Arcadia Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Dark lifeless brown body, thin head and spotty lacing. Thick and hearty with a pleasant roasted malt content. Bourbon is assertive along with a nice woody vanilla profile. Buttery from time to time along with Teddy Grahams and coffee. Pretty standard for a BA stout, nothing exemplary.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Strong barrel influence. Graham cracker, vanilla, bourbon, roast and coffee. A little bit of earthy hops in the flavor. The alcohol shows but it's not hot for a 12% beer. Not worth double the coin of a Central Waters BB stout, but solid. Thanks the ggrumet for the trade!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

12 oz red waxed bottle poured into a snifter slightly below cellar temperature. I believe I read that this was aged for 22 months in bourbon barrels, and the aroma certainly hints at that. Outside of a strong bourbon note, there is very little other discernable aroma. The mouthfeel is thin, which hurts, and the taste isn't nearly as strong as the aroma suggests. Bourbon dominates the taste and I don't know that the base beer can withstand such a long aging process. There are notes of licorice and earthy malts grappling with dark chocolate, maple syrup, and a pleasant roastiness. I would recommend drinking this beer at cellar temperature. While cold this beer is one dimensional and the base does not shine. However, as it warms it becomes a completely different beast. Worth seeking out, even at a high price tag for a small bottle.