Draught at the brewery, 8/15/18.
Dark cola-to-dark chestnut with mahogany and ruddy highlights. Good clarity with a dark beige head atop showing moderate retention.
DAMN! What a nose! This was definitely a sniffer and one of those beers where you were happy to just keep smelling, not even needing to take a sip for a long time. Rich and rewarding, with an evolving profile and yet not dominated by any one aspect, nor is it too sweet or alcoholic. Red and dark fruit mix with spicy, yet somehow round bourbon notes as vanilla, marzipan, toffee, treacle, molasses and rich caramel all appear in some form. It's just phenomenally aromatic, round, clean and well-aged. Reminds me of some of the best vintages of Bourbon County Stout, though without a lot of the excess fudge/heft. Acidity from the malt joins in and really puts the finishing touch on this, balancing it nearly-perfectly. Aroma never wavers, nor does it grow alcoholic or too sweet with warming.
In the mouth it delivers, as well. Rich malts are very well-attenuated, yet gently sticky notes of molasses, toffee and raisin grace the palate at points, as soft bourbon, cola, plum and caramel all unfold and linger on. Low but tight carbonation and a soft, malty, lightly tannic texture all keep the beer drinkable and balanced. And incredibly drinkable it is indeed. No sign of the abv nor any sharp/aggressive bourbon. Malts are perfectly attenuated, clean and snappy leaving light acidity behind. Plum, raisin, toffee, bourbon and long, luxurious vanilla linger. What a beer!