Lawson's Finest Liquids - Fayston Maple Ale aged in maple barrels

Lawson's says of the regular Fayston Maple Ale : "A huge, rich, and strong stout brewed with a maple twist. Designed to keep you warm on sub-zero nights and for sipping with a fine meal or dessert."

Of the barrel aged version, the bottle says: "Brewed with loads of roasted and black malts, & over two gallons of VT maple syrup per barrel, this beauty was carefully aged for over a year and Sapling Maple Liquor oak barrels from Saxton's River Distillery in Brattleboro, VT. This rich & complex beer will mature for many months... 11% ABV. Bottled December 2012"

Out of Vermont, Lawson's is known for their stellar IPAs and maple-themed beers. One such beer, the Maple Tripple, is on my wishlist. Until then, I was lucky to receive the maple barrel-aged Fayston Maple Ale in a trade.

Appearance: No light comes through this. It's completely pitch black, and I couldn't get much head to pour from the bottle. When I swirl the beer, it definitely leaves legs down the side of the glass, but I don't get any lacing.

Smell: There are definitely prominent oaky notes from the barrel, as well as a sweet hint of maple. The oak cuts through the maple nicely so that it's not overly cloying. There are also scents of chocolate, coffee, and tobacco.

Taste: The maple taste is delicious, and there is almost a spiciness that layers on top of the chocolate character, which is really nice. These flavors are backed by a heavy roasted malt foundation and a hint of vanilla.

Mouthfeel: A little thinner than I expected. It's still smooth and creamy, but it doesn't quite have the weight and viscosity that I associate with a barrel aged stout.

Overall: I love maple, and the maple characteristics elevated this beer beyond the ordinary for me. I do wish the body wasn't so thin; a bit of a thicker mouthfeel would have kicked this up another level. As it is, on the flavor alone, this is still one of my favorite new stouts I've tried this season, but I can't award full marks.

4/5

Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout (2010)

Goose Island brewer's notes: "Everyday Goose Island smells the wonderful coffee roasting next to our brewery at Chicago's Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea. This world class roaster puts the same passion and skill into their coffee as Goose Island does with its beer. This excellent stout is made with a different coffee from our friends next door each year. With the change in coffee comes a change in the flavor profile, making each release truly unique from the previous years.

Recipe Information:

Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Coffee Stout
Alcohol by Volume: 15%
International Bitterness Units: 60
Color: Midnight
Hops: Willamette
Malt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black
Coffee: 2010 Release - Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso Beans"

Another bottle I acquired in a trade, Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout (BCBCS) is brewed annually since 2010 in the fall/early winter months. It sees mostly Midwest and East coast distribution, and is one of those bottles that people tend to chase down; it flies off the shelves (if it even makes it to the shelf.) I'm fortunate to have a bottle of this, and so happy to finally try it for the first time!

Appearance: Pours opaque, jet black, like motor oil. A lacy tan head of about one finger in height eventually recedes to a thin tan ring, and no lacing is left on the sides of the glass.

Smell: Bold notes of coffee, dark fruit, molasses, and bourbon.

Taste: The bourbon flavor is massive and immediately apparent. Though the coffee is also noticeable, it's also less than I would have expected, especially considering this is meant to be a coffee stout. It's probably from the age -- the coffee has faded over time. There isn't a huge presence from the barrel itself -- not a lot of woody or earthy notes. Other than the bourbon and coffee, there is a sweetness from the roasted malt that tastes like dark chocolate, and molasses like in the nose.

Mouthfeel: Pretty standard on the palate. Rich and creamy, thick and viscous. The huge body carries the big flavors well.

Overall: This was really good, although I wish I hadn't hung onto it for as long as I did. I would have liked to taste more of the coffee. My mistakes aside, this brew nicely balances all of the heavy-hitting flavors and drinks really smoothly, especially considering the high ABV on it. I have a 2012 that hopefully I'll be able to open fresh and get more of the coffee, and I'll definitely be seeking it out in the upcoming years!

