Kern River Class X Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

The brewery actually calls this Class X. Served in a goblet at KRBC in Kernville. SUPER thick foamy head that holds contours of valleys and hills across the surface. Ooh...that bourbon flavor is so strong. Holds a lot of the same classic chocolate malt flavor as the Class V. The bourbon character combines with the slight alcohol heat to make one hell of a wallop on this stout. The aroma is made up of sweet bourbon, almost whiskey-like...makes you want to down it all in one gulp. The is just a little bit of burn as you swallow. That thick-ass head leaves a sheet of lacing around the glass. They wouldn't let me put this in a growler, so my friends in Lone Pine lose. They lost big time.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Sampled on 12/4/2009. Thanks to whoever brought this to the Strong Ale Fest. This Imperial Stout pours a dark black color from a 22oz bottle. Small to medium sized tan foamy head. The aroma is bourbon, chocolate and coffee and sweet. A medium to full bodied Imperial Stout. The malts are chocolate, coffee and bourbon. Lots of vanilla and oak. The hops are earthy. Nice bourbon flavors, they really smooth out the roasty malts and coffee flavors. Nicely balanced. Very smooth tasting. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.