Flashlight shows through as the dimmest little dot of the deepest crimson hue, no real head retention, smells of bourbon, maple syrup, and brown sugar. The taste is smooth and creamy with flavors of black cherry, milk chocolate, vanilla cream, plum, and red grape intermingling on a extra smooth, extra full body. The finish is long and moderately high in bitterness, featuring notes of black coffee, dark chocolate, herbal hops, fig, raisin, and charred oak. Overall, this is a fantastic beer, surprisingly fruit forward for a barrel aged beer, while still having those complex bourbon barrel notes and an incredibly smooth and creamy body. Definitely a beer I’d like to see future (or past) renditions of, and I’m excited to taste (presumably) a single component of this year’s anniversary ale.
