Beer Review, Americas Brewing Company Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

While at Crane Alley for pool and the CU Beer Club last night; Aaron pulled out a bottle of Americas Brewing Company Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. He asked me to try it to see if it would be worth it for the bar to pick it up.

This one poured a purplish black, with a thick head that looked like bubbly chocolate milk. The head stuck around longer than I had anticipated it would. It had a weak bourbon smell but had some alcohol in the nose. It felt rather thin for an imperial stout, it almost felt like a rootbeer.

It tasted of smoke, coffee, and chocolate. It wasn't an overpowering flavor, it was nicely balanced. Many imperial stouts have the volume turned up to eleven. This one didn't really need to get that loud, and it seemed to work nicely around 3 or 4. It was an easy listening imperial stout. It was sweet, creamy, and smooth. Aaron said he tasted oak and bourbon.

It was an ok beer. It'd be a good intro beer for people working up to imperial stouts, who don't want/need something as potent as ... say.. Avery Mephistopheles.

This bottle was a promo given to the bar to see if they'd want to carry it in the future. Aaron said they'd probably pick up a case of it. I think the only reason he gave it to me, was to see if it was any good. Also, he knows I wouldn't be angry if he tried some of it.

It was a pretty good night all around, the beers were good, and I won at both 8 and 9 ball; and the team won both. Crane Alley will be having a beer dinner coming up on November 10, and I'll have more information on that soon.

I'm not completely sure of the distribution of this beer, but it is available at Archer Liquors, and is reasonably priced.