8.2

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

(375ml bottle from the BG18 brewpub[RIP]) Pours near-black with a small pale tan head that leaves a ring and moderate lace. Aroma is sweet semi-dark confectionery chocolate with heavy floral vanilla presence, not really much bitterness from either cacao or roast, hazelnuts in the Nutella sense of the word, clear bourbon presence, slightly spicy wood. Flavour is fairly sweet but not as sugary as the nose, more Kraft hazelnut spread than Nutella, touches of bitterness in the sweet chocolate, ample vanilla, some nutty bitterness from the hazelnut, bourbon barrel is quite present but not terribly hot, some spirit and woody, slightly spicy barrel staves, creamy lactose tones, finish is semi-dry with more prominent bittering nuts and cacao but not much roast, bourbon drydown, subtle spicy wood. Oily, medium-bodied, smooth but not thick for pastry of this ABV, soft carbonation, no real alcohol warmth. Nice hazelnut pastry with the confectionery nose and slightly more balanced palate. Missing a bit of body as typical for BG stouts but tasty.