front while the bourbon character rounds out the finish with very light butter-rum and coconut notes. Nice and reserved, just the way it should be. Aroma strength is medium, much due to the very low carbonation, and probably in part to the barrel tannin as well. No flaws and very little of the alcohol noted (this can’t possibly be 14%, by the way).
Soft, silky and rich in the mouth, it certainly has all the characteristics of Dark Horse. Comforting, almost chewy texture, well-extracted, rich malts, no obnoxious/overdone flavors. Milk chocolate and light roast are most prominent, while some vanilla-like dryness and a bit of rum soaked raisin notes help balance. Very very low carbonation and again, no sign of the alcohol. Yes, it’s Plead the 5th, which in my mind, is a well-done but fairly simplistic Imperial Stout, with an added layer of bourbon. So in this case, the barrel-aging actually helps add depth, but ultimately, I’m not wowed by the rather lacking vinous/roast/prune notes that I really love in a great imperial. Still, nothing to scoff at and I’d happily drink this over many (most?) other imperial stouts. Though it loses some points in complexity, it makes up alot of that in balance and mouthfeel.
Tried
from Draft
on 28 Feb 2014
at 13:48
8.3/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 6
Overall 8
2012 bottle. Nose of bourbon, coffee, wood barrel, chocolate, berries. Well managed bourbon character. Brilliant black with a beautiful, leggy, brown, lacy head. Woody, grainy flavor, coffee and chocolate, cola, great wood and roast. The bourbon here is well used. Lovely.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Feb 2014
at 17:33
10/10
Tried
on 17 Jan 2014
at 21:14
8.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 10
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
A deep dark stout with a thin dark brown head. In aroma, wonderful chocolate malt with vanilla, bourbon barrel, light soy, beautiful. In mouth, a beautiful sweet chocolate malt with angels, vanilla, espresso coffee , pinot de charente, alcohol warmth pleasing the mouth, wow, just plain good. On tap at End of Everything beer fest Dec 22 2013.
Tried
from Draft
on 22 Dec 2013
at 13:41
9.4/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9.5
08.12.2013, 0,35l bottle (2012 vintage) @ home:
Small brown creamy mediumlasting head. Aroma is very rich and sweet, dark malts, mild bourbon, salty licorice, toffee, oak, grass, vanilla, dark sugar, hints of coconut and unripe banana. Taste is rich and sweet, dark malts, mild bourbon, licorice, oak, dark sugar, coffee, grass, toffee, vanilla, hints of coconut and alcohol. Longlasting mild bitterness, slightly dry mouthfeel. Very very nice, mild and balanced this one, very close to perfection!
Small brown creamy mediumlasting head. Aroma is very rich and sweet, dark malts, mild bourbon, salty licorice, toffee, oak, grass, vanilla, dark sugar, hints of coconut and unripe banana. Taste is rich and sweet, dark malts, mild bourbon, licorice, oak, dark sugar, coffee, grass, toffee, vanilla, hints of coconut and alcohol. Longlasting mild bitterness, slightly dry mouthfeel. Very very nice, mild and balanced this one, very close to perfection!
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Dec 2013
at 14:43
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
12oz bottle shared by blomster/Christer @RBWG-JAX-thin lt brown-black. A-rich roasty dk malt, oak. T-rich roasty/licorice-dk malt, oak.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Oct 2013
at 08:06
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
GABF 2012. Pours with a pitch black hued body with a tan head. Aromas are of raisins, brown sugar, bourbon, chocolate, cocoa powder, vanillin, and fudge. Flavors are rich, fudge, oak, lightly ashy, molasses, brown sugar. Thick, but well balanced by tannin, quite warming.
Tried
on 01 Oct 2013
at 17:44
8.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
12 oz. silver wax top bottle, 2012 vintage. Got in a trade with Phatdog1, awesome brew Craig!! Insane pitch black color, thin tan head. Aroma is really complex, dark fruits, a nice subtle bourbon and oak character with swirling licorice tones. The flavors of the stout are nicely complex. Plums, milk chocolate, licorice, roasted barley, oak barrel, vanilla and anise with plenty of sweet bourbon in the finish. Nice warmth of the alcohol without any booze flavor or harshness. Full bodied with carbonation levels are low and appropriate. Very oily and slick texture. Amazing brew and really a bottle or keg with just enough age to mellow the bourbon makes this a winner! Fantastic.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Aug 2013
at 18:46
8.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
Bottle at the Croydonia Tasting, massive thanks to Paul for splitting this big impy want, 13/07/13. Pitch black with a thin dirty tan head. Nose is bitter roast malts, dark chocolate, woody tones, bourbon notes, molasses, dark toffee, light boozey waft, brown sugar. Taste comprises bitter chocolate, sugar, well pitched bourbon, chocolate maltesers. Full bodied, fine carbonation, smooth and caressing on the palate, finishes with a little alcohol but well pitched and not warming. Great impy, the alcohol and bourbon level is expertly integrated and the feel is smooth and eminently drinkable backed up with a solid flavour profile. Top Bollocks !!!
Tried
from Bottle
on 28 Jul 2013
at 13:40
8.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
Bottle shared at the Croydonia July 2013 Tasting - East Croydon. Thanks to Paul for this one. Pours oily black with a frothy tan head. Nose of chocolate cake, brownies, a bit of dark wood, hints of alcohol. Big sweet flavor with rich dark malt character, light char, dark chocolate, some dark fruits, raisins, light booze, mocha, chocolate syrup, decadent chocolate cake. Full bodied with fine, creamy carbonation. Moderate warmth in the finish, tons more dense chocolate cake, mellow earthy bitterness, brownies, oily chocolate, light burnt wood. Lovely, balanced but still rich and complex. Superb.
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 Jul 2013
at 14:40