OG:1.092 FG:1.019 ABV:9.6% Expecting a lot after reading commercial description. Deep black pour, small tan head. Aroma of dark black coffee, stiff ethanol, sharp, dry cognac notes (the barrels that the pinot noir is aged in), some bitter chocolate notes, hints of vanilla. All in all, the aroma is dry to the extreme. Flavor starts out, expectedly, dry, bitter and heavily roasted. Bitter chocolate again, grainy roast notes, some smooth espresso as noted in the commercial description. Unexpectedly, however, the body is thin; severely thin. They got too carried away with all of the barrel aging again, I think. That or they just felt like making a ridiculously dry Imperial. Hey, at least it’s not too sweet. Light bourbon influences on the finish, with a good pinot vinousness, more cocoa notes and some alcohol. Towards the end of the glass, I am bored. The extreme dryness gets rather annoying. Where is the malt sweetness? Slightly chalky body, astringent, with the alcohol being too domineering. I think these guys got on the Barrel aging bandwagon too late. I’m just tired of barrel aged beers. Though, in fairness, you can’t take off points just because you are sick of barrel aging. Regardless, if you havent picked up on it yet, I think this stuff is too dry, astringent, thin and alcoholic. 6/5/4/2/9 Been intending to rerate this forever.... 2014 version, barrels unlisted, draught at the brewery 9/24/24. 10.25% abv. Yeah, there's the huge licorice, dark fruit, larger than is acceptable for contemporary versions amount of roast and low barrel character. But it's not boozey. Soft, silky, roasty, tons of dark chocolate, barrel tannin, brown sugar and lingering chocolate. Comforting enough medium body relative to the style today. Enough heft and light syrup but still fairly dry. Roast and even PNE hop evident but acidity is balanced. Not boozey. Far better than prior experience. Rating is for this version.