Igor's Dream - Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged

Bottle at share: black with beige head. Leather, cardboard and licorice aromas. Dry and leathery taste. Some sweetness. Old and old school.

Bottle, 2013 vintage, at share, thanks to Chris M. Pours black. Leather, liquorice, chocolate, prune, biscuit, too leathery. Medium body. Not great.

Rye whisky barrel aged stout commemorating a Russian-American pioneer in the commercial development of the helicopter... Bomber from Bierhalle Deconinck shared with Steve. Frothy, mousy, membrane-lacing, mocha-beige head on a black beer with thin hazy mahogany edges. Aroma of very strong black coffee powder, walnut liqueur, bitter unsugared black chocolate, black pipe tobacco, whisky, beef stock, dried juniper berries, pine needles, incense, cigars, haemoglobin, fresh paint, shoe polish. Dried-fruity onset, medlar, dried apple peel and something dimly sourish, lively carbonated (a bit stinging even) for the style, oily body, feeling full; bitter-black-chocolatey, roasted-walnutty core, restrained in sweetness but developing pronounced black coffee-like roasted bitterness and increasing spiciness, reminiscent of dried thyme, nutmeg, fresh bayleaf and black tea, probably partially coming from the rye whisky; blood-like haemoglobin aspect too, along with a roasted chicory-like, mouth-filling, strong burnt bitterness accentuated by a whisky-like glow, while woody tannins remain rather subtle. Very edgy, spicy and rather dry for an imperial stout the American way, feels a bit old school in that sense, but to me that certainly does not mean less enjoyment - 'au contraire', I would almost add. Connecticut's Two Roads in its most audacious mode compared with other beers I had from them - one could wonder if Evil Twin's involvement has something to do with this - but I love it!

On tap at Tap and Handle, Fort Collins. Dark brown with beige head. Chocolate, roasted, malty, bourbon, bitter finish, some alcohol coming through. Medium bodied.

10 oz. snifter at Union Kitchen, West Hartford. Aroma shows subtle whiskey, oak, roast. Flavor doesn’t show the booze much. Does display warming after the sip. Has a nice rye whiskey bite in the finish. Body and texture are what you look for in the style.

Draft at Pennsport. Dark as night with lasting beige creamy head. Aroma is subtle, mild sweetness. Taste brings stronger bitterness, chocolate, some lacto. Smooth and creamy. Not any sign of the barrels, but super tasty.

Sample from 2015 batch at Hops & Pie during the "GABF Week, CSA Portfolio Tasting" on 10/04/2017. The beer is a rye bourbon, chocolate, rye and fruit. Full-bodied with flavors of oaky bourbon, spicy rye, chocolate malt and dark fruit. The finish is rye, anise and booze. Pretty good overall.

Keg at Gbg Beer Guild cons 2017-09-23 Göteborg, vintage 2015 Hmm this seems to be the original one of this beer ie not BA, ABV 11% AR: roasted malt, bakers chocolate AP: dark brown, wee beige head F: roasted malt, wee hint of peatiness, bakers chocolate

Bottle @ Ratebeer Odense Late Summer 2017. Pours Black with a creamy beige head. Roast, Charcoal, coffee and Wood. Hard Roasted malts.Licorice, slight oxidation and a whiff of alcohol. Big beer!

RB Odense August Extravaganza. Black with a lasting off-white head. Aroma of dark chocolate, cocoa powder, vanilla and sweet licorice, with hints of dried fruit and coffee beans. Dry, roasted flavour with lots of chocolate, whiskey and licorice, along with hints of wood and ash, and a little alcohol.