Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout (7/10)

The Winking Lizard Tavern features a World Beer Tour each year.  Patrons who drink beers which are part of the tour receive credit toward a prize.  The "big" prize is a jacket with the tour logo on it and an invitation to a party the following January.  Periodically during the year, they do "mini tours" and other special promotions which count toward the bigger tour.  In 2011, they offered a mini tour which consisted of a bottle of Kentucky Ale, a shot of Woodford Reserve Bourbon, and a bottle of Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.  You got to keep the Kentucky Ale and Woodford Reserve glasses as part of the deal.

It was a very neat experience to taste the Kentucky Ale, then take a sip of the bourbon, and notice the combination when you take a sip of the Bourbon Barrel Ale.  I have been a fan of both the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and Woodford Reserve Bourbon.  When I learned that a Bourbon Barrel Stout had been released, I had to try it.

The Kentucky Ale crew did more than just brew a typical stout and age it in a bourbon barrel.  They brew the ale with coffee, and place Hatian coffee in the barrel with it when it's aged.

The aroma is mocha, leaning toward a rich dark coffee – which is no surprise.

The flavor is rich and malty at the start, then gives way to a wash of coffee and a molasses, ending with a slight sourness and bitterness.

On balance, I like it, but it's not my favorite.  The Bourbon Barrel Ale is much better.  If you're a fan of the Founder's Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS), you should definitely try this.  They're a lot alike to me.

In April, I had the opportunity to try the somewhat hard to get Founder's Kentucky Breakfast Stout.  To my tastebuds, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout is extremely similar to that one.  Both have a strong coffee flavor.

I've seen this at several Columbus retailers, including Kroger, Giant Eagle, Kenny Road Market, and others.  If you are interested in it, you should have no trouble finding it.

ABV:  8%
IBU:  Unknown, best guess is 25-30
My Rating: 7/10