4.5/5

Weyerbacher - Heresy (2012)

Weyerbacher says: "This incredibly intriguing ale is made by aging our Old Heathen Imperial Stout in oak barrels that were used for making fine Kentucky bourbon! The result is an extraordinary, dark, and mysterious stout whose very essence has been enhanced. The aroma is filled with vanilla, cocoa, and roasted coffee beans.

This silky-smooth brew has notes of oak, whiskey, roasted barley and vanilla that meld together on the tongue to create an incredible sensation."

This 8% Russian imperial stout came to me by trade, since Weyerbacher is out of PA and we don't see their distribution here in California. The brewery says this is released in February, and I'm drinking last year's vintage.

Appearance: Pitch black with a foamy brown head that pours about 1 finger in height and recedes completely away, leaving no lacing or rings on the glass.

Smell: Cocoa, leather, oak, espresso, smoke, in that order. As the beer warms, a touch of alcohol comes out, but it's not too strong.

Taste: Huge notes of oak and chocolate. It's very barrel-forward. There is a bit of coffee on the back of the palate, as well as traces of cherry and vanilla, but mostly I taste the barrel.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with a creamy texture and slight pricks of carbonation. Very smooth and a light finish. This is very nice.

Overall: This is a good-tasting RIS, but I find the complexity a bit lacking. I don't get any booze taste on the palate, which is nice, but the barrel dominates the flavors. Even though I can pick up the notes I expect from a stout, they're not particularly balanced and blended in a way that gives me an "Aha!" moment when I'm drinking. Overall this is a solid effort but not an exceptional one.

3/5

Central Waters - Bourbon Barrel Barleywine (2012)

Of this 11.5% ABV beer, Central Waters says: "A barleywine ale aged for a full year on used bourbon barrels, this beer has flavors of dark fruits and wood, winner of the Gold Medal at the 2008 Great American Beer Festival." 

I received this from a friend with access to CW's beers, since it's not available in CA. Thank you! I'm drinking the 2012 vintage.

Appearance: Deep, slightly cloudy, copper. A small head pours from the bottle, less than 1 finger in height, and it recedes fairly quickly to nothing and leaves no lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell: Vanilla, fig, cherry, oak, and a bit of alcohol. Sweetness comes from caramel and brown sugar notes in the malt.

Taste: There's definitely a big kick from the barrel, as spice and vanilla from the bourbon are dominant on the palate. Underneath that is sweetness from dark fruit and the malt. Toward the end, there is a trace of heat from the alcohol, especially as the beer warms. I started sipping at around cellar temp, and the beer is now closer to room temp; the alcohol is much more obvious.

Mouthfeel: Quite full bodied, thick and syrupy, with faint low levels of carbonation and an overall smoothness. The heaviness here contributes to the huge overall impact of the beer.

Overall: This is definitely a good beer and a heavy-hitter, one that I've been sipping slowly like a fine spirit. I'd say generally I like the flavors, which play nicely together, but this isn't a standout barleywine for me. I've had others I much prefer.

3.5/5

Arcadia Ales - Barrel Aged Shipwreck Porter (2011)

Arcadia says: "The Baltic-style porter has a robust malt character and a slight herbal hop bitterness. Aged for 12 months in 10-year-old Kentucky bourbon oak barrels, this alluring dark liquid features appealing undertones of vanilla, oak, cocoa and coffee. The aging occurs in abandoned mines in Michigan, at a constant temperature of 45F."

Acadia is a brewery out of Michigan. I don't have much information on the release schedule of Shipwreck Porter, but I am drinking the 2011 vintage, which is 12% ABV and saw distribution to Arcadia's usual distribution states in the midwest and New England. I acquired this bottle through trade -- thank you!

Appearance: This is a very dark brown beer with a tan colored head that pours to about 1.5 fingers in height and is actually retained fairly well as I drink, remaining at about.5 fingers in height.

