One of a long string of barrel aged imperial stout variations by this skilled brewer near Kortrijk, this time using W.L. Weller barrels, a brand of bourbon now produced by Buffalo Trace (but independent until 1972); the name reflects the brand, but is in actuality the title of a New Zealand sea shanty (named after the Weller brothers who had nothing to do with the bourbon producer), popularized by Scottish singer Nathan Evans in 2021 (and replaying in my head constantly since I had this beer two days ago - thanks Bram). Bottle from Dranken De Moor, shared with Crafmember. Thin but dense, mocha-beige, tiny-bubbled, open and eventually dissolving ring of foam over a jet black beer with waferthin burgundy edges. Aroma of hazelnut purée and hazelnut liqueur, molten mocha ice cream, Snickers, obvious boozy bourbon and vanilla-scenting oak wood, black chocolate, toasted pecans, toffee, obvious maple syrup (actually used), bayleaf, shoe polish, wood glue, almond, cold Irish coffee, hint of coconut somewhere. Dense, sweet onset, concentrated candied dates, yellow raisins and pear syrup with that maple syrup sugariness on top, soft carb, full and oily mouthfeel but ‘palpably’ thinned by the alcohol; hazelnutty, toffeeish and dark-chocolatey malt core, multi-layered and bittersweet with much more sweetness than bitterness, with toast- and fondant-like aspects alongside retronasal vanilla from the oak and the bourbon. Ends very boozy, even a tad solventy, with a ‘cold Irish coffee’ feel to it, but never loses its richness and layered complexity. Too alcoholic in taste for me, but I think a bit more cellaring could shave off the sharp edges – too bad I did not have the patience; generally though, it is once again clear enough that Bram Neudt knows how to construct a full-blown postmodern American style ‘impy’ in 21st-century style, more so than countless other Belgian brewers attempting the same. May the Wellerman bring many more of these powerful BramBrass variants.