Bearded Lady - Dessert Edition - Bourbon Barrel Aged: Chocolate Vanilla Cinnamon
(has 2 batches)

Can shared by Danny Vanlommel, cheers man! Regularly shaped, thick and very dense, brownish-tinged pale beige head over a jet black beer. Intense aroma breathing lots of chocolate liqueur, elegant vanilla, fudge, toasted nuts, milk chocolate, whisky and indeed a spicy, but well-fitting cardemom presence. Sweet onset, desserty indeed, candied dates, fried banana slices, almond, light sourishness, soft carbo, full and very oily mouthfeel, thick chocolatey malt bittersweetness, coffeeish roasted bitterness in the finish but remaining primarily sweet thanks to the chocolate and retronasal vanilla, cardemom as well but subtly so; long warming whisky-like afterglow. A tad too boozy for my personal taste perhaps, but the added ingredients have been applied with finesse and subtlety whilst at the same time remaining powerful enough against the thick layer of maltiness and the alcohol. Great piece of work.

Can from the Star and Garter, Bromley. Drank at home. Black pour with a tan head. Aromas of coffee, vanilla, sweet spice, black treacle, bourbon ,booze. Flavours of dark chocolate, caramel, coffee, black treacle, licorice toffee, cinnammon, coconut. Long boozy bourbon fuelled finish. Very good.

Keg from the Freemasons Arms, Market Harborough. Brownish black with the tiniest ring of tan head. Light cinnamon cake aroma. Taste is lightly bittersweet with chocolate, liquorice, cherry liqueur notes. Smooth, smooth, smooth finish. The high ABV doesn't jolt at all, oily body with low carbonation. Sea salt, vanilla, Black Forest gateau in the aftertaste. Phenomenal.

Dark brown, thin beige head. Smells of dark chocolate, vanilla, boozey. Taste is wonderful. Bitter chocolate, malt, vanilla and you get the woodiness of barrel aging. I get a bit of spice but couldn't have told you it was cinnamon. Light, sweet, spirits aftertaste. This is delicious.

Black color with a minimal and quickly diminishing light beige head. Aroma with a high presence of Bourbon notes, roasted malts, some cinnamon and coconut hints. Flavor is slightly bittery, more Bourbon notes, roasty, licorice and notes of coffee beans. Final with slightly sweetness that are hidden by the bourbon and burnt wooden notes; alcoholic presence. An awesome beer.

330ml can (2017). Pours almost black with a thin tan head that disappeared immediately. Aroma has bourbon, cinnamon, chocolate, vanilla, liquorice, dark fruits, malt. Taste is the same, very rich, plenty of bourbon barrel coming through, chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, liquorice and dark fruits, malts, the bourbon adding pleasant and warming booziness, hint of smoke/roast malt aftertaste. Rich, full bodied, creamy mouthfeel, soft carbonation. Wonderful.

Score: 9 / 4 / 9 / 4 / 17

330 ml can from Beer Gonzo, bb 29/08/27. Thanks to Werckmeister!
Pitch black, oily body, with a medium, creamy, dark beige head.
Lovely, rich aroma of bourbon, melting dark chocolate, vanilla, sweet cinnamon, caramel, coconut, some smooth coffee, some dark fruits.
Tastes also delicious, with similar, rich, creamy notes and also some wood, tobacco, some booze.
Full, creamy mouthfeel, with a moderate carbonation.
Finishes medium roasty, medium sweet, a bit dry, medium warming, a bit wooden, with chocolate, cinnamon, some cocoa, sutle coffee.

Outstanding! So well balanced, more on the sweet side, but with enough subtle roastiness and dryness, leading to a round, creamy sipper. Perfectly integrated bourbon barrel, not too dominant, just adding another layer. The cinnamon works also wonders here! Perfectly accomplished, big dessert beer.