Smell: There are huge notes obviously from the barrel treatment here -- oak, vanilla, and bourbon --, with additional notes of cherry, molasses, and a hint of juniper.

Taste: The biggest notes are those of roast and chocolate, and then additional flavors of vanilla, coffee, dark fruit, and molasses come in. There is noticeable alcohol in the finish.

Mouthfeel: It's smooth, creamy, and lightly carbonated.

Overall: I thought this was a really tasty and complex porter. I read some other reviews where it was noted that the barrel treatment was overpowering; I disagree. Perhaps it's because I've sat on this for some time, but I thought the notes from the barrel added an interesting complexity that elevated what may have otherwise been a good but standard porter. I'd happily drink this again.

4/5

Midnight Sun Brewing - Arctic Devil (2011)

Midnight Sun has a lot to say about this one, so I'll let them take it away:

"Arctic Devil Barley Wine, aptly named after the ferocious wolverine of the north, is an English-style (meaning malt-inclined) barley wine. Though the recipe and process for Arctic Devil have evolved over the years, it is brewed once a year then aged in oak barrels for several months before the entire batch is blended, bottled and released[...] In its youth, Arctic Devil gnarls and snarls its way across the palate. Containing this beast of a beer for long periods in oak barrels--some having previously aged port, wine or whiskey--tames the unleashed malt and fierce hop flavors, melding and mellowing this powerful liquid into an incredible elixir worthy of a brewer's table. 

Each annual batch of Arctic Devil Barley Wine represents the brewers' resolve to create an intriguing and sought-after barley wine by precisely brewing to well-designed specifications, carefully selecting the type and combination of barrels to use for aging, and meticulously checking the beer as it ages. Distinct nuance and complexity are contributed by the wood's previous tenants, resulting in unique flavor profiles in each batch that continue to change over time. We invite you to savor Arctic Devil Barley Wine upon its release then cellar some for future enjoyment."

Arctic Devil is an annual winter release from Midnight Sun, an Alaska-based brewery. AD hits the west coast only from my understanding and usually gets snatched up within hours, so it's not easy to come by. I'm drinking the 2011 vintage, which is listed around 13.4% ABV.

Appearance: Rich chestnut brown with a reddish-copper tint, and a very thin head that recedes quickly and doesn't leave much residual lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell: The smell is rich and complex, with notes of caramel, brown sugar, sour cherry, toffee, and vanilla.

Taste: Red wine comes through on the palate in a major way, along with notes of vanilla and cherry like on the nose. There is also a great sweet maple flavor.

Mouthfeel: It's medium bodied, but that's actually a surprisingly thin finish for the style. It's not oily or chewy and finishes relatively clean.

Overall: A year ago, I may have called this my favorite barleywine. Since then, I've tried King Henry, which is now in the top spot; still, this is a worthy and delicious second. It's rich and complex, and though it surely is malt-accented, it's actually not too overbearingly sweet, since there are perceptible sour-like or acid characteristics from the port or red wine notes. Some wish the mouthfeel had more body, but I'm actually okay with it being a little thinner, in this case. Generally it is kind of discombobulating to drink such a big beer with a thinner mouthfeel, but here, given the complexity of flavors including the aforementioned acidity, I found that the lighter body improves its drinkability. Overall, this is a solid, wonderful beer and a great choice for the colder months.

5/5

Deschutes Brewery and Hair of the Dog - Collage (Conflux Series #1)

Deschutes website: "Deschutes Brewery and Hair of The Dog Brewing Company join forces to weave The Dissident and The Stoic and Fred and Adam into an artistic collage of cask-aging alchemy. Damn, beer is fun.
Barrel Aging: Rye Whiskey, Cognac, Sherry, Pinot Noir, Bourbon, new American Oak, and new Oregon Oak
Twelve-ounce bottles available in limited quantities starting May 15, 2012."

