Very nice, slightly hazy amber and copper coloured body with a bright orange glow and a thick, dense, three centimetre tall tan head. Aroma of super pungent hops, resin, pineapple tucked inside a big oak box with cedar, spruce and a lot of woodsy and herbal notes - a very nice smell. Medium to Full-bodied; Super pungent and deep flavours throughout with a big hit of alcohol at first, followed by a passionfruit and pineapple sweetness that all ends up with a lot of oaky and bourbon flavours intertwined throughout the hops, sweetness and alcohol with a large body, but a good deal of complexity. Aftertaste shows a lot of the bourbon barrel notes with the oaky flavour, but also of the boozy depth of alcohol that came from the barrels. Overall, a ridiculously strong and deep beer that is pretty much exactly what I thought it would be - a rich imperial IPA with a ton of bourbon and oaky flavours. This hits hard and strong, but almost everything about it is great, with my only advice is to enlist someone else to drink this with you - it’s a lot of beer! I sampled this 75 cL bottle purchased from Trader Joe’s in Falls Church (Skyline), Virginia on 19-September-2014 for US$12,99 sampled at home in Washington here just nine days later on 28-September-2014.

Draft pour at Snallygaster 2014. Poured a nearly pitch black color with a small tan head. Aroma was little dark chocolate, some bitter coffee roasted notes, vanilla notes, light booze. Flavor was caramel, dark chocolates, coffee, some light boozy brandy notes, but barrel doesn’t shine here. Beer was delicious.

6 oz draft pour at Snallygaster 2014 shared by me. Black with tan head. Aromas of caramel, dark chocolate, roast, light barrel. Tastes of dark chocolate, caramel, light booze, vanilla. Medium-full body with a dry finish. Could use a bit more barrel but still nice.