A few days late, but RIP, Alan. Never passed up a HotD beer that I hadn't had. And while I missed out on a lot of the greats, I respected the individuality and innovation of all the beers that I did try.
375mL bottle drunk 7/26/26.
Rich, malty, sweet barleywine tempered by lovely oxidation, prune and raisin. Spicy, rich bourbon is quite apparent and welcome, yet not overdone. No alcohol noted.
Rich, soft, sweet and absolutely chalk full of luscious bourbon. It carries the spicy, spirited acidity throughout the sip and dries the finish nicely. The rich, soft barleywine is a lovely balance to the more austere Fred and all of this bourbon.
What I appreciate the most about this beer is its classic nature. It's strong. That's not to say boozey, but rather, its barreled intensity and relative dryness mean you can't suck this stuff down like you can the new age stouts and barleywines. So you're left to really sip and ponder it. Which, ideally, is the way all artisanal beverages should go. This one threatens, at times, to be too sweet, spirited, oxidized, dry, fruity...but manages to hold it's balance in the end. Definitely some unusual bourbon character. Maybe a bit too much licorice and intense black pepper showing in the finish (I assume that's the Fred), but it gives it personality. The longer this breathes and the more I sip it, the better it gets.

Bottled 750ml. -from the brewery. Pitch black coloured, small brown head, cinnamon and chocolate in the nose. Cinnamon, chocolate, moderate alcohol, light cocoa and touch of bourbon with mild vanilla in the finish. Nice one.

Chocolate, cacao, burnt, roasty