This is categorized as an "American Strong Ale" at 11.2% ABV. ASA is kind of a catch-all category for higher ABV beers that don't belong to a particular style, and that is definitely the case here, since this is a blend of 4 different beers of a few different styles. Deschutes' beers, The Dissident and The Stoic are a flanders brown and Belgian-style quad, respectively; Hair of the Dog's Adam is an old ale, and Fred is itself an ASA. I haven't had Fred, so I can't elaborate any further on what it is like. Nonetheless, the point is that all of these different beers have been blended together and aged to create Collage.

Appearance: Dark copper, fairly clear, with a somewhat reddish hue. Not much head, and no lacing or foam layer on top of the beer.

Smell: Strong scents of vanilla, sour cherry, and oak, with lesser hints of brown sugar, leather, and floral notes.

Taste: The Dissident seems pretty dominant at first, contributing major sour fruit notes. Then, though, many other flavors come into play, and the pinot noir barrels in particular lend the beer their characteristic tannin and oak flavors. I also taste maple and brown sugar, which contrast nicely with the upfront sour flavors. Honestly, this is a beer that is so complex that I am almost at a loss as to how to fully review it. There are so many flavors here, and those flavors mingle with each other so seamlessly that it's diffuclt for me to actually pick them all out individually. It's really unlike any beer I've ever had.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, very low in carbonation, with a moderately dry finish.

Overall: This is a very special, delicious beer that, again, if it weren't for the price (it's about $13 for a 12oz bottle) I'd want to grab tons of it. I highly recommend trying it if you see it, though, as it's unquestionably worth purchasing at least one bottle. The flavors are unique and expertly balanced and blended, and even with its higher ABV, it doesn't drink hot or heavy. Great beer.

5/5

Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Stout

From Goose Island's website: "A liquid as dark and dense as a black hole with thick foam the color of a bourbon barrel. The nose is an intense mix of charred oak, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and smoke. One sip has more flavor than your average case of beer."

Goose Island is located in Chicago, and does limited distribution to California. We used to see bottles of the Bourbon County Brand Stout (BCBS) out here, but in recent years they've cut back on their distro to provide more of it locally. This beer has seen an immense surge in popularity, and though Goose Island produces reasonably large quantities of it once a year, it is becoming less easy for locals to get much of, and even more difficult to get as a trader. Still, some friendly Chicagoland folks have come through for me, so my first birthday beer today is going to be this 14.5% ABV monster.

Appearance: Completely dark, opaque black, with a thin layer of brown head that recedes very quickly. There is no lingering lacing, but you can definitely see the legs on the side of the glass that the alcohol leaves behind with every sip.

Smell: Wow -- huge bourbon notes upfront: spice, vanilla, dark fruit, oak. There are also hints of dark chocolate. It's such an incredibly huge nose, so bold and full, but no hint of the huge amount of alcohol.

Taste: Just like on those, the alcohol is remarkably absent from the taste here. Vanilla, molasses, fig, spicy wood/oak, and cranberry hit hard in the first wave of flavor. Dark chocolate, very rich, comes in toward the middle of the palate and remains as a lingering flavor. The notes from the bourbon are melded together with the base flavors from the beer so well -- nothing dominates, and each note has its time to shine.

Mouthfeel: Thick, rich, and creamy. Between the heavy mouthfeel and the powerful flavors, this beer is definitely a sipper. It's meant to be savored and shared.

Overall: This is a favorite of many. Barrel-aged stouts are often treated like the kings of beers, because of the absolutely knockout flavors and the craftsmanship involved in the barrel-aging process. Much like with sours, it took me awhile to warm up to bourbon barrel aged beers, because the taste of the bourbon was always strong and not very pleasing to me. Now, after trying so many, I've definitely grown used to these flavors. My first love will always be IPAs, but this is a style I can certainly appreciate as a craft beer lover. Admittedly, my overall score for this one is partially influenced by what this beer means to other people -- I can absolutely appreciate the balance and complexity here, particularly at the production level that Goose Island is always operating under in order to manufacture this. It's not at the very top of my list, but it's truly an excellent beer.

4.5/5